# Kansas, Maine Senate races neck-and-neck: CNN poll

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/kansas-maine-senate-races-neck-and-neck-cnn-poll/
- Published: 2026-10-29T21:47:36+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-04T00:32:55+00:00
- Original publisher: The Hill (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6182720-hamilton-jackson-ahead-cnn-poll/
- Topics: Americas, Art, Culture, Elections, Government, Politics, World

## Key points

- Democrats lead 49% to 45% in both state polls.
- Both leads are within the margin of sampling error.
- The contests could affect control of the Senate.

## Summary

A CNN poll conducted by SSRS found close US Senate races in Kansas and Maine in the final days before the 2026 midterm election. Among likely voters in each state, the Democratic challenger led the Republican incumbent by 49% to 45%: Adam Hamilton over Roger Marshall in Kansas, and Troy Jackson over Susan Collins in Maine. Both four-point gaps fall within the polls’ margins of sampling error, so neither race has a clear leader. The surveys were conducted from 20 to 26 October, with margins of error of ±4.5 percentage points in both states.

Kansas is an unusually competitive prospect for Democrats: the party has not won a Senate election there since 1932. Maine has long been seen as a possible Democratic gain, although Collins has won re-election before in a state that votes Democratic in presidential contests. The polling suggests the two seats could matter to the fight for Senate control, while leaving the outcome of either contest uncertain. More than nine in ten likely voters in Maine said they had settled on a candidate; in Kansas, some voters said they could still change their minds.

## Coverage

- [The Hill: Kansas, Maine Senate races neck-and-neck: CNN poll](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6182720-hamilton-jackson-ahead-cnn-poll/)
- [SSRS: Democrats in striking distance: New CNN polls in four states highlight Democrats’ path to Senate majority](https://ssrs.com/news/democrats-in-striking-distance-new-cnn-polls-in-four-states-highlight-democrats-path-to-senate-majority/)
- [CNN: Democrats in striking distance: New CNN polls in four states highlight party’s path to Senate majority](https://www.kq2.com/cnn/cnn-us-politics/2026/10/29/democrats-in-striking-distance-new-cnn-polls-in-four-states-highlight-partys-path-to-senate-majority/)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.