Story Archives of 'Elections'

It wasn’t a presidential year or even a congressional midterm, but several races in New England and across the nation have been making headlines. There’s the mayoral races in Manchester, Boston, and New York City, tax cap proposals in Maine and Manchester, special elections in Concord and upstate New York, gubernatorial contests in Virginia and New Jersey, and a ballot initiative in Maine that would repeal same-sex marriage. We’ll get all the results and see what – if anything - they tell us about Americans’ political mood.

Guests

• Dean Spiliotes, New Hampshire political scientist and author of NHpoliticalcapital.com
• James Pindell, longtime New Hampshire political reporter and author of the political news website NHPoliticalReport.com

We'll also hear from

• Mal Leary, reporter and editor for Capitol News Service in Augusta, Maine

Voters head to the polls today in New York, New Jersey and Virginia for key elections. Political watchers are viewing several races as indicators of how the country feels about President Obama and his administration’s handling of the economy, two wars, and health care during his first 10 months in office.

We’re shifting from today’s horse races to an election a year from now, the city supervisor’s seat in San Francisco. It’s shaping up to be a remarkable race, largely due to the leading contender, Theresa Sparks, a transgender woman with a decidedly moderate streak. She’s also a former oil baron, CEO, and parent of three.

As pundits track Spark’s campaign for city supervisor, it becomes clear that this race could reveal as much about San Francisco’s politics as our country’s willingness to accept leadership from a transgender person.

For more we’re joined by reporter Nathanael Johnson, who profiled Theresa Sparks for San Francisco magazine.

San Francisco: The life and times of Theresa Sparks

(Photo by Violet Blue via Flickr/Creative Commons)

Jennifer Horn’s entrance into the GOP primary puts her on a likely collision course with former Congressman Charlie Bass, who’s expected make his own candidacy official in the coming months.

Except for the days of his 1980 Primary challenge to then sitting President Jimmy Carter, Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy didn't spend much time in New Hampshire.

But over the his nearly five decades in the Senate, Kennedy excited many of the state's Democratic grassroots activists.

And despite his liberal pedigree, he even gained the respect of some of New Hampshire's more fervent Republicans.

New Hampshire Public Radios' Dan Gorenstein spoke with a handful of Granite Staters who crossed paths with the Massachusetts Senator.

Most of the legislature’s work is done, but there’s been action recently on several issues; the Governor vetoed medical marijuana, and is still negotiating with state workers over furloughs and layoffs. We'll look at those issues, and we'll see how next year's midterm elections are shaping up, with several big names throwing their hats in the ring.

Guests

• Dean Spiliotis, New Hampshire-based political analyst and the author of NHPoliticalCapital.com
• Josh Rogers, NHPR statehouse reporter

We'll also hear from

• Evelyn Merrick, Democratic state representative from Lancaster and sponsor of the medical marijuana bill