# 2012 United States Senate election in Maine

The 2012 United States Senate election in Maine was held on November 6, 2012, alongside a presidential election, other elections to the United States Senate in other states, as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Despite initially declaring her candidacy and being considered the favorite, popular incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe unexpectedly decided to retire instead of running for reelection to a fourth term.
Independent former governor Angus King won the open seat with 52.9% of the vote against Republican Charlie Summers and Democrat Cynthia Dill. Following independent Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman's retirement from the Senate in 2013, King became the second independent incumbent U.S. Senator, after Vermont's Bernie Sanders. This was the first U.S. Senate race in Maine since 1988 that was not won by a Republican. This was also the first Senate election in the state since 1854 not won by a Democrat or Republican.
After being elected, King met with Democratic Leader Harry Reid and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. He then decided to caucus with the Democratic Party. This effectively gave the Democrats a 55–45 Senate majority due to the other independent, Bernie Sanders, caucusing with the Democrats as well.

## Background

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vte :
Incumbent Olympia Snowe won re-election to a third term in 2006 with 74.01% of the vote over Democrat Jean Hay Bright and independent Bill Slavick. Due to the unpopularity of some of Snowe's votes among conservative voters, namely for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and initial support of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, there was speculation that she would face competition in the 2012 Republican primary from more conservative challengers. The Tea Party Express had promised to aid in a primary against Snowe. There had also been speculation that Snowe would switch parties, though she has always denied this. By June 2011, Snowe had officially entered her name with signatures to run in the Republican primary, saying, she "would never switch parties".
However, on February 28, 2012, Snowe announced that she would be retiring from the U.S. Senate at the end of her term, citing the "atmosphere of polarization and 'my way or the highway' ideologies has become pervasive in campaigns and in our governing institutions" as the reason for her retirement. Her announcement opened the door for candidates from all parties, creating a much more contested 2012 election.
The primary election was held on June 12.

## Republican primary
### Candidates
#### On ballot

* Rick Bennett, former President of the Maine Senate
* Scott D'Amboise, former Lisbon Falls Selectman
* Deborah Plowman, state senator
* Bruce Poliquin, Maine State Treasurer
* William Schneider, Maine Attorney General
* Charlie Summers, Maine Secretary of State

#### Withdrew

* Andrew Ian Dodge, conservative activist (ran as an independent)
* Olympia Snowe, incumbent U.S. senator (retiring)

#### Declined

* Steve Abbott, athletic director at the University of Maine and candidate for governor in 2010
* Peter Cianchette, former United States Ambassador to Costa Rica and nominee for governor in 2002
* William Cohen, former United States Secretary of Defense and former U.S. Senator
* Peter Mills, executive director of the Maine Turnpike Authority, former state senator and candidate for Governor of Maine in 2002 and 2006
* Kevin Raye, President of the Maine Senate (running for U.S. House of Representatives)

#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Rick Bennett | Scott D'Amboise | Debra Plowman | Bruce Poliquin | William Schneider | Charlie Summers | Other | Undecided |
| MPRC | March 31 – April 2, 2012 | 318 | ±5.49% | 7% | 4% | 6% | 12% | 4% | 28% | — | 40% |
Republican primary
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Scott D'Amboise | Andrew Dodge | Olympia Snowe | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | March 3–6, 2011 | 434 | ±4.7% | 18% | 10% | 43% | — | 28% |
| Public Policy Polling | October 28–31, 2011 | 250 | ±6.2% | 10% | 7% | 62% | — | 20% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Olympia Snowe | Someone more conservative | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | September 2–6, 2010 | 584 | ±4.1% | 29% | 63% | — | 8% |
| Public Policy Polling | March 3–6, 2011 | 434 | ±4.7% | 33% | 58% | — | 9% |
| Public Policy Polling | October 28–31, 2011 | 250 | ±6.2% | 46% | 47% | — | 6% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Olympia Snowe | Chandler Woodcock | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | September 2–6, 2010 | 584 | ±4.1% | 33% | 38% | — | 29% |

### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Charlie Summers | 20,578 | 29.46 |
| | Republican | Bruce Poliquin | 15,973 | 22.86 |
| | Republican | Rick Bennett | 12,544 | 17.96 |
| | Republican | Scott D'Amboise | 7,735 | 11.07 |
| | Republican | William Schneider | 6,784 | 9.71 |
| | Republican | Deborah Plowman | 6,244 | 8.94 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 69,098 | 100.00 |

## Democratic primary
### Candidates
#### On the ballot

* Cynthia Dill, state senator
* Matthew Dunlap, former Maine Secretary of State
* Jon Hinck, state representative
* Benjamin Pollard, homebuilder

#### Declined

* John Baldacci, former governor of Maine and former U.S. Representative
* Emily Cain, Minority leader of the Maine House of Representatives
* Mike Michaud, U.S. Representative
* Chellie Pingree, U.S. Representative and Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2002

#### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Cynthia Dill | Matthew Dunlap | Jon Hinck | Benjamin Pollard | Other | Undecided |
| Maine People's Resource Center | March 31 – April 2, 2012 | 415 | ±4.8% | 20% | 17% | 6% | 2% | — | 55% |

### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Cynthia Dill | 22,629 | 44.31 |
| | Democratic | Matt Dunlap | 18,202 | 35.64 |
| | Democratic | Jon Hinck | 6,302 | 12.34 |
| | Democratic | Benjamin Pollard | 3,945 | 7.72 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 51,078 | 100.00 |

## General election
### Candidates

* Danny Dalton (Non-Party), former federal employee and small business owner
* Cynthia Dill (Democratic), state senator and former state representative
* Andrew Ian Dodge (independent), conservative activist affiliated with the Libertarian Party of Maine
* Angus King (independent), former governor of Maine
* Benjamin Pollard (write-in), homebuilder (lost Democratic primary)
* Charlie Summers (Republican), Secretary of State of Maine and former state senator
* Steve Woods (independent), chairman of Yarmouth Town Council and CEO of TideSmart Global

### Debates

2012 United States Senate election in Maine debates :
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Independent | Democratic | Independent | Independent | Republican | Independent |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | | | | | | |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Danny Dalton | Cynthia Dill | Andrew Ian Dodge | Angus King | Charlie Summers | Steve Woods |
| 1 | Nov. 1, 2012 | Maine Public | | C-SPAN | P | P | P | P | P | P |
| 2 | Nov. 2, 2012 | WMTW-TV | Shannon Moss | C-SPAN | P | P | P | P | P | P |

### Campaign

The group Maine People's Alliance called on Charles Summers to resign his position as Secretary of State of Maine, stating that it was a conflict of interest for the secretary of state to oversee their own election to another office. They also had concerns over past actions in sending letters to college students about voter registration requirements. A spokesperson for Summers said that he had turned over all election oversight to a deputy secretary of state, and Summers himself stated that he was not going to resign. No Secretary of State or Maine Attorney General who was seeking higher office in the last 30 years has resigned.
Steve Woods announced on August 1 that, if elected, he would donate his entire Senate salary to Maine charities chosen by an independent committee of business and nonprofit leaders he would appoint. He encouraged Angus King to make a similar pledge; King responded through his spokesperson that he and his wife would continue to donate money to charities, and that all candidates should do so in "the best way they feel they can."

#### Anti-spoiler proposal

Steve Woods met with Angus King on June 13 to discuss a proposal by Woods for either man to leave the race if it appeared one or the other was not going to win, in order to avoid being a spoiler candidate. Woods specifically cited the 2010 Maine Gubernatorial election as well as the 2000 presidential election as examples of what could result from a fragmented electorate. King stated that while he had not fully considered Woods' proposal, he didn't think he was a spoiler, in that "If I thought that, I wouldn't be running." Woods said that regardless of whether or not King accepted the proposal, he likely would abide by it and endorse King in late October if it appeared he would not win. Woods did indeed drop out and endorsed King on November 4, stating that King had the "highest degree of integrity to represent all Mainers". Woods' name, however, remained on the ballot.

#### Campaign spending issues

On June 13, Angus King held a press conference and stated that he would discourage campaign spending by outside groups if his opponents would agree to do the same. King criticized such spending as "a tidal wave of anonymous campaign expenditures that distort our political process." His proposed agreement was modeled on a similar agreement between Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown and his opponent Elizabeth Warren, which required them, if outside money is spent on their behalf, to donate an equivalent amount of money to the charity of their opponent's choice. Democrat Cynthia Dill criticized the proposal as lacking "detail or substance" but added that she "looked forward to seeing a proposed agreement." Republican Charles Summers did not state whether he would accept King's proposal or not but criticized King for discussing campaign finance instead of issues like the economy and government spending. Andrew Ian Dodge called such an agreement "unworkable", while Steve Woods said he would abide by such an agreement.
In a letter to King, Dill again stated that she was open to an agreement on limiting outside spending in the race, but she also called on King to support measures the candidates can take themselves to limit campaign spending. These include pledging to not finance their campaigns themselves and limiting contributions to $500. Dill also called on King to take stands on a variety of campaign finance legislation, such as the DISCLOSE Act. King told the Bangor Daily News the prior week that he does support increased disclosure requirements for super-PACs, but did not specifically say he supports the DISCLOSE Act. King is so far the only candidate to benefit from super-PAC money, as a group called icPurple Inc. spent $24,000 making an online advertisement for King. King stated that as part of his proposal, he would ask the group to take the ads down.
Danny Dalton stated on June 14 that he would not accept any campaign donations whatsoever, in order to assure constituents that he will represent everyone equally.
Steve Woods pledged to not spend more than $1.3 million on his campaign, or roughly $1 per Maine resident, including campaign donations and his own money. He stated, "If I can't get my message out and if the public isn't interested in that message, to spend more would be egregious."
On July 18, King was criticized for attending a fundraiser in Washington, D.C., where he raised money from PACs and other donors. Republicans said King's actions were "the height of hypocrisy" for speaking out against PAC money and raising it at the same time, while Cynthia Dill criticized King as an "insider who is working the system". King defended his actions by stating that he "took no joy" in them but that it was necessary for him to raise money to defend himself in the "dogfight" he expects. King also reiterated his support of changing campaign finance laws and said that he was making no promises to donors.

### Endorsements

* John Baldacci, former governor of Maine
* Maine State Employees Association SEIU Local 1989
* National Women's Political Caucus
* Women's Action for New Directions
* Democratic Advancement PAC
Individuals
* Lowell P. Weicker Jr., former Governor of Connecticut and former U.S. Senator (R-CT)
* Bill Richardson, former Governor of New Mexico, former United States Ambassador to the United Nations (Democratic)
* Jesse Ventura, former Governor of Minnesota (Reform)
* Alan Simpson, former U.S. Senator from Wyoming (Republican), co-chair of Simpson-Bowles Commission
* Erskine Bowles, former White House Chief of Staff, co-chair of Simpson-Bowles Commission (Democratic)
* Elizabeth Schneider, Maine State Senator (D-Penobscot)
* Joe Baldacci, former mayor of Bangor (Democratic)
* John Rohman, former mayor of Bangor
* Michael Crowley, Treasurer and Board Member of Eastern Maine Development Corporation, Former City Councilor and Mayor/Council Chair of Bangor, former President of Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce
* David Cole, former commissioner of the Maine Department of Transportation
* Yellow Light Breen, Executive Vice President of Bangor Savings Bank
* Mark Woodward, Chairman of the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce and former Executive Editor of the Bangor Daily News
Organizations
* Sierra Club
* Professional Fire Fighters of Maine
* Maine Renewable Energy Association
* American Nurses Association
* National Wildlife Federation
* Maine Credit Union League
* Council for a Livable World
* New England Regional Council of Carpenters
* Ocean Champions
* National Farmers Union
* League of Conservation Voters
* International Union of Operating Engineers Local 4
* International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council #35
* National Education Association
* Maine Education Association
* Maine State Building and Construction Trades Council
* Massachusetts and Northern New England Laborers' District Council
* Human Rights Campaign
* Seacoastonline.com
* The Maine Campus
* Sun Journal
* Bangor Daily News
* Citizens for Global Solutions
* George H. W. Bush, former President of the United States
* Susan Collins, U.S. Senator (R-ME)
* Olympia Snowe, U.S. Senator (R-ME)
* National Rifle Association of America
* United States Chamber of Commerce
* National Federation of Independent Business
* Maine Associated Builders and Contractors
* Maine Restaurant Association
* National Defense PAC
* Gary Johnson, former Governor of New Mexico and Libertarian Party nominee for President in 2012
* Libertarian Party of Maine

### Fundraising

| Candidate (party) | Receipts | Disbursements | Cash on hand | Debt |
| Angus King (I) | $937,694 | $434,250 | $503,444 | $37,742 |
| Charlie Summers (R) | $294,081 | $174,082 | $119,289 | $55,000 |
| Cynthia Dill (D) | $104,512 | $75,988 | $28,521 | $5,698 |
| Source: Federal Election Commission |||||

### Top contributors by employer

| Angus King | Contribution | Charlie Summers | Contribution | Cynthia Dill | Contribution |
| Lee Auto Mall | $15,000 | Alamo PAC | $10,000 | Auto Europe | $2,500 |
| Bernstein Shur | $13,300 | Kelly PAC | $10,000 | Thornton Academy | $2,500 |
| Bowdoin College | $11,500 | Making Business Excel PAC | $5,000 | Southern Maine Community College | $2,500 |
| Elevation Partners | $10,000 | Royal Shell Real Estate | $5,000 | Jones Day | $2,000 |
| Lee Auto Mall-Auburn | $10,000 | White Rock Distilleries | $5,000 | Quimby Foundation | $2,000 |
| International Union of Operating Engineers | $10,000 | D&G Machine Products | $3,000 | City of Middletown Connecticut | $1,000 |
| Spectrum Health | $8,950 | 3M Co. | $2,500 | Mill to the Hill PAC $1,000 | $1,000 |
| Pierce Atwood LLP | $8,500 | Doyle Group | $2,500 |
| Martin's Point Health Care | $8,250 | Speedway Motorsports, Inc. | $2,500 |
| Eaton Peabody | $6,000 | Moulison North | $2,500 |

### Top industries

| Angus King | Contribution | Charlie Summers | Contribution | Cynthia Dill | Contribution |
| Retired | $117,500 | Leadership PACs | $25,000 | Lawyers/Law Firms | $3,850 |
| Lawyers/Law Firms | $56,600 | Misc Business | $23,500 | Retired | $2,550 |
| Financial Institutions | $37,250 | Retired | $12,000 | Health Professionals | $2,500 |
| Real Estate | $26,600 | Real Estate | $6,000 | Non-Profit Institutions | $2,000 |
| Automotive Industry | $25,000 | Manufacturing & Distributing | $5,500 | Women's Issues | $1,500 |
| Misc Finance | $24,750 | Alcohol industry | $5,000 | Civil Servants/Public Officials | $1,250 |
| Education | $20,960 | General Contractors | $3,000 | Leadership PACs | $1,000 |
| Misc Business | $20,750 | Business Services | $2,750 | Misc Business | $500 |
| Health Professionals | $19,450 | Telecommunications industry | $2,500 | Construction Industry | $500 |
| Insurance | $16,750 | Insurance | $2,500 | Food Industry | $350 |

### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Tossup | November 1, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Likely I (flip) | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg Political Report | Likely I (flip) | November 2, 2012 |
| Real Clear Politics | Likely I (flip) | November 5, 2012 |

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Charlie Summers (R) | Cynthia Dill (D) | Angus King (I) | Other | Undecided |
| WBUR TV/MassInc Polling Group | June 13–14, 2012 | 506 | ±4.4% | 23% | 9% | 50% | 1% | 17% |
| Portland Press Herald/Critical Insights | June 20–25, 2012 | 615 | ±4% | 27% | 7% | 55% | 1% | 9% |
| Moore Consulting | August 5–6, 2012 | 500 | ±n/a | 28% | 8% | 46% | — | — |
| Portland Press Herald/Critical Insights | September 12–16, 2012 | 618 | ±4% | 28% | 12% | 50% | 3% | 8% |
| Maine People's Resource Center | September 15–17, 2012 | 856 | ±3.35% | 28% | 15% | 44% | 6% | 7% |
| Public Policy Polling | September 17–18, 2012 | 804 | ±3.5% | 35% | 14% | 43% | — | 8% |
| Rasmussen Reports | September 25, 2012 | 500 | ±4.5% | 33% | 14% | 45% | 1% | 7% |
| Pan Atlantic SMS | September 24–28, 2012 | 400 | ±4.9% | 24% | 12% | 50% | — | 14% |
| Portland Press Herald/Critical Insights | October 30–31, 2012 | 613 | ±4% | 33% | 11% | 49% | — | 7% |
| Public Policy Polling | November 1–2, 2012 | 1,633 | ±2.4% | 36% | 12% | 50% | — | 2% |
| Maine People's Resource Center | November 1–3, 2012 | 905 | ±3.26% | 34% | 11% | 48% | 5% | 3% |
with Olympia Snowe
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Olympia Snowe (R) | Emily Cain (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | March 3–6, 2011 | 1,246 | ±2.8% | 64% | 20% | — | 16% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Olympia Snowe (R) | Matt Dunlap (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | October 28–31, 2011 | 673 | ±3.8% | 64% | 22% | — | 15% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Olympia Snowe (R) | Jon Hinck (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | October 28–31, 2011 | 673 | ±3.8% | 65% | 18% | — | 17% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Olympia Snowe (R) | Mike Michaud (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | October 28–31, 2011 | 673 | ±3.8% | 54% | 37% | — | 9% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Olympia Snowe (R) | Chellie Pingree (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | October 28–31, 2011 | 673 | ±3.8% | 55% | 36% | — | 9% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Olympia Snowe (R) | Rosa Scarcelli (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | March 3–6, 2011 | 1,246 | ±2.8% | 66% | 18% | — | 17% |
with John Baldacci
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Rick Bennett (R) | John Baldacci (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | March 2–4, 2012 | 1,256 | ±2.8% | 41% | 43% | — | 16% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Scott D'Amboise (R) | John Baldacci (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | March 2–4, 2012 | 1,256 | ±2.8% | 36% | 48% | — | 16% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Bruce Poliquin (R) | John Baldacci (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | March 2–4, 2012 | 1,256 | ±2.8% | 35% | 50% | — | 16% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Bill Schneider (R) | John Baldacci (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | March 2–4, 2012 | 1,256 | ±2.8% | 36% | 47% | — | 17% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Charlie Summers (R) | John Baldacci (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | March 2–4, 2012 | 1,256 | ±2.8% | 39% | 48% | — | 13% |
with Emily Cain
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Scott D'Amboise (R) | Emily Cain (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | March 3–6, 2011 | 1,246 | ±2.8% | 33% | 33% | — | 34% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Andrew Ian Dodge (R) | Emily Cain (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | March 3–6, 2011 | 1,246 | ±2.8% | 30% | 32% | — | 37% |
with Matt Dunlap
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Scott D'Amboise (R) | Matt Dunlap (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | October 28–31, 2011 | 673 | ±3.8% | 23% | 31% | — | 47% |
with Rosa Scarcelli
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Scott D'Amboise (R) | Rosa Scarcelli (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | March 3–6, 2011 | 1,246 | ±2.8% | 36% | 29% | — | 35% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Andrew Ian Dodge (R) | Rosa Scarcelli (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | March 3–6, 2011 | 1,246 | ±2.8% | 33% | 29% | — | 38% |
with Pingree
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Rick Bennett (R) | Chellie Pingree (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | March 2–4, 2012 | 1,256 | ±2.8% | 39% | 52% | — | 9% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Scott D'Amboise (R) | Chellie Pingree (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | March 2–4, 2012 | 1,256 | ±2.8% | 36% | 53% | — | 12% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Bruce Poliquin (R) | Chellie Pingree (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | March 2–4, 2012 | 1,256 | ±2.8% | 33% | 54% | — | 12% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Bill Schneider (R) | Chellie Pingree (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | March 2–4, 2012 | 1,256 | ±2.8% | 35% | 53% | — | 12% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Charlie Summers (R) | Chellie Pingree (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | March 2–4, 2012 | 1,256 | ±2.8% | 37% | 53% | — | 10% |
Three-way matchups
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Scott D'Amboise (R) | Emily Cain (D) | Olympia Snowe (I) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | March 3–6, 2011 | 1,246 | ±2.8% | 21% | 17% | 54% | — | 7% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Andrew Ian Dodge (R) | Emily Cain (D) | Olympia Snowe (I) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | March 3–6, 2011 | 1,246 | ±2.8% | 19% | 15% | 56% | — | 10% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Scott D'Amboise (R) | Rosa Scarcelli (D) | Olympia Snowe (I) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | March 3–6, 2011 | 1,246 | ±2.8% | 20% | 15% | 56% | — | 9% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Charlie Summers (R) | Chellie Pingree (D) | Andrew Ian Dodge (I) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | March 2–4, 2012 | 1,256 | ±2.8% | 33% | 49% | 9% | — | 8% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Charlie Summers (R) | Chellie Pingree (D) | Angus King (I) | Other | Undecided |
| Public Policy Polling | March 2–4, 2012 | 1,256 | ±2.8% | 28% | 31% | 36% | — | 5% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Charlie Summers (R) | Matt Dunlap (D) | Angus King (I) | Other | Undecided |
| Maine People's Resource Center | March 31 – April 2, 2012 | 996 | ±3.11% | 22% | 12% | 56% | — | 10% |

### Results

United States Senate election in Maine, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Independent | Angus King | 370,580 | 52.89% | N/A |
| | Republican | Charlie Summers | 215,399 | 30.75% | −43.26% |
| | Democratic | Cynthia Dill | 92,900 | 13.26% | −7.33% |
| | Independent | Steve Woods (withdrawn) | 10,289 | 1.47% | N/A |
| | Independent | Danny Dalton | 5,807 | 0.83% | N/A |
| | Independent | Andrew Ian Dodge | 5,624 | 0.80% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 700,599 | 100.00% | N/A |
| | Independent gain from Republican | Independent gain from Republican | Independent gain from Republican | Independent gain from Republican | Independent gain from Republican |

#### Counties that flipped from Republican to Independent

* Androscoggin (largest city: Lewiston)
* Aroostook (largest city: Presque Isle)
* Cumberland (largest municipality: Portland)
* Franklin (largest town: Farmington)
* Hancock (largest municipality: Ellsworth)
* Knox (largest municipality: Rockland)
* Kennebec (largest city: Augusta)
* Oxford (largest town: Rumford)
* Penobscot (largest city: Bangor)
* Piscataquis (largest municipality: Dover-Foxcroft)
* Somerset (largest town: Skowhegan)
* Washington (largest city: Calais)
* Lincoln (Largest city: Waldoboro)
* Waldo (Largest city: Belfast)
* Sagadahoc (largest town:Bath)
* York (largest town:Biddeford)

#### By congressional district

King won both congressional districts, which both elected Democrats.
| District | King | Summers | Dill | Representative |
| 1st | 56.14% | 27.95% | 13.17% | Chellie Pingree |
| 2nd | 49.26% | 33.88% | 13.36% | Mike Michaud |