WASHINGTON — The Democratic primary in one of the most important Senate races of the 2026 cycle has been jolted by two recent events: the entry of two-term governor and establishment favorite Janet Mills and the rapid-fire revelations about Graham Platner, a first-time candidate undergoing a public vetting after getting national attention.
Despite his recent controversy, a rare poll of the Maine race shows Platner trouncing Mills by 34 points. The survey conducted by the University of New Hampshire found Platner leading Mills 58% to 24% among likely primary voters, with 14% undecided. It was conducted from Oct. 16 to Oct. 21, amid revelations of inflammatory online posts by Platner, but before he said he covered up a tattoo after his campaign was informed it resembled a Nazi symbol.
None of that has changed the dynamics among their would-be Democratic colleagues in the Senate, at least for now.
Mills and Platner each have a strong ally who is sticking by them, while the rest of the caucus is largely steering clear of the Mills-Platner battle. Not one senator said Platner’s tattoo or other controversies were disqualifying, and several acknowledged he’s bringing excitement to a party that has been struggling in the political wilderness since President Donald Trump took back power in January.
Platner is “exciting,” said Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., as he waved away questions about his recent controversies. “Mainers will figure it out.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is backing Mills to unseat five-term Republican Sen. Susan Collins, the party’s top target for the midterm elections.
“We think that Janet Mills is the best candidate to retire Susan Collins,” Schumer said in response to a question from NBC News. “She’s a tested two-term governor, and the people of Maine have an enormous amount of affection and respect for her.”
Meanwhile, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., the liberal icon who gave Platner a big endorsement back in August, before the controversies, said this week that he is standing by his pick and praised Platner for his service in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
“This is a guy who served four terms in combat. He was a Marine, four tours of duty,” Sanders said. “He saw friends die. He came out of that war, as he has acknowledged, with PTSD, got good treatment at the VA, got his life together.”
The Mills-Platner race represents some of the most significant divides inside the Democratic Party — including age and generational angst, moderation versus populism, tested political veterans versus raw and telegenic fresh faces. The question of “electability” looms large in a must-win race for Democrats if they are to have any hope of regaining the Senate majority in 2026.
Platner’s positive polling, plus the huge crowds he’s attracting on the campaign trail, may be why rank-and-file Democrats have been loath to criticize him despite a series of negative headlines. In addition to the tattoo, Platner has apologized for posts on social media, including calling all police “bastards” in 2021; writing in 2020 that rural, white Americans were stupid and racist; and using homophobic language.
“We’re still f—ing standing,” Platner adviser Joe Calvello wrote on X, adding that the UNH poll showed Mills with a net disapproval rating of 12 points in Maine.
The Mills campaign touted her experience and achievements.
“Governor Mills has spent her life standing up to bullies and is the only Maine Democrat to have won statewide office in the past 20 years,” spokesperson Scott Ogden said in a statement Thursday. “Maine people know that Janet Mills is a proven barrier-breaker who has expanded health care to more than 100,00 Maine people, fully funded Maine schools, and stood up for working people — that’s why they’ll send her to the Senate.”
The primary is not till June 2026.
Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., who previously led the House Democrats’ campaign operation for back-to-back cycles, said voters are “inspired” by Platner but urged him to come clean with anything else in his past.
“He needs to be honest with people, own up to whatever is there, but be honest with voters,” Lujan said in an interview. “And so I’m hopeful that that’s going to be the guiding light, because there’s a lot of people that believe in him. There’s a lot of people that are inspired by him.”
“Whether there’s some opposition book on someone out there, whatever it is, candidates have a responsibility to be honest,” Lujan continued.
Asked if Platner should stay in the race, Maine Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, replied: “That’s not my call.”
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., who has led both the House and Senate campaign committees in past cycles, also demurred when asked if Platner should drop out.
“This is why we have primaries, so we can have a contest of different people’s views,” Van Hollen said. “I’ve seen his response to all of that, and he said, after coming back from Afghanistan and Iraq, he was a mess and he’s a new person. So, look, this is what primaries are for.”
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa. — whose 2022 campaign team has some overlap with the current Platner campaign and previous Sanders campaigns — declined to weigh in on the Maine primary.
“I don’t have any views,” Fetterman said in a brief interview Thursday. “I think it’s arrogant for any of us to participate in it,” he added. “If you don’t represent that state, just sit it out.”
He called on Democratic leaders to “keep their thumbs off the scale” and let Maine voters sort out the primary, arguing that picking favorites doesn’t always end well, citing the party’s support of Katie McGinty, who lost the 2016 Senate race to Republican Pat Toomey.
“Ask them about Katie McGinty, how that worked the last time,” Fetterman said. “Get over yourselves, and just let the Dems in Maine do what they’re gonna do.”
Meanwhile, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, referred questions about the Maine race to his office, which didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., won two competitive races in North Carolina before opting to retire this cycle, said Platner shouldn’t be underestimated in an age of rising populism.
“I think he’s fundamentally flawed — but in a populist era, anything’s possible,” Tillis said. “Susan Collins is one of the most capable members of the U.S. Senate. It’s amazing that he could actually have a chance against a quality candidate like that.”
“But I understand this week, even after the revelations — it seems like every other day, revelations — it was a packed house,” Tillis said, referring to a recent Platner campaign rally. “So it speaks to an energized base, but maybe an energized populist base… He served our country, and I respect that, but when you get into politics, you have to be expected to be treated like a politician. And I think that he’s made some bad judgments.”
Asked if he’s surprised to see Platner leading in the new poll, Tillis said, “No, and quite honestly, that’s OK with me, because I think he’s a less challenging candidate in the general election.”
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