A new poll reveals a bipartisan majority of Maine voters oppose several progressive education policies supported by Gov. Janet Mills’ administration and the Democratic-controlled Legislature, signaling potential challenges for their agenda as public sentiment leans toward greater parental control and traditional approaches in K-12 schools.
The survey, conducted by SPRY Strategies from April 22-25, 2025, polled 500 likely general election voters in Maine using online-to-mobile and interactive voice response (IVR) methods. It carries a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points, with results weighted to reflect the state’s voter demographics. The poll, commissioned by the parental rights advocacy group Courage is a Habit, focused heavily on education and social issues.
According to the poll, 68 percent of respondents strongly or somewhat oppose K-12 health clinics prescribing medications like hormone blockers or providing vaccines to minors without parental consent.
Similarly, 67.2 percent strongly oppose schools sharing student data with companies and organizations, with only 8.7 percent in support.
On the issue of teaching comprehensive sex education that includes topics like masturbation for kindergarteners, 69.1% of respondents expressed opposition, with 58.6 percent strongly opposing.
The poll also found significant resistance to policies promoting transgender ideology in schools. A combined 58.3 percent of voters oppose teaching K-12 students that they can be “born in the wrong body,” with 49.7 percent strongly opposing.
Additionally, 68 percent oppose school counselors promoting transgenderism to students, and 67.9 percent oppose withholding information from parents if a child exhibits gender confusion.
“These results show a clear disconnect between the priorities of Maine voters and the policies being advanced by the Mills administration and Democratic lawmakers,” the poll’s analysis suggested, pointing to broad disapproval across party lines. The survey noted that 37.8 percent of respondents identified as Democrats, 29.2 percent as Republicans, and 28.4 percent as independents, indicating a diverse sample.
On education governance, 59.2 percent of respondents support eliminating federal overreach and returning K-12 education decisions to local parents, with 43.9 percent strongly supporting this shift. Only 31.6 percent opposed the idea. The poll also highlighted dissatisfaction with the state of K-12 education, with 61.5 percent of voters saying it is worse than it was a decade ago, compared to just 15.4 percent who believe it has improved.
Voters also expressed support for measures aligned with recent federal and executive actions.
For instance, 52.2 percent said Maine should comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order to keep biological males out of women’s sports, following a March 2025 announcement that the Maine Department of Education, Maine Principals Association, and Greely High School violated Title IX.
Only 40.1 percent opposed compliance, with 7.7 percent unsure.
Gov. Mills’ approval rating stood at 51.6 percent, with 36.8 percent strongly approving and 14.8 percent somewhat approving, while 45.8 percent disapproved.
President Trump’s approval rating was slightly lower, with 46 percent approving and 52.2 percent disapproving of his second-term performance so far.
The 2025 findings echo a 2023 poll by the Maine Wire, which similarly found strong opposition to progressive education policies.
