Maine governor's race tied in new Marist poll
Democrat Hannah Pingree and Republican Bobby Charles each draw 44% among likely voters, while the U.S. Senate race between Troy Jackson and Susan Collins is within 2 points.
AUGUSTA, Maine — Democrat Hannah Pingree and Republican Bobby Charles are tied in the race for Maine governor, according to a Marist Poll released Tuesday, one week before Election Day.
Pingree and Charles each received 44% among likely voters, the poll found. Independent Rick Bennett drew 6%, and 6% were undecided.
Independent voters leaned toward Pingree, who had 43% to Charles' 35% and Bennett's 12% among independents likely to vote. Pingree held an 11-point lead in the wider pool of registered voters. Asked who they expect to win regardless of whom they support, 63% of likely voters said Pingree.
Senate race within 2 points
In the U.S. Senate race, Democrat Troy Jackson had 49% to 47% for Republican Sen. Susan Collins among likely voters. Jackson led Collins 50% to 41% among independents likely to vote.
Among registered voters, Jackson's lead grew to 9 points, up from 4 points in a Marist survey earlier this month. Still, 58% of likely voters said they expect Collins to be reelected.
On the generic congressional ballot, 52% of likely voters said they back the Democrat in their district and 47% the Republican. Democrats' edge widened to 11 points among registered voters.
Trump and the economy
Marist said negative views of President Donald Trump and economic worries are shaping the race. Among likely voters, 42% approve of Trump's job performance and 58% disapprove.
Asked about Trump's role in their congressional vote, 42% of likely voters said he is not much of a factor, 41% said their vote is a vote against him and 16% said it is a vote in support of him.
A plurality of likely voters, 46%, said their personal finances have gotten worse in the past year, while 15% said they have improved and 38% said they have stayed about the same.
The poll surveyed 1,449 registered voters in Maine from Oct. 22 to 25 by phone, text and online. Results for likely voters have a margin of error of plus or minus 6.6 percentage points, and results for registered voters have a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 points.