A Fox News statewide poll released on August 12, 2026, shows that Maine voters have concerns about both U.S. Senate candidates. The poll indicates that 55% of voters are worried about Republican incumbent Senator Susan Collins' alignment with President Donald Trump, while 43% express concerns about Democratic challenger Troy Jackson's ties to the Democratic Socialist movement. Collins has been in the Senate since 1997 and won her last term in 2020 by nearly 9 percentage points.
The survey reveals that Jackson currently leads Collins by 2 percentage points, 48% to 46%, which is within the margin of error. This represents a shift from June when Collins was ahead of her previous opponent, Graham Platner, by 3 points. Jackson's support has increased among key demographics, including voters under 45 and women with a college degree.
The poll also highlights that 61% of Jackson's supporters are primarily voting against Collins, while 71% of Collins' backers are voting for her. Voter sentiment shows that inflation is the top issue for one-third of respondents, followed by immigration and healthcare. The poll was conducted with a sample of 1,000 Maine registered voters and has a margin of error of ±3 percentage points.