2026 United States Senate election in Maine

For related races, see 2026 United States Senate elections.
Not to be confused with 2026 Maine State Senate election.

2026 United States Senate election in Maine
November 3, 2026 (2026-11-03)
 
Nominee Susan Collins
(presumptive) 		TBD
Party Republican Democratic
Incumbent U.S. senator

Susan Collins
Republican



The 2026 United States Senate election in Maine will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of Maine. Incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins, first elected in 1996, is running for re-election to a sixth term in office. If elected, Collins will become the longest-serving U.S. Senator from Maine, surpassing William P. Frye on May 26, 2027.

This will be the only Republican-held Senate seat up for election in 2026 in a state that Kamala Harris won in the 2024 presidential election. Collins is the only incumbent Republican senator in any of the 19 states that Donald Trump did not win in any of his three elections. Both the Democratic primary and general election are expected to be some of the most competitive races in the Senate election cycle.[1]

This election will coincide with U.S. House elections for Maine's two congressional districts, a gubernatorial election, and various other state, county and local elections. The primary is scheduled to take place on June 9, 2026. Both the primary and general elections will be conducted with ranked-choice voting.[2]

Background

The northernmost state in New England, Maine is one of the most rural states in the nation, and is considered to be a moderately blue state, having voted for every Democratic presidential nominee since 1992, and voting for Kamala Harris by about seven percentage points in 2024. Democrats also control the governorship, the state legislature, and both seats in Maine's U.S. House congressional delegation.[3] Furthermore, after Jared Golden defeated Bruce Poliquin in Maine's 2nd congressional district in 2018, Collins has been the only Republican representing any state in New England at the federal level, in either chamber of Congress.[4]

Collins was first elected in 1996, and was re-elected in four subsequent elections, significantly outperforming other Republicans in the state. In 2020, despite almost all polls and analysts predicting that she would lose her re-election bid, Collins unexpectedly defeated Democratic nominee Sara Gideon by about nine percentage points. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden carried Maine by about nine percentage points on the same ballot.[5]

As the only Republican-held Senate seat up for election in a state won by Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, Maine is considered a key Senate battleground in 2026 despite Susan Collins’ history of electoral overperformance. Republicans have held the seat since 1979, when William Cohen defeated incumbent Democrat William Hathaway—the last time a sitting U.S. senator from Maine lost reelection. No Democrat has won a Maine Senate race since George J. Mitchell was reelected in 1988, or this seat since Hathaway’s election in 1972.[a]

With the decline of ticket splitting, and being in a midterm election with an unpopular Republican president, Collins is widely viewed as the most vulnerable incumbent Republican senator.[6][7] Following the retirement of Joe Manchin in West Virginia, and the defeats of Democratic senators Jon Tester in Montana and Sherrod Brown in Ohio in 2024, Collins remains the last senator to represent a non-swing state of the opposite party (a reliably red or blue state).[8]

Republican primary

Incumbent U.S. Senator Susan Collins officially announced her reelection bid in February 2026.[9]

Despite conservative backlash to her centrist voting record, the Republican Party has supported her reelection.[10] However, she faced a primary challenge from former police officer Dan Smeriglio, a critic of her bipartisan approach.[11][12] Ultimately, Collins was the only Republican to qualify for the primary ballot.[13]

Candidates

Presumptive nominee

Withdrawn

Endorsements

Susan Collins
U.S. senators
State legislators
Organizations
Declined to endorse
Executive branch officials

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Carmen Calabrese (R)[c] $17,760 $21,260 $0.00
Susan Collins (R) $10,153,542 $3,409,501 $8,039,234
Source: Federal Election Commission[27]

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[d] 		Margin
of error 		Carmen
Calabrese 		Susan
Collins 		Dan
Smeriglio 		Other Undecided
March 1, 2026 Calabrese withdraws
University of New Hampshire[28] February 12–16, 2026 417 (LV) ± 4.9% 1% 67% 6% 1%[e] 25%
University of New Hampshire[29] October 16–21, 2025 417 (LV) ± 4.8% 1% 66% 1% 4%[f] 27%

Democratic primary

Campaign

In April 2025, former congressional staffer Jordan Wood became the first Democrat to enter the race, running on a platform opposed to the Trump administration and Elon Musk.[30] On August 19, Sullivan Harbor Master Graham Platner launched a progressive campaign backed by Bernie Sanders and organized labor, positioning himself against the “Democratic establishment” and drawing support from both liberal voters and some 2024 Trump voters.[31][32]

Governor Janet Mills was widely viewed as a top Democratic recruit, with encouragement from national figures including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC),[33][34][35][36] though Sanders publicly discouraged her candidacy.[37] After weeks of speculation and leaked campaign plans,[38] Mills entered the race in October 2025, pledging to serve only one term; her age, 79 at the start of the term, drew some scrutiny.[39][40][41][42] The DSCC’s close involvement in her campaign, including a joint fundraising committee, prompted backlash and allegations of favoritism in the primary.[43][44][45][46][47]

Following her entry, several candidates, including Dan Kleban and Daira Smith-Rodriguez, withdrew and endorsed Mills.[48][49] Smith-Rodriguez cited concerns over past comments by Platner regarding sexual assault in the military.[50] Wood later withdrew to run for the U.S. House.[51]

In January 2026, Platner briefly paused his campaign due to his wife’s medical treatment abroad[52] before resuming later that month, returning to the trail with protests against Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement actions.[53]

By early 2026, Mills committed to multiple debates ahead of the June 9 primary,[54] while Platner secured an endorsement from Senator Ruben Gallego,[55] who also questioned Mills’ general election viability.[56]

Although several Democrats initially filed, only Mills, Platner, and 2024 nominee David Costello qualified for the primary ballot.[57] Despite multiple controversies, polling has consistently shown Platner leading both in the primary and against incumbent Senator Susan Collins in a potential general election matchup.[58][59][60][61][28]

Controversies

Shortly after Mills entered the race, Platner came under fire for resurfaced controversial Reddit posts, resulting in his campaign's political director, former state representative Genevieve McDonald, quitting the campaign and calling Platner "unelectable"; however, Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin stated that the comments were not disqualifying,[62] and Platner apologized in a five-minute video posted to social media. On October 21, Platner released a video of himself dancing and singing shirtless at his brother's wedding, revealing he had a chest tattoo that resembled the Totenkopf used by Nazi Germany's Schutzstaffel. Platner stated he got the tattoo while inebriated with other U.S. Marines while stationed in Croatia, mistaking the symbol for a skull and crossbones. He had the tattoo covered,[63] and professed his shame and disgust for getting a tattoo that resembled the fascist insignia.[64] Platner also called himself an anti-fascist "supersoldier" in an old Reddit comment.[65] After the controversies, Democrats such as Senator Chris Murphy defended Platner and said that he "sounds like a human being" who is honest about his mistakes[66][67][68] and Senator Gallego called his campaign "authentic" and said that he has "the right to grow out of his stupidity" and is not going to be a "crypto Fetterman".[69][70]

On February 26, 2026, Platner quote-tweeted a clip from Donald Trump's 2026 State of the Union Address, criticizing Trump's speech. The clip had been posted by anti-Semitic white supremacist Stew Peters.[71] The tweet was deleted hours later, with a spokesperson for Platner's campaign telling The Hill that they were unaware of Peters' views.[72][73]

Candidates

Declared

Withdrawn

Declined

Endorsements

Janet Mills
U.S. senators
Statewide officials
State legislators
Individuals
  • Dan Kleban, brewery owner and former candidate for this seat[99]
  • Daira Smith-Rodriguez, former civilian contracting officer for the U.S. Air Force and former candidate for this seat[100]
Organizations
Graham Platner
Executive branch officials
U.S. senators
U.S. representatives
State legislators
Local officials
Party officials
Individuals
Labor unions
Organizations
Dan Kleban (withdrawn)
State legislators
Individuals
Jordan Wood (withdrawn)
U.S. representatives
Organizations
Declined to endorse
U.S. senators
Individuals
  • Jordan Wood, candidate for ME-02 in 2026 and former candidate for this seat[135]

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of December 31, 2025
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
David Costello (D) $101,764 $13,906 $87,858
Tucker Favreau (D)[c] $10,083 $4,913 $5,170
Dan Kleban (D)[c] $458,779 $364,476 $94,304
Janet Mills (D) $2,706,692 $1,396,412 $1,310,281
Graham Platner (D) $7,867,908 $4,150,630 $3,717,278
Daira Smith-Rodriguez (D)[c] $242,582 $242,582 $0
Jordan Wood (D)[c] $3,098,912 $2,178,443 $920,470
Source: Federal Election Commission[27]

Polling

Aggregate polls

Source of poll
aggregation 		Dates
administered 		Dates
updated 		Janet
Mills 		Graham
Platner 		Other/Undecided
[h] 		Margin
Race to the WH[58] October 23, 2025 – March 5, 2026 March 9, 2026 36.1% 48.4% 15.5% Platner +12.3%
RealClearPolitics[59] October 26, 2025 – March 5, 2026 March 9, 2026 35.5% 48.5% 16% Platner +13.0%
Average 35.8% 48.5% 15.7% Platner +12.7%
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[d] 		Margin
of error 		David
Costello 		Janet
Mills 		Graham
Platner 		Jordan
Wood 		Other Undecided
Quantus Insights (R)[60] March 5, 2026 450 (LV) ± 3.4% – 38% 43% – – 19%
Pan Atlantic Research[61] February 13 – March 2, 2026 367 (LV) – 4% 39% 46% – – 11%
University of New Hampshire[28] February 12–16, 2026 462 (LV) ± 4.5% 1% 26% 64% – 3%[i] 6%
January 31, 2026 Favreau withdraws
Workbench Strategy (D)[136][A] December 11 – December 16, 2025 500 (LV) – – 40% 55% – – 5%
Pan Atlantic Research[137] November 29 – December 7, 2025 318 (LV) – 1% 47% 37% – – 14%
Z to A Research (D)[138][B] November 14–18, 2025 845 (LV) ± 3.0% 0% 38% 58% – 2%[j] 2%
November 12, 2025 Wood withdraws
Maine People's Resource Center[139][C] October 26–29, 2025 783 (V) ± 3.5% – 39% 41% 5% – 14%
– 47%[k] 53% – – –
SoCal Strategies[140] October 21–25, 2025 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 1% 41% 36% 2% – 20%
NRSC (R)[141] October 22–23, 2025 647 (LV) ± 3.5% – 25% 46% 3% – 26%
University of New Hampshire[29] October 16–21, 2025 510 (LV) ± 4.3% 1% 24% 58% 1% 1%[l] 14%

Independents

Candidates

Declared

  • Tim Rich, former restaurant owner[142]

Withdrawn

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of September 30, 2025
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Phillip Rench (I)[c] $55,313 $31,072 $24,241
Source: Federal Election Commission[27]

General election

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
Inside Elections[145] Tilt R August 12, 2025
The Cook Political Report[146] Tossup October 14, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball[147] Tossup October 14, 2025
Race To The WH[148] Tossup September 4, 2025

Polling

Susan Collins vs. Janet Mills

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[d] 		Margin
of error 		Susan
Collins (R) 		Janet
Mills (D) 		Other Undecided
OnMessage Public Strategies (R)[149][D] March 3–8, 2026 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 42% 42% – 16%
Quantus Insights (R)[60] March 5, 2026 800 (LV) ± 3.4% 45% 43% 7%[m] 6%
Pan Atlantic Research[61] February 13 – March 2, 2026 810 (LV) ± 3.7% 44% 44% – 12%
University of New Hampshire[28] February 12–16, 2026 1,105 (LV) ± 2.9% 40% 41% 9%[n] 10%
Fabrizio, Lee & Associates (R)[150][E] January 20–24, 2026 800 (LV) ± 3.5% 45% 44% – 11%
Workbench Strategy (D)[136][A] December 11 – December 16, 2025 900 (LV) ±4.4% 51% 49% – –
Pan Atlantic Research[137] November 29 – December 7, 2025 820 (LV) ± 3.7% 43% 43% – 14%
Maine People's Resource Center[139][C] October 26–29, 2025 783 (LV) ± 3.5% 46% 42% – 14%
Zenith Research (D)[151][F] October 7–10, 2025 501 (LV) ± 4.4% 37% 42% 10%[o] 12%

Susan Collins vs. Graham Platner

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[d] 		Margin
of error 		Susan
Collins (R) 		Graham
Platner (D) 		Other Undecided
OnMessage Public Strategies (R)[149][D] March 3–8, 2026 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 42% 44% – 14%
Quantus Insights (R)[60] March 5, 2026 800 (LV) ± 3.4% 42% 49% 4%[p] 6%
Pan Atlantic Research[61] February 13 – March 2, 2026 810 (LV) ± 3.7% 40% 44% – 16%
University of New Hampshire[28] February 12–16, 2026 1,105 (LV) ± 2.9% 38% 49% 4%[q] 9%
Fabrizio, Lee & Associates (R)[150][E] January 20–24, 2026 800 (LV) ± 3.5% 45% 44% – 11%
Workbench Strategy (D)[136][A] December 11 – December 16, 2025 900 (LV) ±4.4% 50% 50% – –
Pan Atlantic Research[137] November 29 – December 7, 2025 820 (LV) ± 3.7% 42% 43% – 15%
Maine People's Resource Center[139][C] October 26–29, 2025 783 (LV) ± 3.5% 41% 45% – 14%
Zenith Research (D)[151][F] October 7–10, 2025 501 (LV) ± 4.4% 38% 38% 10%[o] 15%
Hypothetical polling
Susan Collins vs. Dan Kleban
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[d] 		Margin
of error 		Susan
Collins (R) 		Dan
Kleban (D) 		Undecided
Public Policy Polling (D)[152][G] September 8–9, 2025 642 (RV) – 35% 44% 21%
Susan Collins vs. Generic Democrat
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[d] 		Margin
of error 		Susan
Collins (R) 		Generic
Democrat 		Undecided
Cygnal (R)[153] November 10–11, 2025 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 41% 49% 11%

Notes

  1. ^ Independent Senator Angus King, who has represented Maine in the Senate since 2013, has caucused with the Senate Democratic caucus for his entire tenure, and has not faced a major Democratic opponent since his first election, but is not an enrolled member of the Democratic Party.
  2. ^ Held office as a Democrat until becoming an Independent in 2024
  3. ^ a b c d e f Withdrawn candidate
  4. ^ a b c d e f Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  5. ^ "Another candidate" with 1%
  6. ^ "Write in someone else" with 4%
  7. ^ Resigned as campaign political director and withdrew endorsement after controversy around old Reddit comments.
  8. ^ Calculated by taking the difference of 100% and all other candidates combined.
  9. ^ LaFlamme with 2%; "Another candidate" with 1%; Evans and Favreau with 0%
  10. ^ Evans and LaFlamme with 1%; Favreau with 0%
  11. ^ With undecided and Wood votes re-allocated based on second-choice preference
  12. ^ "Write in someone else" with 1%; Evans, Favreau, and LaFlamme with 0%
  13. ^ Someone else / Third party with 6%, would not vote with 1%
  14. ^ "Another candidate" with 9%
  15. ^ a b "Another candidate" with 9%; "Would not vote" with 1%
  16. ^ Someone else / Third party with 3%, would not vote with 1%
  17. ^ "Another candidate" with 4%

Partisan client

  1. ^ a b c Poll sponsored by Platner's campaign[136]
  2. ^ Poll sponsored by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, which has endorsed Platner's campaign
  3. ^ a b c Pollster affiliated with the Maine People's Alliance, which has endorsed Platner's campaign[125]
  4. ^ a b Poll sponsored by the Insurance Watchdog Coalition
  5. ^ a b Poll sponsored by Pine Tree Results, a Collins-aligned Super PAC
  6. ^ a b Poll sponsored by More Perfect Union, a progressive non-profit news media organization
  7. ^ Poll sponsored by Kleban's campaign

References

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  3. ^ Cover, Susan (November 6, 2024). "Maine Democrats say they won enough seats to control state Senate". Spectrum News. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
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  8. ^ How the decline of personal political brands hurts Senate Democrats, Roll Call, January 8, 2025
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  10. ^ Kobin, Billy (April 19, 2025). "Who will Democrats find to run against Susan Collins in 2026?". Piscataquis Observer. Archived from the original on April 19, 2025. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
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