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A new statewide poll shows Nirav Shah leading the Democratic primary for governor in Maine, with his campaign attributing the surge to the “deep trust” he built during his tenure at the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the growing enthusiasm surrounding his candidacy.
According to a statement released by his campaign on December 10, the Pan Atlantic Research Poll conducted from November 29 to December 7 found that 24 percent of likely Democratic primary voters said they would “likely support” Shah in the 2026 gubernatorial race, placing him ahead of all other candidates surveyed.
Responding to the poll, Shah released a statement saying, “I’m honored and humbled by the support Mainers are showing in this campaign. What I hear every day as I travel across the state — from nurses and small business owners to teachers and retirees — is that Maine people are ready for something different.”
He said voters are seeking a leader prepared to confront major challenges, including rising living and housing costs, an economy that is not working for many residents, and a health care system that he warned is “struggling and will only get worse because of Trump.”
“This poll reflects that hunger for change, but it’s only one data point. I’m running to earn Mainers’ trust every single day by listening, learning, and offering real solutions to the challenges families face,” he added.
Campaign Manager Kayla vanWieringen said Shah’s early lead reflects the confidence many Mainers developed in him during the pandemic.
“Mainers saw Nirav Shah lead with clarity, compassion, and courage during one of the most difficult moments in our state’s history,” she said. “That trust didn’t disappear — it has become the foundation of a movement. These results show Mainers believe he is the person to guide us through the challenges ahead as our next Governor.”
Shah’s campaign platform centers on making Maine “more affordable, strengthening health care, supporting working families, and delivering real results for communities across the state,” according to his team.
His campaign leadership said Shah’s rise mirrors the qualities Mainers valued in him during his public health leadership: steady judgment, clear communication, and a strong commitment to the state’s well-being.
“As we talk with voters across Maine, the message is unmistakable,” vanWieringen said. “People believe in Nirav because they’ve already seen him deliver when it mattered most.”
