Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner holds a commanding lead against Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, in his bid to represent the Pine Tree State, a recent poll has revealed.

Platner became the de facto Democratic nominee after Gov. Janet Mills, D-Maine, ended her campaign for the party nod. In the latest Pine Tree State Poll, he led with 51% support among likely voters, compared to Collins's 42%, while 2% preferred another candidate and 5% were undecided.

The data indicates that both candidates gained ground from February, when 49% backed Platner, 38% preferred Collins, 4% wanted someone else, and 9% were unsure.

Though Collins has typically outperformed polling data and managed to hold on to her seat as a Republican in a state that hasn't broken for the GOP in a national election since 1988, Platner appears to have the Republicans worried this cycle.

Collins is expected to face one of the most competitive races in the battle for the Senate and may represent one of the Democrats' few opportunities for a pickup in a cycle that does not favor them.

Conducted May 21-25, the survey questioned 493 likely voters and has a margin of sampling error of +/- 2.7%.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent for Just the News. Follow him on X.