The CBS News/YouGov poll finds incumbent Republican Susan Collins tied with Democrat Troy Jackson in Maine, where Collins draws support from some Democrats and voters focused on state issues and holds an edge on delivering federal funds. Jackson leads among voters who say Trump’s policies have harmed the state and among those seeking change, but about 10% remain persuadable. Primary dissatisfaction and ticket-splitting—Jackson trails Democratic gubernatorial nominee Hannah Pingree—add volatility to a race that could still swing either way. The survey of 1,114 registered voters was conducted Sept. 23–Oct. 1, 2026; MOE ±4.7 points.
CBS News/YouGov Poll: Collins and Jackson Deadlocked as Maine Voters Split Between State and National Concerns
Maine’s U.S. Senate contest is unusually insulated from national political currents, with incumbent Republican Susan Collins locked in a tie with Democrat Troy Jackson in a state that generally leans Democratic. A CBS News/YouGov survey of 1,114 registered Maine voters finds the race effectively even as voters weigh local priorities against broader national dynamics.
Key Poll Findings
Collins draws support from a notable share of registered Democrats and from voters who say they are prioritizing state issues over national politics, helping her keep the race level. She also holds an advantage on the question of which candidate voters trust to bring more federal funding to Maine.
Jackson’s strength comes from voters who believe Collins is too aligned with President Trump, from those opposed to tariffs, from voters motivated to give national Democrats control of the Senate, and from people who prioritize change over incumbency and experience. Overall, many respondents say Trump’s policies have hurt Maine’s economy, and Jackson wins most of those voters.
Notable dynamics include the fact that Collins wins roughly one in five voters who say they disapprove of Donald Trump—an unusually high defection rate compared with national patterns for Republican congressional candidates. Even among voters who say Jackson’s policies would leave them financially better off, Collins still captures nearly one in five.
Undecided Voters, Primaries, And Ticket Splitting
About 10% of respondents say they could still change their minds, a bloc large enough to swing the result. The primary season appears to have left scars: four in 10 Democrats and a majority of independents say they would have preferred a different Democratic nominee. Jackson also trails the Democratic nominee for governor, Hannah Pingree, whose lead reflects the state’s overall partisan tilt; some Pingree backers are splitting their tickets to support Collins for Senate.
Survey details: This CBS News/YouGov poll interviewed a representative sample of 1,114 registered voters in Maine between Sept. 23 and Oct. 1, 2026. The sample was weighted by gender, age, race and education using U.S. Census data, and by the 2024 presidential vote. The margin of error for registered voters is ±4.7 percentage points.
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