In an off-year long on election commentary but short on actual elections, the two main events on a Spartan political calendar are now upon us: New Jersey and Virginia will elect new governors next week, and the stakes are high, particularly for Democrats. … To get ready for next week, […] Read more »
Polling techniques may account for erratic predictions in Virginia
At first blush, polling in Virginia’s closely watched race for governor looks all over the map, from a 17-point lead for Democrat Ralph Northam to an 8-point advantage for Republican Ed Gillespie. But what might appear to be a breakdown in pollster reliability may have a much simpler explanation: Not […] Read more »
Why the Virginia Governor’s Race Could Echo Across the Country
The Virginia gubernatorial contest has unexpectedly become a test case of the explosive politics of race in the Donald Trump era. The outcome could tug the Republican Party much further toward Trump-style racial provocation and polarization next year. Or it could warn the GOP that such positioning carries too high […] Read more »
Santa Barbara: Hotchkiss and Murillo Lead Pack, But Huge Number Unsure in Mayor’s Race
Just over two weeks before the election, City Council members Frank Hotchkiss and Cathy Murillo are statistically tied for the lead in the crowded Santa Barbara mayor’s race – but by far the largest portion of voters remains undecided. That is the bottom line of the Newsmakers Poll, the first […] Read more »
Boston mayoral race: Marty Walsh dominates Tito Jackson in new Globe poll
Mayor Martin J. Walsh has a dominant lead of 35 percentage points over Councilor Tito Jackson in a new Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll. The findings, coming just over two weeks before the Nov. 7 election, show Walsh with soaring marks overall, with 69 percent of the voters saying they hold […] Read more »
Democrat Northam has seven-point edge over Republican Gillespie in Virginia gubernatorial race
Virginia voters give Ralph Northam better personal ratings and prefer him on the issues — and that puts the Democrat ahead of Republican Ed Gillespie in the governor’s race. Northam is up seven points over Gillespie among Virginia likely voters (49 percent vs. 42 percent) in the latest Fox News […] Read more »