In Maine’s high-stakes U.S. Senate race, much has been made of the controversies surrounding the Democratic Party’s nominee, Graham Platner. Given widespread coverage about Platner’s personal life, a central question of the race has become: How much will Platner’s perceived personal baggage matter in November?

According to a New York Times/Press Herald/Siena poll, the vast majority of voters have heard about the controversies surrounding Platner, and many don’t care.

The survey found that 93% of respondents had heard about Platner’s controversial tattoo, offensive online posts or sexting of other women early in his marriage. That includes 76% of voters who have heard “a lot” about the controversies. He led Collins in the poll by two points overall.

Thirty-nine percent of voters, including 35% of independents, said the controversies have had no impact on their support. Another 28% said they could not support him amid the scandals, and 24% said his history has made them question whether to back him.

The poll found that 93% of Platner’s supporters are behind him because of his policies, rather than his character or moral values.

Nickolas T., a poll respondent who asked that his last name be withheld because his work involves federal funding, said he’s backing Platner despite his concerns about his personal past because it’s time for a new generation of leadership

The 30-year-old Standish resident thinks Collins, 73, is “incredibly disingenuous” for casting herself as a moderate, when she supports Trump nearly 95% of the time, according to a CQ Roll Call analysis.

“The amount of issues that have come up as a whole do give me some legitimate concerns around character,” he said of Platner. “My enthusiasm has definitely died down a bit, but from a policy perspective, I’m willing to kind of roll the dice.”

Platner’s campaign seized on the poll as evidence that voters value substance over the coverage of Platner’s past.

“The poll … makes clear that despite all the distractions, this race is about the issues,” Platner’s campaign said in a news release. “After months of attacks and national media attention, Maine voters know where Graham stands—and they are backing him because of what he is fighting for.”

Democrats need to flip four seats to take over the Senate. If they do that, they will be able to mount stronger opposition to President Donald Trump and Republicans, who control both chambers of Congress.

That’s the most important thing to voters like David Itchkawich, an 88-year-old Portland Democrat.

“I think the Republican Party is corrupt and is more like the mafia,” Itchkawich said. “For me, it’s just hard to believe that everything that I love about America is being trashed.”

Fifty-four percent of respondents said they preferred Democratic control of the Senate, compared to 42% who want Republican control. But some who say they want Democratic control are willing to support Collins: She’s in a statistical tie with Platner in the larger poll.

The survey found that likely voters generally hold Collins in a higher regard than they hold Platner, with 66% of respondents saying she has “good character” and 61% saying she has “the right kind of moral values.” Only 34% of respondents said Collins was too extreme.

Meanwhile, 44% of likely voters said Platner has good character and 45% of respondents said he had the right moral values. And 47% of voters said he was too extreme.

“Maine people know Susan Collins,” campaign spokesperson Shawn Roderick said in a written statement. “They know her unmatched work ethic, they respect her character and integrity, and they trust her to put Maine first. That’s a reputation she has earned by consistently showing up, listening, and delivering results for the people of our state.”

A major electoral liability for Collins’ appeared to be how voters view her handling of President Donald Trump’s agenda. The poll found widespread dissatisfaction with Trump (38% approval) and his policies, which 56% of respondents said hurt the state.

While Collins is one of the most bipartisan Republican senators, according to CQ Roll Call, 54% of voters surveyed said she’s too supportive of the administration.

To some voters, those factors justify taking a risk on Platner, who has never held elected office.

Paula Howland said she likes Platner’s support for Medicare for All and his refusal to take campaign money from the pro-Israel group, AIPAC.

The 63-year-old Cornish resident said she’s ready to take a leap of faith that Platner won’t back down from any of his campaign promises.

“I’m hoping that he keeps with his policies that he has right now because most politicians have a tendency to do the bait-and-switch,” Howland said. “I guess you have to hope for the best.”

Even some former supporters of Collins, who as chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee has directed $1.5 billion in earmarks to the state in the last five years, are willing to gamble on Platner because they think he will make better decisions for the nation as a whole.

Kirstin McQuillan, a 50-year-old Sidney resident, said Platner’s flaws make him more relatable as a human being.

“He’s not like the traditional politician,” said McQuillan, a survey respondent who voted for Collins in 2020. “But we definitely have a president that wasn’t a traditional politician either — good, bad or indifferent.”

She added, “It’s just crazy times and I guess why not try something crazy?”

Several Platner supporters said they’re willing to cut their candidate a break since Republicans have a history of supporting leaders with checkered personal backgrounds, including Trump, who has been found civilly liable for sexual assault and who was convicted of multiple felonies.

“How anyone in the Republican Party feels they have the right to criticize anyone for their personal behavior — I just find unbelievable,” said Alice Cahn, a 72-year-old Rockport resident.

Cahn said she’s listened carefully to Platner talk about his past and take responsibility for his mistakes.

“I don’t see it as a failure of character — I see it as mistakes that were made,” Cahn said. “I do think that this is somebody who has the best interests of the future of my children at heart.”

Platner has attributed his controversial online posts to depression and post-traumatic stress disorder from four combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, saying he took to the dark corners of the internet for community.

Since returning home to Sullivan, where he operates a small oyster farm, Platner said he’s found healing and redemption by reconnecting with his childhood community and getting therapy.

Many of Platner’s supporters have accepted his story of personal transformation.

Mike McMillen said he knows Platner personally and can vouch for his character and integrity. The 81-year-old Brooksville resident said Platner’s critics don’t fully appreciate the trauma caused by combat.

“He’s owned his mistakes,” McMillen said. “He said that with the help of his wife and all of his supporters, he’s getting better every day. I believe him. I’ve seen it.”

Editor’s note: This story was updated on June 30 to correctly state Kirstin McQuillan’s age.