Pollster ratings · Head to head

Emerson vs. Siena: which pollster is more accurate?

Emerson comes out ahead on 6 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
Emerson College
A+
Trust Score 85/100 · rank #2
 
Siena College
A-
Trust Score 67/100 · rank #17

Head to head

MeasureEmersonSiena
Trust Score85/100 ★67/100
Average error
how far final polls missed the result
4.3 pts ★5.7 pts
Versus expected
error compared with what its races predicted
0.6 better ★0.2 better
Consistency
random miss once its tilt is removed
±4.3 pts ★±5.1 pts
Historical bias
closer to even is better
D+0.4 ★R+3.2
Winners called76%89% ★
Track record
final polls analyzed, 1998–2022
211 polls57 polls
2026 polls3113
2026 lean
versus other polls of the same races
R+1.5 ★D+2.7

2026 races both have polled

RaceEmerson (latest)Siena (latest)
Texas SenateTalarico 47, Paxton 46 (R+3.1 vs. avg)Talarico 51, Paxton 45 (D+4.6 vs. avg)
Iowa SenateTurek 45, Hinson 50 (R+6.4 vs. avg)Turek 47, Hinson 48 (R+2.6 vs. avg)
Ohio SenateBrown 46, Husted 49 (R+4.6 vs. avg)Brown 49, Husted 46 (R+0.3 vs. avg)

Compare them in the interactive Trust Index All pollster ratings

More comparisons: Emerson College vs. YouGov · Siena College vs. YouGov · Emerson College vs. University of New Hampshire Survey Center · Emerson College vs. New York Times/Siena College · Beacon Research/Shaw & Co. Research vs. Emerson College · Emerson College vs. Rasmussen Reports · Emerson College vs. Ipsos · Emerson College vs. InsiderAdvantage

Frequently asked questions

Which is more accurate, Emerson or Siena?

Emerson has the smaller average error (4.3 pts vs. 5.7 pts). Overall, emerson comes out ahead on 6 of 7 measures in the Crosstab Trust Index (Emerson: A+, Trust Score 85; Siena: A-, Trust Score 67).

Which leans more Republican in 2026, Emerson or Siena?

Emerson (R+1.5 versus other polls of the same races) compared with Siena (D+2.7). Lean describes how a pollster's numbers compare with others; it isn't a measure of accuracy.

Have Emerson and Siena polled the same 2026 races?

Yes: 3 races in Crosstab's data, including Texas Senate, Iowa Senate, Ohio Senate.

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.