A new independent poll shows Republican Bobby Charles and Democrat Nirav Shah at the top of their respective gubernatorial primaries.

The poll conducted by Pan Atlantic Research released Tuesday offered a rare independent analysis of the high-stakes race to replace Gov. Janet Mills. Five Democrats and Seven Republicans are in the primary field. The primary winners on June 9 will square off in November.

On the Democratic side, Shah, the former Maine Center for Disease Control Director, was the top choice for 29% of voters. He was followed by entrepreneur Angus King III (24%), former Senate President Troy Jackson (12%), Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (10%) and former Mills administration official Hannah Pingree (9%).

Sixteen percent of the 402 Democratic respondents were undecided on their top ranking.

After accounting for respondents’ second choices, Shah maintained his lead at 39%, followed by King (33%), Pingree (32%) and Bellows (31%).

“This poll confirms what we keep seeing on the ground in every corner of this state: Nirav Shah has the momentum in this race, and Mainers are excited to vote for him,” a Shah spokesperson said in a statement.

On the Republican side, lobbyist and former government official Bobby Charles remained the clear front-runner with 36% of respondents ranking him number one.

But a significant percentage of the 287 people who replied — 22% — remain undecided on their top choice, leaving room for candidates to maneuver.

Charles was followed by entrepreneur Jonathan Bush and former Senate Majority Leader Garrett Mason, who were the first choices of 20% and 13% of respondents, respectively.

After accounting for respondents’ second choices, Charles’ support increased to 43%, Bush rose to 36% and Mason got 32%.

In a memo sent to reporters, Bush’s campaign said the poll indicated momentum for their candidate. The memo noted that the campaign has planned an advertising blitz for the last three weeks of the primary.

“Bobby Charles is and has been out of money,” the memo reads. “The gap will continue to close.”

The Republican primary also includes real estate broker David Jones, medical technology entrepreneur Owen McCarthy, former fitness franchise executive Ben Midgley and Paris retail manager Robert Wessels.

Midgley’s campaign blasted the survey, calling it a “false poll by Democrat party pollsters.”

“Today, Democrat firm Pan Atlantic has released another ‘poll’ trying to pick the Republican nominee for Governor,” Midgley spokesperson Lauren LePage said. “We are not buying it.”

Seventy-five percent of those surveyed said the high cost of living and inflation were their top issues, followed by healthcare and housing.