According to a recent CNN poll conducted by SSRS, the Senate races in both Maine and Michigan are extremely close, with no clear front‑runner among likely voters. The poll, fielded online and by phone from August 31 to September 6, surveyed 880 likely voters in Maine (margin of error ± 3.7 points) and 843 in Michigan (margin of error ± 4.1 points).
Maine: Collins vs. Jackson
In Maine, incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins trails Democratic nominee Troy Jackson 48% to 45%, a margin that falls within the poll’s sampling error. Voters cite both candidates’ national implications as a key factor: 53% say control of the Senate is their top consideration, and nearly half point to the state of U.S. democracy as a primary issue.
Negative views of President Trump dominate the Maine electorate, with roughly two‑thirds disapproving of his performance. Economic worries also loom large; a better‑than‑two‑to‑one majority say they are worse off than two years ago. Despite these concerns, Jackson’s supporters are motivated more by opposition to Collins than by enthusiasm for Jackson, while Collins’ backers show a lower level of opposition‑driven voting.
Michigan: Rogers vs. El‑Sayed
In Michigan’s open‑seat contest, former GOP Rep. Mike Rogers holds a narrow lead over Democratic candidate Dr. Abdul El‑Sayed, with 44% to 47% support respectively – a split that sits inside the poll’s margin of error. Among Republican‑leaning voters, Rogers enjoys overwhelming backing (97%). Democratic voters favor El‑Sayed (90%) and independents lean toward him (48% to 32%).
About a quarter of Michigan’s likely voters remain undecided, a figure that rises to 40% among Black voters and 36% among independents. While 47% of respondents say the candidates’ issue positions are the most important factor, only 31% prioritize partisan control of the Senate, and 22% cite character and experience.
Economic concerns again dominate: a strong majority say they are worse off than two years ago, and fewer than 15% view recent tariffs on Canadian goods positively. President Trump’s approval remains low in both states, with roughly two‑thirds disapproving of his performance.
Broader voter sentiment
Across both states, Democrats appear more motivated to vote than Republicans, mirroring a national trend in midterm polling. Among the most motivated voters, Democrats lead handily. However, many voters remain undecided or lack a firm opinion on the candidates, especially younger voters and those identifying as independents.
The poll also notes that while El‑Sayed’s positions on Israel were a point of contention in the Democratic primary, only 3% of likely voters statewide consider U.S. policy toward Israel the top issue, and a majority (54%) believe the United States is doing too much to help Israel.
In the concurrent gubernatorial race in Michigan, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson leads Republican Rep. John James 50% to 41%, while in Maine’s gubernatorial contest Democrat Hannah Pingree leads Republican Bobby Charles 52% to 39%.
These findings suggest that economic anxiety, low approval of President Trump, and partisan control of the Senate are shaping voter preferences in both states as the 2026 midterm elections approach.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
