Platner has commanding lead over Mills in U.S. Senate race

(The Center Square) — Oyster farmer Graham Platner is maintaining a commanding lead over Maine Gov. Janet Mills in the Democratic primary race for U.S. Senate, according to a new poll released Thursday.

The Emerson College Polling survey released Thursday showed Platner leading Mills by about 27 points in the Senate Democratic contest, with the political newcomer garnering 55% support to Mill’s 28%. About 17% said “someone else” or were undecided, according to the poll.

Both Platner and Mills are vying for the Maine Democratic Party’s nomination to challenge incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November’s midterm elections.

“Graham Platner has a significant lead over Governor Mills, which is outside the poll’s margin of error,” Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, said in a statement. “Male voters support Platner by a 41-point margin, 63% to 22%, while women support Platner by an 18-point margin, 50% to 32%.”

Meanwhile, Platner has a 7-point lead over Colli...