A new poll shows oyster farmer and military veteran Graham Platner with a commanding lead over Governor Janet Mills in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.
Platner has a 64%-to-25% lead over Mills among those surveyed in the new Pine Tree Poll from the University of New Hampshire Center.
Platner’s lead is bigger than the sizable edge he held over Mills – 58%-24% – in a Pine Tree poll in October.
Most socialists and majorities of progressives and moderates prefer Platner, while liberals are split between Platner and Mills, according to the Pine Tree Poll authors. Platner continues to hold a wide lead among those aged 18 to 34, while Mills holds a small lead among those aged 65 and older.
in addition, Platner has a “favorability” lead over Mills (71%-51%) among Democratic primary voters.
In a general election matchup, the Pine Tree poll shows Platner with an 11-point lead over incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins (Platner 49%-Collins 38%), while Mills is deadlocked with Collins (Mills 41%-Collins 40%).
Independents broke for Platner over Collins in the general election matchup (47%-38%), while Collins leads Mills among Independents (35%-29%).
Broken down by party, 91% of Democrats would vote for Platner in a head-to-head with Collins, while Collis would receive 76% of Republican votes.
Eighty-three percent of Democrats would vote for Mills, and 79% of Republicans would vote for Collins in the Pine Tree poll.
