Maine Governor Janet Mills (D) has surged ahead in the polls against her Democratic primary opponent, Graham Platner, for the 2026 Senate race, according to a new survey released on Saturday. This development places Mills in the spotlight as she gains traction among voters in the Pine Tree State.

The poll conducted by SoCal Strategies indicates that Mills is currently favored by 41% of likely voters, while Platner trails with 36%. Notably, about 20% of those surveyed remain undecided, highlighting an opportunity for both candidates to sway the electorate.

This shift in voter sentiment comes in the wake of controversies that have embroiled Platner, particularly involving the resurfacing of problematic social media posts and a tattoo that resembles a Nazi emblem. These revelations have cast a shadow over his campaign.

Before these issues gained attention, Platner was significantly ahead, as a University of New Hampshire Survey Center poll had him leading Mills by a substantial 34 percentage points.

However, the latest SoCal Strategies poll paints a different picture when respondents were made aware of Platner’s tattoo that resembles a Nazi “totenkopf.” Under these circumstances, Mills’s support surged, with 59% of voters expressing their intention to back her in the primary, while Platner’s support dwindled to 29%.

Platner has the support of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who defended the Maine oyster farmer amid the controversy, while Mills was endorsed by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).

“He went through a dark period in his life. I suspect that Graham Platner is not the only American to have gone through a dark period,” Sanders said of Platner’s past Reddit posts during an appearance on “The Axios Show” earlier this week. 

“I think what we have got to do as a nation is not focus on a tattoo,” he added. “We’ve got to focus on a system which in many ways is collapsing.”

Platner said Tuesday he’s gotten the tattoo covered and claimed he was not previously informed of its resemblance to a Nazi symbol. 

The Democratic candidate still maintained a wide lead over Mills with voters aged 18-29, according to the poll, with his advantage staying relatively stable even after respondents were informed of his recent scandal.

The SoCal Strategies poll reached 500 likely Democratic primary voters in Maine from Oct. 21-25.