Overview
- The University of New Hampshire Survey Center poll, conducted Oct. 16–21, shows Graham Platner at 58% to Gov. Janet Mills’s 24% among likely Democratic primary voters, with 14% undecided and a 3.0% margin of error.
- The poll period overlapped reporting on Platner’s deleted Reddit posts and a chest tattoo resembling Nazi imagery; he has apologized and says he has covered the tattoo.
- Party leaders are divided, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer endorsing Mills and Sen. Bernie Sanders maintaining his support for Platner, while many senators avoid taking sides.
- Two Maine law‑enforcement groups formally condemned Platner’s past posts, and fellow Democratic candidate Jordan Wood criticized his use of homophobic slurs; Platner acknowledges the language and says it does not reflect him today.
- Platner’s campaign is in damage-control mode, hiring a new manager and a compliance firm and offering severance agreements, and the UNH poll also finds Paul LePage leading Rep. Jared Golden 49%–44% in Maine’s 2nd District.