A new SurveyUSA poll finds Congressman Jared Golden leading Republican challenger Austin Theriault by a double-digit 53-41 percent margin.
The survey is an outlier compared to previous polls that showed a tight race. The last poll had Theriault leading Golden by three points.
Polling released by the University of New Hampshire last week shows a deadlocked race in the 2nd District. The poll puts Golden at 45 percent to Theriault’s 44 percent, painting a picture of a much tighter race.
The SurveyUSA poll shows 6 percent of voters are undecided in the race. Golden leads by 30 points among seniors, but by just 4-5 points among those 35 to 64. Among those 18 to 34, the contest is tied.
Along party lines, 92 percent of Democrats favored Golden while 77 percent of Republicans chose Theriault. Theriault has a narrow 2-point advantage among those who have attended but not graduated college, while Golden leads by 12 among those with high school educations and by 24 among college graduates.
The race is expected to be close and is being closely watched nationally because it could impact which party controls the House of Representatives.
Independent Angus King is favored to get a third term in the US Senate in the SurveyUSA poll, winning 54 percent of first-choice votes to 28 percent for Republican Demi Kouzounas, 8 percent for Democrat David Costello, and 3 percent for Independent Jason Cherry. It shows 8 percent are undecided in the Senate race.
First District voters favor Democrat Chellie Pingree to win a ninth term in the US House, according to the poll. She received 60 percent of first-choice votes, leading Republican Ronald Russell, who got 28 percent, and Independent Ethan Alcorn, who received 4 percent. Voters were 7 percent undecided.
The SurveyUSA poll shows former President Donald Trump winning Maine’s 2nd District 49 to 44 percent. Trump carried that district in last two presidential elections. In Maine’s 1st Congressional District, Harris 58-37 percent over Trump.
Vice President Kamala Harris lead Trump 51-43 percent statewide. Green Party candidate Jill Stein, Libertarian Chase Oliver, and Independent Cornel West each received 1 percent of the vote A total of 4 percent were undecided.
The poll shows Maine voters oppose changing the state flag by a 52-33 percent margin with 15 percent undecided. Question 5 on the state ballot asks Mainers if they want to change the current blue flag with the state seal, to one similar to Maine’s original flag from 1901, which has a pine tree and blue star. “Yes” leads “No” only among very liberal voters, where it leads by 37 points, and among the youngest voters, where it leads by 3.
