Pollster ratings · Head to head

Emerson vs. Suffolk: which pollster is more accurate?

Suffolk comes out ahead on 5 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.

 
Emerson College
A+
Trust Score 85/100 · rank #2
★ Ahead
Suffolk University
A-
Trust Score 68/100 · rank #16

Head to head

MeasureEmersonSuffolk
Trust Score85/100 ★68/100
Average error
how far final polls missed the result
4.3 pts4.1 pts ★
Versus expected
error compared with what its races predicted
0.6 better0.7 better ★
Consistency
random miss once its tilt is removed
±4.3 pts±4 pts ★
Historical bias
closer to even is better
D+0.4 ★D+1.5
Winners called76%81% ★
Track record
final polls analyzed, 1998–2022
211 polls60 polls
2026 polls4814
2026 lean
versus other polls of the same races
R+1.6D+1.3 ★

2026 races both have polled

RaceEmerson (latest)Suffolk (latest)
Michigan SenateEl-Sayed 51, Rogers 45 (R+0.5 vs. avg)El-Sayed 47, Rogers 40 (D+4.5 vs. avg)
Maine SenateJackson 49, Collins 51 (R+7.9 vs. avg)Jackson 49, Collins 47 (D+0.3 vs. avg)
Ohio SenateBrown 48, Husted 46 (R+0.7 vs. avg)Brown 47, Husted 44 (R+0.4 vs. avg)
Michigan GovernorBenson 50, James 46 (R+5.6 vs. avg)Benson 51, James 34 (D+10.6 vs. avg)
Ohio GovernorActon 48, Ramaswamy 48 (R+5.3 vs. avg)Acton 48, Ramaswamy 44 (even vs. avg)
Iowa SenateTurek 45, Hinson 47 (R+3.3 vs. avg)Turek 48, Hinson 44 (D+2.4 vs. avg)
Iowa GovernorSand 49, Lahn 45 (R+5.9 vs. avg)Sand 55, Lahn 43 (D+3.7 vs. avg)

Compare them in the interactive Trust Index All pollster ratings

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

Frequently asked questions

Which is more accurate, Emerson or Suffolk?

Suffolk has the smaller average error (4.1 pts vs. 4.3 pts). Overall, suffolk comes out ahead on 5 of 7 measures in the Crosstab Trust Index (Emerson: A+, Trust Score 85; Suffolk: A-, Trust Score 68).

Which leans more Republican in 2026, Emerson or Suffolk?

Emerson (R+1.6 versus other polls of the same races) compared with Suffolk (D+1.3). Lean describes how a pollster's numbers compare with others; it isn't a measure of accuracy.

Have Emerson and Suffolk polled the same 2026 races?

Yes: 7 races in Crosstab's data, including Michigan Senate, Maine Senate, Ohio Senate, Michigan 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 2026-11-11 · Crosstab, nonpartisan polling analysis.