Pollster ratings · Head to head

Beacon Research/Shaw & Co. vs. YouGov: which pollster is more accurate?

Beacon Research/Shaw & Co. comes out ahead on 4 of 7 measures in the Crosstab Trust Index, which grades pollsters on how close their final polls came to actual results from 1998 to 2022.

★ Ahead
Beacon Research/Shaw & Co. Research
B
Trust Score 59/100 · rank #29
 
YouGov
B-
Trust Score 44/100 · rank #43

Head to head

MeasureBeacon Research/Shaw & Co.YouGov
Trust Score59/100 ★44/100
Average error
how far final polls missed the result
4.4 pts ★5 pts
Versus expected
error compared with what its races predicted
0 better0.1 better ★
Consistency
random miss once its tilt is removed
±4 pts ★±4.8 pts
Historical bias
closer to even is better
D+2.2D+1.3 ★
Winners called67%87% ★
Track record
final polls analyzed, 1998–2022
42 polls481 polls
2026 polls2142
2026 lean
versus other polls of the same races
D+0.8 ★D+1.4

2026 races both have polled

RaceBeacon Research/Shaw & Co. (latest)YouGov (latest)
Texas SenateTalarico 51, Paxton 49 (even vs. avg)Talarico 47, Paxton 46 (R+2.1 vs. avg)
Iowa SenateTurek 49, Hinson 47 (D+0.6 vs. avg)Turek 44, Hinson 43 (D+0.3 vs. avg)
Texas GovernorHinojosa 47, Abbott 52 (R+1.9 vs. avg)Hinojosa 45, Abbott 49 (R+1.1 vs. avg)
Iowa GovernorSand 53, Lahn 44 (D+2.2 vs. avg)Sand 50, Lahn 39 (D+7 vs. avg)
Maine SenateJackson 48, Collins 46 (R+1.4 vs. avg)Jackson 50, Collins 50 (R+1.1 vs. avg)
North Carolina SenateCooper 53, Whatley 44 (D+2.9 vs. avg)Cooper 53, Whatley 41 (D+3.4 vs. avg)
Georgia SenateOssoff 56, Collins 43 (D+6.4 vs. avg)Ossoff 52, Collins 42 (D+2.6 vs. avg)
Georgia GovernorLance Bottoms 52, Jackson 47 (R+10 vs. avg)Lance Bottoms 44, Jackson 46 (D+0.3 vs. avg)

Compare them in the interactive Trust Index All pollster ratings

More comparisons: Emerson College vs. YouGov · University of New Hampshire Survey Center vs. YouGov · New York Times/Siena College vs. YouGov · Rasmussen Reports vs. YouGov · Ipsos vs. YouGov · InsiderAdvantage vs. YouGov · Siena College vs. YouGov · Trafalgar Group vs. YouGov

Frequently asked questions

Which is more accurate, Beacon Research/Shaw & Co. or YouGov?

Beacon Research/Shaw & Co. has the smaller average error (4.4 pts vs. 5 pts). Overall, beacon Research/Shaw & Co. comes out ahead on 4 of 7 measures in the Crosstab Trust Index (Beacon Research/Shaw & Co.: B, Trust Score 59; YouGov: B-, Trust Score 44).

Which leans more Republican in 2026, Beacon Research/Shaw & Co. or YouGov?

Beacon Research/Shaw & Co. (D+0.8 versus other polls of the same races) compared with YouGov (D+1.4). Lean describes how a pollster's numbers compare with others; it isn't a measure of accuracy.

Have Beacon Research/Shaw & Co. and YouGov polled the same 2026 races?

Yes: 8 races in Crosstab's data, including Texas Senate, Iowa Senate, Texas Governor, Iowa Governor.

Grades: Crosstab Trust Index, computed from FiveThirtyEight's pollster-ratings data (CC BY 4.0), 1998–2022; 2026 measures from Crosstab's polling data.

Updated 2026-10-04 · Crosstab, nonpartisan polling analysis.