Solid majority of Mainers disapprove of Trump on cost of living

 President Donald Trump greets supporters at the Treworgy Family Farm and Orchard in Levant in October 2020. (Rich Abrahamson/Staff Photographer) [](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/election-2026/) _[Read all of our coverage](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/election-2026/) of Maine's 2026 election or stay up to date with the latest developments through the [Maine Political Report](https://www.pressherald.com/mprnewsletter/) in your inbox or [text messages](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/01/11/maine-political-news-sent-right-to-your-phone-sign-up-for-text-alerts-from-our-editor/) from politics editor Kirby Wilson._ A solid majority of Maine voters said they disapproved of President Donald Trump’s performance on affordability in a new [New York Times/Portland Press Herald/Siena poll](https://www.pressherald.com/?p=7675395), a signal that a [key tenet](https://archive.ph/jJ2eP#selection-333.0-340.0:~:text=END%20INFLATION%2C%20AND%20MAKE%20AMERICA%20AFFORDABLE%20AGAIN) of his third presidential campaign has turned into a potential drag for Republicans in November. Only about 16% of [polled likely voters](https://www.nytimes.com/article/times-siena-poll-methodology.html) feel “excellent” or “good” about Maine’s economic conditions. About half said they felt “only fair,” and one-third said they felt poorly. Related [We collaborated with The New York Times to poll Maine voters. Here's what we found.](https://www.pressherald.com/?p=7675395) The economy is the top issue Mainers said will inform how they vote in key congressional races, the poll found. Cost of living was another top issue for a sizable portion of voters, especially those under age 45. The share of Maine voters who said they disapproved of Trump’s handling of the economy (62%), cost of living (67%) and gas prices (68%) reflect nationwide trends. About 64% of Americans in another [recent New York Times/Siena poll](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/18/us/politics/poll-trump-republicans-midterms-iran.html) disapproved of Trump’s performance on the economy and 69% disapproved of how he is handling the cost of living.  Colin Blais, a 27-year-old from Kennebunk, said he has seen first-hand that wages have not kept up with rising prices.  “My father’s first job, he told me that he got paid nothing,” Blais, a Democrat, said. “He had a four-year bachelor’s degree, and he made $23,000 or whatever it was, for his first year. If you adjust for inflation, he made almost 20 grand more than I currently do, and I have a master’s degree. That’s the reality we’re in.” Advertisement Blais said he has seen many friends struggle to find affordable housing and well-paying jobs, and that he’s been frustrated with Trump’s tariffs and the war in Iran, which have increased costs for young Mainers. “It’s a billionaires’ club — that’s what our country’s turned into,” he said. The president’s overall approval rating in Maine is 38%, the Times/Press Herald/Siena poll of likely voters found. Maine Democrats nearly unanimously said they were opposed to Trump, and about two-thirds of independent voters said they disapproved of his performance. But even some Maine Republicans, who widely approved of Trump, said they disapprove of the president on affordability measures. About a quarter of Maine Republican voters disapproved of Trump’s performance on cost of living and [gas prices](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/06/24/maine-gas-prices-drop-back-below-4-with-iran-talks-ongoing/). On other measures, including the war in Iran and the economy at large, Trump maintained strong support from GOP-identifying voters. Related [Maine gas prices drop back below $4 with Iran talks ongoing](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/06/24/maine-gas-prices-drop-back-below-4-with-iran-talks-ongoing/) About one-fifth of the voters who said they planned to [support Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins](https://www.pressherald.com/?p=7675362) in November said they disapproved of Trump’s performance. That number steps up to one-third of voters specifically on cost of living and gas prices. Advertisement Jordan Spaulding, a 25-year-old Republican from Somerset County, said his support for Trump is a mixed bag; on the one hand, he said he’s frustrated by the gas price impacts of the Iran war and on the other, he’s relieved by the tax cuts [Trump signed into law last year](https://www.pressherald.com/2025/07/03/house-republicans-are-pushing-trumps-big-bill-to-the-brink-of-passage/). He said his tax refund increased by $1,000 this year. “I don’t like the whole Iran situation, but I understand the need for it,” Spaulding said. “Just, I don’t like how people get hurt here from it, in the gas prices.” Spaulding said he has also seen housing prices go up — he just bought his first home — but he doesn’t blame Trump. There just aren’t enough construction workers and materials to go around, Spaulding said.  The president [canceled a scheduled signing event](https://apnews.com/article/trump-capitol-republican-senators-968c1454ede461d2db413790670c07df) for a [major housing bill](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/06/24/congress-just-passed-a-major-housing-bill-heres-how-it-will-help-maine/) last week, saying he wouldn’t sign the legislation into law until Congress passes [his favored elections legislation](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/03/18/what-would-the-save-america-act-mean-for-voting-in-maine/). The president has until July 4 to either sign or veto the bill or it becomes law without his signature. Related [Congress just passed a major housing bill. Here’s how it will help Maine.](https://www.pressherald.com/2026/06/24/congress-just-passed-a-major-housing-bill-heres-how-it-will-help-maine/) Trump has not won the majority of Maine votes in his three presidential campaigns, but has carried the rural 2nd Congressional District’s electoral vote each time, despite Democratic Rep. Jared Golden winning reelection in that district in 2020 and 2024. _The New York Times/Portland Press Herald/Siena poll of Maine voters was funded with support from the Maine Trust for Local News._ Copy the Story Link Tagged: [cost of living](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/cost-of-living/), [Donald Trump](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/donald-trump/), [election 2026](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/election-2026/), [Times-Press Herald-Siena poll](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/times-press-herald-siena-poll/) [](https://www.pressherald.com/author/ethan-horton) [Ethan HortonStaff Writer](https://www.pressherald.com/author/ethan-horton) Ethan reports on cost of living for the Portland Press Herald. Before he joined in mid-2026, he covered local news in Augusta and surrounding areas and ran a weekly newsletter for the Kennebec Journal. [More by Ethan Horton](https://www.pressherald.com/author/ethan-horton)