Kentucky, South Carolina, And Maine Senate Races Are All Close, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; 2020 Presidential Race: Trump Up In KY, SC, Trails In ME

In three high-profile Senate races in the states of Kentucky, South Carolina, and Maine, three longtime Republican incumbents are facing competitive races, according to a Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pea-ack) University poll of registered voters in each of those states released today.

"Big political names. Huge political stakes. High anxiety for the GOP. Three GOP Senators who easily won their last reelection bids are looking over their shoulders less than three months from Election Day," said Quinnipiac University Polling Analyst Tim Malloy.

KENTUCKY SENATE RACE

Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell holds a slight lead over Democratic challenger Amy McGrath, 49 - 44 percent, with 5 percent undecided. Republicans go for McConnell 92 - 6 percent, while Democrats go to McGrath 86 - 11 percent. Independents are divided with 46 percent backing McGrath and 40 percent backing McConnell.

Eighty-nine percent of voters who name a candidate say their minds are made up, while 11 percent say they might change their minds.

"Can a former Marine fighter pilot with 89 combat missions win a dogfight with a seasoned political powerhouse who has gone to war D.C. style for decades? She's giving him a run for his money," said Malloy.

Voters give Senator McConnell a slightly negative 43 - 48 percent favorability rating, and they give Amy McGrath a negative 32 - 42 percent favorability rating. Twenty-five percent say they haven't heard enough about McGrath to have an opinion.

As the incumbent Republican, 41 percent of voters say Senator McConnell has the right attitude towards President Trump, 37 percent say he is too supportive of the president, and 13 percent say he isn't supportive enough of him.

SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE RACE

The U.S. Senate race in South Carolina is a tie, with 44 percent of voters backing Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and 44 percent backing Democrat Jaime Harrison. Nine percent say they are undecided. Democrats back Harrison 94 - 3 percent, independents back Harrison 47 - 37 percent, and Republicans back Graham 89 - 5 percent.

Eighty-five percent of voters in South Carolina who name a candidate say their minds are made up, while 13 percent say they might change their minds.

"He has been a firebrand advocate for national defense and a leader of his party for 17 years - but has Lindsey Graham's allegiance to the president put him in jeopardy? The numbers suggest his tenure on the Hill is in trouble," added Malloy.

Voters have a mixed opinion of Senator Graham, with 41 percent saying they have a favorable opinion of him, while 45 percent say they have an unfavorable opinion of Graham. For Jaime Harrison, 38 percent have a favorable opinion, while 24 percent have an unfavorable opinion. Thirty-seven percent say they haven't heard enough about him to form an opinion.

As the incumbent Republican, 40 percent of voters say Senator Graham is too supportive of President Trump, 39 percent say he has the right attitude towards the president, and 10 percent say he is not supportive enough of him.

MAINE SENATE RACE

The U.S. Senate race in Maine is too close to call with Democrat Sara Gideon getting 47 percent of the vote and Senator Susan Collins getting 43 percent. Six percent are undecided. Democrats back Gideon 88 - 7 percent, Republicans back Collins 85 - 8 percent, and independents are divided with 46 percent for Gideon and 42 percent for Collins.

Eighty-eight percent of voters who name a candidate say their minds are made up, while 11 percent say they might change their minds.

"She has both defied President Trump and backed him to the hilt. An embattled Republican in a northeastern state, Senator Collins faces the political challenge of her life," said Malloy.

Voters give Senator Collins a negative 42 - 49 percent favorability rating. Voters give Sara Gideon a slightly positive 40 - 35 percent favorability rating, while 23 percent say they don't know enough about her to form an opinion.

As the incumbent Republican, 48 percent of voters say Senator Collins is too supportive of President Trump, 33 percent say she has the right attitude towards the president, and 12 percent say she is not supportive enough of him.

KENTUCKY JOB APPROVAL RATINGS

Job approval ratings for the two U.S. Senators from Kentucky:

• Voters are split on the way Mitch McConnell is handling his job, with 46 percent approving and 48 percent disapproving;
• Voters slightly approve of the way Rand Paul is handling his job 43 - 38 percent, with 19 percent saying they don't know.

For Governor Andy Beshear:

• Voters approve 63 - 34 percent of the way the governor is handling his job;
• Voters also approve 66 - 30 percent of the way Beshear is handling the response to the coronavirus.

For President Donald Trump:

• Voters are split on the way President Trump is handling his job, with 49 percent approving and 47 percent disapproving;
• Voters are also divided on his handling of the coronavirus, with 50 percent approving and 47 percent disapproving.

SOUTH CAROLINA JOB APPROVAL RATINGS

Job approval ratings for the two U.S. Senators from South Carolina:

• Voters are split on Lindsey Graham, with 47 percent disapproving and 43 percent approving of the way he is handling his job;
• Voters approve of Tim Scott's job performance 55 - 22 percent, with 22 percent saying they don't know.

For Governor Henry McMaster:

• Voters slightly approve 45 - 40 percent of the way the governor is handling his job, with 15 percent saying they don't know;
• Voters are evenly split on the way McMaster is handling the response to the coronavirus, with 46 percent approving and 46 percent disapproving.

For President Donald Trump:

• Voters are split on the way President Trump is handling his job, with 49 percent approving and 47 percent disapproving;
• Voters slightly disapprove of his handling of the coronavirus, with 46 percent approving and 51 percent disapproving.

MAINE JOB APPROVAL RATINGS

Job approval ratings for the two U.S. Senators from Maine:

• Voters disapprove 52 - 43 percent of the way Susan Collins is handling her job;
• Voters approve 60 - 25 percent of the way Angus King is handling his job.

For Governor Janet Mills:

• Voters approve 55 - 38 percent of the way the governor is handling her job;
• Voters also approve 64 - 32 percent of the way Mills is handling the response to the coronavirus.

For President Donald Trump:

• Voters disapprove of the way President Trump is handling his job 60 - 37 percent;
• Voters also disapprove of his handling of the coronavirus 60 - 37 percent.

KENTUCKY: 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

With three months to go before the November election, President Trump leads former Vice President Joe Biden in Kentucky 50 - 41 percent. Ninety-one percent of voters who name a candidate say their minds are made up, while 7 percent say they may change their mind.

Who voters think would do a better job:

• Handling the economy: Trump 60 percent, Biden 35 percent;
• Handling a crisis: Trump 51 percent, Biden 42 percent;
• Handling health care: Trump 50 percent, Biden 44 percent;
• Handling the response to the coronavirus: Trump 48 percent, Biden 44 percent;
• Addressing racial inequality: Biden 47 percent, Trump 44 percent.

SOUTH CAROLINA: 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

In the race for the White House in South Carolina, President Trump holds a slight lead over Joe Biden, 47 - 42 percent. Ninety-four percent of voters who name a candidate say their mind is made up, while 4 percent say they might change their mind.

Who voters think would do a better job:

• Handling the economy: Trump 56 percent, Biden 39 percent;
• Handling a crisis: Trump 50 percent, Biden 46 percent;
• Handling health care: Trump 49 percent, Biden 45 percent;
• Handling the response to the coronavirus: Trump 48 percent, Biden 47 percent;
• Addressing racial inequality: Biden 49 percent, Trump 42 percent.

MAINE: 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

In the race for the White House in Maine, Joe Biden leads President Trump 52 - 37 percent. Ninety-four percent of voters who name a candidate say their minds are made up, while 5 percent say they may change their minds.

Who voters think would do a better job:

• Addressing racial inequality: Biden 60 percent, Trump 35 percent;
• Handling health care: Biden 56 percent, Trump 37 percent;
• Handling a crisis: Biden 54 percent, Trump 39 percent;
• Handling the response to the coronavirus: Biden 55 percent, Trump 38 percent;
• Handling the economy: Biden 50 percent, Trump 46 percent.

RACIAL INEQUALITY

Voters in all three states agree that racial inequality is a serious problem. In Kentucky, voters say 67 - 31 percent that it's a serious problem. In South Carolina, voters say 70 - 25 percent it's a serious problem. And in Maine, voters say 73 - 24 percent that racial inequality is a serious problem.

From July 30th - August 3rd:

• 909 self-identified registered voters in Kentucky were surveyed, with a margin of error of +/- 3.3 percentage points;
• 914 self-identified registered voters in South Carolina were surveyed, with a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percentage points;
• 807 self-identified registered voters in Maine were surveyed, with a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts gold standard surveys using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts nationwide surveys and polls in more than a dozen states on national and statewide elections, as well as public policy issues.

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