Pollster ratings · Head to head

SSRS 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.

 
SSRS
C-
Trust Score 24/100 · rank #61
★ Ahead
Suffolk University
A-
Trust Score 68/100 · rank #16

Head to head

MeasureSSRSSuffolk
Trust Score24/10068/100 ★
Average error
how far final polls missed the result
5.4 pts4.1 pts ★
Versus expected
error compared with what its races predicted
1.3 worse0.7 better ★
Consistency
random miss once its tilt is removed
±3.7 pts ★±4 pts
Historical bias
closer to even is better
D+4.4D+1.5 ★
Winners called63%81% ★
Track record
final polls analyzed, 1998–2022
30 polls60 polls
2026 polls1914
2026 lean
versus other polls of the same races
D+0.7 ★D+1.3

2026 races both have polled

RaceSSRS (latest)Suffolk (latest)
Michigan SenateEl-Sayed 49, Rogers 42 (D+2.1 vs. avg)El-Sayed 47, Rogers 40 (D+4.5 vs. avg)
Michigan GovernorBenson 53, James 41 (D+5 vs. avg)Benson 51, James 34 (D+10.6 vs. avg)
Maine SenateJackson 49, Collins 45 (D+1.3 vs. avg)Jackson 49, Collins 47 (D+0.3 vs. avg)
Iowa SenateTurek 43, Hinson 45 (R+4.2 vs. avg)Turek 48, Hinson 44 (D+2.4 vs. avg)
Ohio SenateBrown 49, Husted 43 (D+2.5 vs. avg)Brown 47, Husted 44 (R+0.4 vs. avg)
Iowa GovernorSand 51, Lahn 42 (R+0.9 vs. avg)Sand 55, Lahn 43 (D+3.7 vs. avg)
Ohio GovernorActon 50, Ramaswamy 42 (D+3.4 vs. avg)Acton 48, Ramaswamy 44 (even vs. avg)

Compare them in the interactive Trust Index All pollster ratings

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

Frequently asked questions

Which is more accurate, SSRS or Suffolk?

Suffolk has the smaller average error (4.1 pts vs. 5.4 pts). Overall, suffolk comes out ahead on 5 of 7 measures in the Crosstab Trust Index (SSRS: C-, Trust Score 24; Suffolk: A-, Trust Score 68).

Which leans more Republican in 2026, SSRS or Suffolk?

SSRS (D+0.7 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 SSRS and Suffolk polled the same 2026 races?

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