Maine Gov. Janet Mills continues to see her favorability rating rise since dipping below 50% earlier this year, according to a new poll by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center.

Among 844 Mainers surveyed between June 19-23, 51% had a favorable opinion of Mills, while 41% were unfavorable. Democrats were overwhelmingly supportive, but only 33% of independents have a favorable view of the governor.

In a slightly different question, 55% of respondents said they approved of the job Mills was doing as governor, up from 48% in February.

Mills, who is nearing the end of her second term, has faced some pressure from the national Democratic Party to challenge U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, whose favorability is significantly lower, according to the UNH poll.

Just 14% of those polled viewed Collins favorably, while 57% had an unfavorable opinion. Even among Republicans, Collins’ favorability stands at only 29%.

Collins, who is seeking a sixth term, once enjoyed high approval ratings, but they have declined sharply since 2018, in large part over her votes to confirm conservative Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade, including Brett Kavanaugh.

Despite lower approval ratings, Collins was reelected in 2020 by a comfortable margin, at a time when many saw her as vulnerable.

Two Democrats – Jordan Wood and David Costello – have filed paperwork to run for Collins’ seat this year, but neither is well known.

UNH also polled Mainers on the race between U.S. Rep. Jared Golden and former Maine Gov. Paul LePage. If the election were held today, 50% said they would vote for LePage, while 47% chose Golden.

Golden, a Democrat representing Maine’s rural and largely conservative 2nd Congressional District, is in his fourth 2-year term, but he has never gotten more than 53% support in any general election. LePage served two terms as governor and was well liked by members of his party, but was considered a polarizing figure overall.