Poll Hub

The 2026 midterm results are in! We break down who won, highlight the races that made the biggest impact, and discuss what the outcomes could mean for the future of American politics, from control of Congress to the gubernatorial races. We also look back at the contests we polled this fall, from Texas and Iowa to Ohio, Michigan, Maine, and New York. And about those polls... we take a look at how the final numbers stacked up on Election Day.Plus, a fun fact that Elon Musk will love. In July 1997, just days after NASA’s Pathfinder landed on Mars, voters were asked whether there would ever be a McDonald’s on the Red Planet. Jay thinks another restaurant chain might have Martian advantage....

Our final round of polls before Election Day is out, and we're looking into our data on Maine and New York. In Maine, the contest for U.S. Senate between Democrat Troy Jackson and Republican incumbent Susan Collins is competitive among likely voters. In the race for governor, Democrat Hannah Pingree and Republican Bobby Charles are tied, with independent Rick Bennett in single digits. Regardless of whom they support, most likely voters think Collins and Pingree will win. In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul leads Republican Bruce Blakeman among likely voters. In both states, negative views of President Donald Trump and concerns about personal finances shape the landscape.Plus, should a paycheck measure the value of a college degree? Under the Education Department’s new Earnings Accountability Framework, programs whose graduates repeatedly fall below specified earnings thresholds can lose access to federal student loans. We look at whether Americans think college programs should be held accountable for what their graduates earn and how they weigh the cost and benefits of higher education. Americans broadly support holding colleges accountable for students’ economic outcomes, but they also value personal interests and career goals beyond earning potential. So, who should define what a worthwhile education looks like?And the scariest question of the season: just days before the 1998 midterms, which Halloween costume did voters think would send the neighbors running: a politician or a journalist?

Our new Marist Ohio and Michigan Polls look at the state of the 2026 midterms with Election Day looming. These polls now include likely voters, and in both, the critical U.S. Senate races are very close. In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers are neck-and-neck, and in Ohio, Democrat Sherrod Brown just edges Republican Jon Husted. Among registered voters, both Democrats hold leads similar to what they had in our September polls. Democrats have bigger advantages in the races for governor in both states, with Jocelyn Benson ahead in Michigan and Amy Acton ahead in Ohio. We look at President Trump’s upside-down approval rating, with a plurality of likely voters in both states saying their vote for Congress is mainly a vote against him. We also cover the financial worries shaping voters’ choices.Then, the rise of prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket, where people can bet on everything from election results and voter turnout to government decisions and military actions, has a lot of people worried. More than twice as much money has already been bet on this year’s congressional races than in the entire 2024 cycle. Supporters say these markets can help predict what will happen, while critics worry about insider trading, gambling, and people profiting from real-world events. Most Americans see prediction markets as gambling, and majorities oppose betting on elections, military actions, and government decisions. We discuss whether public opinion might force politicians to act.And with the postseason in full swing, a fun fact from the archives: in early 1950, Gallup asked Americans if they had ever gone to a Major League Baseball game. How many said yes? You might be surprised.

We return to Texas and Iowa with our second round of Marist Polls this election season. With Election Day just weeks away, the key races look much as they did in September. In Texas, Democrat James Talarico continues to edge Republican Ken Paxton for U.S. Senate, and the governor’s race between Gina Hinojosa and Gov. Greg Abbott remains competitive. In Iowa, Democrats Josh Turek and Rob Sand also have the edge in the races for Senate and governor. We look at President Trump’s influence on the midterms and the issues shaping voters’ choices in two states he carried in 2024.In segment two, we examine whether women trust the institutions responsible for handling sexual-assault reports. The allegations involving seven Cornell students have renewed debate over how campuses respond and over New York’s consent laws. That debate includes a reopened criminal investigation, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s call for an independent review, and new calls to change the law. We look at what national surveys show about confidence in campus investigations. Fewer women than in 2019 expect a report to be taken seriously, and there’s a wide gender gap in views of how often harassment and assault go unreported. Marist University Associate Professor of Crime and Justice Studies, Dr. Julie Raines, joins to provide insights.

We've been doing a lot of polling lately, and our latest batch hits close to home! We polled voters in New York and Maine to find out what they're thinking and for whom they might vote. We dig into the data to explain why a relatively unpopular governor, Kathy Hochul, is up by 11 points in New York. And, we check out how famously independent Down East voters are weighing their options: Pick the beats-the-odds incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins or go with a Democrat.For segment two, we look at how the largest and richest retirement group in American history (the Boomers!) are both beneficiaries of Social Security as it is today -- and part of the reason the trust fund could run out of enough cash to pay full benefits in 6 short years. What do Americans -- especially younger Americans -- think of this?And, a fill-in-the-blank fun fact perfect for the fall season...and the most predictable Lee answer ever!