Platner Camp Polls 5 Replacements as Maine Democrats Clash Over July 27 Senate Pick
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jul 13
Platner Camp Polls 5 Replacements as Maine Democrats Clash Over July 27 Senate Pick
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jul 13
Summary
A 785-voter flash poll commissioned by the Platner campaign tested five possible Democratic replacements as pressure mounted on him to quit the Maine Senate race.
Jackson ran strongest against Susan Collins, leading 49% to 44%, while Platner trailed 47% to 42%; Bellows and Shah were roughly tied with Collins, and Mills and Wood lagged.
The survey, conducted over 24 hours without a listed margin of error, also showed Platner strongest among voters who skipped 2024 or backed neither Donald Trump nor Kamala Harris.
A Monday 5 p.m. withdrawal would force the Maine Democratic Party to choose a replacement by July 27, setting up a fight over who controls the process.
Ben Chin, Platner's campaign manager, accused the state party and the DSCC of freezing the campaign out, and party leaders replied that only an open, legally compliant process can pick any new nominee.