AUGUSTA — A new poll shows presumptive Democratic Senate nominee Troy Jackson in a statistical tie with incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a race with national implications.
Jackson leads 49% to 46%, according to the University of New Hampshire Pine Tree State Poll. The margin of error is nearly 3%.
The Maine Democratic Party will hold a convention this weekend to formally pick a nominee. Jackson, a former Maine Senate president, all but locked up the nomination last weekend at delegate meetings across the state.
Broken down by party, 88% of Democrats support Jackson, while 99% of Republicans support Collins.
Among independents, 46% chose Jackson, 42% picked Collins and 12% are either undecided or choosing another candidate.
The Democratic primary to find a someone to challenge Collins, who is seeking a sixth term, has been plagued with uncertainty and scandal.
After winning the June 9 primary with 72% of the vote, military veteran and oyster farmer Graham Platner dropped out amid an ongoing series of scandals.
Gov. Janet Mills ran in the race for six months, dropping out in April citing a lack of money and in light of poor polling results.
As for Jackson, he finished third in the Democratic primary for governor but quickly emerged as a top contender for the Senate seat when Platner dropped out.
The UNH poll was conducted between July 15-20 and represents answers from 1,236 respondents. The margin of error is 2.8 percentage points.
Maine is one of a small number of Senate seats Democrats hope to flip to take control of the Senate in November.