Press Herald teams up with The New York Times & Siena Research Institute on important polls ahead of 2026 Election
Updated: Sep 24
“As Maine goes, so goes the nation.” That famous political adage has extra meaning during the 2026 election season, as Maine voters will play an outsized role in determining the balance of power in Washington.
The Portland Press Herald is proud to collaborate with The New York Times and the Siena Research Institute to deliver several polls ahead of the critical 2026 elections. The Times/Siena polls are widely cited nationwide and across the world as a key indicator of how voters are leaning. They involve hundreds of live phone calls with voters and consistently rank among the most accurate polls in the nation.
The first poll the Press Herald partnered on, released in June, showed a tight race for Maine’s U.S. Senate seat as voters weighed a choice between Democrat Graham Platner and Republican incumbent Susan Collins.
With Graham Platner now out of the race, Democrat Troy Jackson became the party's new nominee. The second poll's results, released Sept. 24, still show a tight race, with Susan Collins having the slight edge.
The poll of 619 registered Maine voters highlighted "Maine's finicky electorate" and included several other key takeaways.
Stay tuned for more poll results from this exciting collaboration!
