In a recent poll, Donald Trump is one percent ahead of Joe Biden in the traditionally Democratic state of Maine.
The latest insights show Trump possibly winning with 41% of the vote, just edging out Biden at 40% in a state that has leaned Democratic since 1988.
Maine uses ranked-choice voting, allowing voters to rank candidates in order of preference rather than choosing just one. When this system is considered, Biden leads with 52% while Trump follows closely behind with 49%.
Researchers surveyed 609 participants, with a sampling error of around 4 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.
Maine voters are particularly concerned about financial and economic issues such as affordable housing and the cost of living. Dems prioritize environmental issues and gun rights, while Republicans are more focused on immigration.
42% of Maine voters see immigration as “very” important, with opinions on gun laws split along party lines. Democrats lean towards stricter laws at 69%, while 54% of Republicans prefer the current regulations.
The Critical Insights team predicts a tight race for the presidency, stating Trump could win Maine by just one percentage point without Ranked Choice Voting, while Biden gains more votes for non-party candidates with this system.
According to polling from FiveThirtyEight, Trump is leading in several national polls, currently slightly ahead of Biden at 40.1% as per the latest update from June 13.
Immigration and the economy are top concerns for voters, with the first presidential debate set in two weeks. Subsequent events include the Republican National Convention on July 15, the Democratic National Convention on August 19, the second presidential debate on September 10, and Election Day on November 5.