Maine Sen. Susan Collins has edge over Democratic challenger in new poll
Collins leads Jackson in the Times/Siena poll, though another poll cited in the article gives Jackson the lead.
SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYCredibility rates AOL.com, which republished this story. The other scores rate the article itself.
The page attributes the reporting to the USA TODAY Network and says the article originally appeared on USA TODAY. The underlying outlet is an established national newsroom, although the page provides limited information here about corrections or editorial processes.
- Source type — The article is attributed to USA TODAY Network, an established national news organization.
- Author attribution — A named reporter and contributing reporter are credited.
- Transparency — The page identifies the original publisher and names polling sources, but gives little detail about editorial or correction policies.
The article gives poll percentages, sample size, field dates and named polling organizations, and compares the result with another poll. It includes relevant context and attributes the allegations about Collins’ team while also reporting her denial, though the poll’s uncertainty and other methodological details are not explored.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The article provides polling that favors each candidate in different surveys and includes context that could help or hurt either campaign. It reports allegations involving Collins’ team with her denial, although the piece is primarily a polling story and does not extensively examine the allegations.
- Counterarguments presented — A separate poll showing Jackson ahead is included, alongside the Times/Siena result favoring Collins.
- Source diversity — The article cites several polling organizations and includes Collins’ response to the allegations.
- Omitted context — The polling methodology and the allegations receive limited further examination.
The article reports competing poll results, voter attitudes and campaign context in largely neutral language. It does not clearly favor either candidate or party.
- Language tone — The wording is mostly descriptive and attributes claims to pollsters and other sources.
- Source selection — It presents results from two different polls and includes views on both candidates and Senate control.
- Framing — The article frames the story as a comparison of polling and electoral context rather than an endorsement.
Republished with credit
Republished from USA Today, with credit to the original publisher.
13 stories · 79–84 · updated Oct 5, 2026
This is USA Today's own score, and this article is credited to USA Today. The host score in the Source Check is AOL.com's.
A New York Times/Siena poll gives Sen. Susan Collins a three-point lead over Democratic nominee Troy Jackson in Maine’s Senate race, though a separate poll cited in the article puts Jackson ahead. The story also notes that the poll largely preceded newly reported allegations involving Collins’ reelection team, which she denies.
The Times/Siena poll, conducted Sept. 15–22 among 619 Maine voters, found 49% likely to vote for Collins and 46% for Jackson. The article says this was Jackson’s weakest showing in a public poll since entering the race in July, while a UMass Lowell/YouGov poll taken Aug. 28–Sept. 14 showed him leading by five points. The Times/Siena poll was largely conducted before ProPublica published new allegations about Collins’ team and her 2020 reelection campaign; Collins denied them and called the story a “partisan hit job.”
The article also reports that a majority of voters surveyed across Maine, New Hampshire and Michigan preferred Democratic control of the Senate, while 12% of Maine voters wanted that outcome but planned to vote for Collins. It describes Collins’ favorable standing and history of outperforming her party in Maine, alongside challenges for both candidates and the Democrats’ replacement of Graham Platner with Jackson after Platner withdrew from the race.
Community verdict
VOTING CLOSED
No good or bad look here
This story reports what happened without casting Collins in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Collins’s record.
People in this story
SWIPE →
Democratic nominee challenging Collins for Maine’s Senate seat
Jackson's version of this story ↗
President discussed as a factor in Maine’s Senate race
Former Democratic Senate primary winner who withdrew from the race
Part of a bigger story
10 OUTLETSA poll put Susan Collins three points ahead of Democratic nominee Troy Jackson in Maine’s Senate race. Left-leaning outlets present the result as a narrow, uncertain lead, noting the margin of error and competing polls. Center outlets place it alongside other surveys and the race’s potential effect on Senate control. Right-leaning outlets emphasize the result as a boost for Collins, with one article arguing that poll weighting may understate Republican support.
- ARTICLES
- 11
- OUTLETS
- 10
- AVG CRED
- 68
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