Pollster ratings · Head to head

Rasmussen vs. Suffolk: which pollster is more accurate?

Suffolk 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.

 
Rasmussen Reports
C
Trust Score 27/100 · rank #59
★ Ahead
Suffolk University
A-
Trust Score 68/100 · rank #16

Head to head

MeasureRasmussenSuffolk
Trust Score27/10068/100 ★
Average error
how far final polls missed the result
4.9 pts4.1 pts ★
Versus expected
error compared with what its races predicted
0.3 worse0.7 better ★
Consistency
random miss once its tilt is removed
±4.7 pts±4 pts ★
Historical bias
closer to even is better
D+1.7D+1.5 ★
Winners called67%81% ★
Track record
final polls analyzed, 1998–2022
139 polls60 polls
2026 polls3114
2026 lean
versus other polls of the same races
Even ★D+1.3

2026 races both have polled

RaceRasmussen (latest)Suffolk (latest)
Maine SenateJackson 49, Collins 46 (R+1.7 vs. avg)Jackson 49, Collins 47 (D+0.3 vs. avg)
Iowa SenateTurek 46, Hinson 47 (R+0.3 vs. avg)Turek 48, Hinson 44 (D+2.4 vs. avg)
Ohio SenateBrown 46, Husted 46 (R+2.2 vs. avg)Brown 47, Husted 44 (R+0.4 vs. avg)
Iowa GovernorSand 50, Lahn 45 (R+0.9 vs. avg)Sand 55, Lahn 43 (D+3.7 vs. avg)
Michigan SenateEl-Sayed 49, Rogers 44 (even vs. avg)El-Sayed 47, Rogers 40 (D+4.5 vs. avg)
Michigan GovernorBenson 50, James 40 (D+2.6 vs. avg)Benson 51, James 34 (D+10.6 vs. avg)

Compare them in the interactive Trust Index All pollster ratings

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

Frequently asked questions

Which is more accurate, Rasmussen or Suffolk?

Suffolk has the smaller average error (4.1 pts vs. 4.9 pts). Overall, suffolk comes out ahead on 6 of 7 measures in the Crosstab Trust Index (Rasmussen: C, Trust Score 27; Suffolk: A-, Trust Score 68).

Which leans more Republican in 2026, Rasmussen or Suffolk?

Rasmussen (Even 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 Rasmussen and Suffolk polled the same 2026 races?

Yes: 6 races in Crosstab's data, including Maine Senate, Iowa Senate, Ohio Senate, 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 2026-11-11 · Crosstab, nonpartisan polling analysis.