Quinnipiac polls: Gideon leads Collins in Maine; South Carolina Senate race tied

James Arkin
·2 min read

Sara Gideon narrowly leads Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine, according to a new survey from Quinnipiac University,

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell holds a narrow edge over Democrat Amy McGrath in Kentucky and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is tied with Democrat Jaime Harrison, according to the surveys.

Maine is considered one of the key, majority-making races on the 2020 Senate map, and both parties have invested significant resources into the state. Republicans, meanwhile, are still considered favorites in Kentucky and South Carolina — though Democrats are watching the two red states as expansion targets, and their candidates have raised eye-popping sums.

Gideon leads Collins, 47 percent to 43 percent, with 6 percent of voters undecided, according to the survey. Both candidates have mostly consolidated support among their respective parties, while independents in the survey break narrowly for Gideon.

Collins has an underwater favorability rating, according to the survey, with 42 percent viewing her favorably compared to 49 percent unfavorably. Gideon's image is above water, but nearly one-quarter of voters do not have an opinion about her.

In South Carolina, Harrison and Graham are tied with 44 percent each, while 9 percent of voters said they are undecided. Both have consolidated support within their parties, while independents in the survey broke for Harrison.

In Kentucky, McConnell leads McGrath, 49 percent to 44 percent, with 5 percent of voters undecided. McConnell's favorability is slightly underwater, with 43 percent of voters viewing him favorably and 48 percent viewing him unfavorably. McGrath is also underwater, with 32 percent of voters viewing her favorably and 42 percent viewing her unfavorably — with one-quarter of voters saying they haven't heard enough to form an opinion.

The surveys were conducted from July 30 through Aug. 3. In Maine, the poll surveyed surveyed 807 registered voters with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

In Kentucky, it surveyed 909 registered voters with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points.

In South Carolina, it surveyed 914 registered voters with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points.