Results

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At G Ratings, we conducted a statewide public opinion survey to measure electoral preferences and the political climate ahead of the 2026 Maine General Election.

We surveyed adults aged 18 and older residing in Maine who confirmed that they were registered to vote and intended to participate in the upcoming election.

In this study, we present the latest findings on voter preference for Governor, voter preference for the U.S. Senate, political affiliation, the main issues facing Maine, and the demographic profile of respondents.

The results show Hannah Pingree leading the gubernatorial race with 50.7%, while Troy Jackson holds a narrow lead in the U.S. Senate race with 47.7%.

General Election Preference for Governor

If the 2026 general election for Governor of Maine were held today, respondents expressed the following voting preferences:

1. Hannah Pingree: 50.7%
2. Bobby Charles: 38.1%
3. Rick Bennett: 5.6%
4. None: 5.6%

The results indicate that Hannah Pingree begins the general election campaign with a double-digit advantage, while Bobby Charles remains the principal Republican challenger. Rick Bennett and voters selecting none account for the remaining share of the electorate.

General Election Preference for U.S. Senate

At G Ratings, we also surveyed voter preferences for the 2026 U.S. Senate election in Maine.

1. Troy Jackson: 47.7%
2. Susan Collins: 45.3%
3. None: 7.0%

The findings reveal a highly competitive Senate race, with Troy Jackson holding a narrow lead over incumbent Susan Collins. The small margin suggests that the contest remains highly competitive heading into the election cycle.

Political Affiliation of Respondents

At G Ratings, we measured the political affiliation of survey participants. The results reflect a politically competitive electorate.

1. Democratic affiliation: 46.8%
2. Republican affiliation: 35.5%
3. Independent or other affiliation: 17.7%

The presence of a significant independent voting bloc highlights its potential influence on both statewide races.

Main Issues Facing Maine

We surveyed respondents about what they consider the most important issue facing Maine today. The results show that the economy remains voters’ top priority.

1. Economy, jobs, inflation, and taxes: 28.7%
2. Foreign policy: 19.9%
3. Immigration: 18.7%
4. Healthcare: 12.5%
5. State of democracy: 8.2%
6. Education: 5.0%
7. Crime: 4.0%
8. Abortion access: 3.0%

These findings indicate that economic conditions, international affairs, immigration, and healthcare continue to shape the political agenda in Maine as voters prepare for the 2026 elections.

Demographic Profile of the Survey

The survey included a demographic profile across gender, age, and ethnicity.

By gender, respondents were distributed as follows:

1. Female: 52.5%
2. Male: 47.5%

By age group, respondents were distributed as follows:

1. 18–29 years: 13.5%
2. 30–39 years: 19.9%
3. 40–49 years: 16.4%
4. 50–59 years: 21.3%
5. 60–69 years: 18.6%
6. 70 years or older: 10.3%

By ethnicity, the survey recorded the following composition:

1. White or Caucasian: 85.5%
2. Hispanic or Latino: 5.6%
3. Black or African American: 3.1%
4. Asian: 1.3%
5. Other or multiple races: 4.5%

Methodology

At G Ratings, we conducted this survey among 850 complete questionnaires from adults aged 18 and older residing in Maine.

Fieldwork was conducted between July 18 and July 22, 2026. During this period, participants confirmed that they were registered to vote and intended to participate in the upcoming election.

The study used a non-probability sample design, balanced by relevant demographic and geographic variables, including gender, age group, region, education level, and ethnicity.

This process employed Odysseus, a technological platform developed by G Ratings by GobernArte S.C., incorporating algorithmic models designed to ensure a distribution consistent with reference population parameters.

Data collection was conducted through self-administered digital questionnaires accessible on mobile devices and computers. The survey was administered in English.

For a sample size of 850 questionnaires, the theoretical margin of error is estimated between ±3.5% and ±5%, assuming a 95% confidence level and simple random sampling. Because this study uses a non-probability design, the margin of error should be interpreted as an approximate statistical reference rather than an exact estimate of total study error.

The completion rate was approximately 50%, based on eligible individuals who initiated the digital questionnaire.

G Ratings compared the demographic composition of the sample with publicly available voter registration and census benchmarks to improve representativeness across the state.

G Ratings adhered to current United States legislation regarding the protection, privacy, and confidentiality of personal data. All information provided by participants was treated anonymously and used exclusively for statistical research and public opinion analysis.

This survey was commissioned, conducted, funded, and analyzed by G Ratings, a company incorporated in the state of Florida, USA, solely for informational purposes and was neither commissioned nor funded by any candidate, political campaign, or political party.