EVAN HOROWITZ
Tuesday is primary day, that momentous occasion when we come together and vote — or, less grandly, when we pick the people we most want to vote for again later on.
Here is what we know so far and what we can predict about Tuesday’s results.
The race for attorney general may well be the most hotly contested this primary day. While the latest Globe poll has Maura Healey ahead of Warren Tolman by 16 points, a broader look across all recent polls suggests a tighter finish.
The race for treasurer is also close, and with as many as 50 percent of voters still undecided that contest is especially unpredictable.
When it comes to governor, there are clear frontrunners on both sides. Martha Coakley leads the Democratic pack by over 20 points and Charlie Baker is up by as many as 50 points.
One way to tease out the differences between the candidates is to look at the words they use. The word Coakley uses most in the “issues” section of her website is “workers.” For Steve Grossman, it’s “business,” and for Don Berwick, “health.” Here’s a fuller analysis.
Money is important, but it’s no guarantee of victory. Grossman and Coakley spent virtually the same amount, yet Coakley has maintained a significant advantage throughout.
It’s worth remembering, too, that the relationship between money and votes flows in both directions. More money can help candidates buy ads and reach voters, but candidates who connect with voters also have the easiest time raising money.
The last time the Democrats had a competitive primary for governor was 2006. And despite the hard-fought nature of the contest and the “star is born” narrative around Deval Patrick, only 25 percent of registered voters showed up.
Overall turnout could be even lower this year. That's what the secretary of state has said, and it’s what Internet traffic suggests. Whereas in the past, Google searches for “governor” and “Democratic primary” rose before primary day, this year’s upswing is less pronounced.
Governor
Democratic primary
Come Tuesday evening, we’ll know for whom people voted, who turned up to vote, whether there were any surprising last-minute swings, and whether the polls we have been following for months — and which are summarized int the table below — were missing any big changes in the electoral landscape.
Santos was inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame after 36 seasons and 744 games as the team’s radio play-by-play announcer.
Continue reading »In an Ali-Frazier battle of legal minds, former federal judge Nancy Gertner this week smote celebrated legal scholar Alan Dershowitz in the opinion section of the New York Times.
Continue reading »The documents contain new details about interactions with Trump that former FBI Director James Comey found so unnerving that he documented them in writing.
Continue reading »A series in Anaheim should have been a challenge, but instead the Red Sox dominated as they swept a three-game series.
Continue reading »The hottest towns for home buyers, for prices ranging from under $500,000 to more than $1 million.
Continue reading »Only three years apart in age, the police officer and the career criminal accused of killing him could not have been more different.
Continue reading »The starters are 12-1 with a 1.98 ERA and pitching coach Dana LeVangie deserves much of the credit for that.
Continue reading »How the marijuana-loving world came to mark the occasion is believed traceable to five Northern California men now in their 60s with bad backs and graying hair.
Continue reading »From the drama of the bathroom break heard ’round-the-world to the runner racing after an all-night drive, we take a look at some other tales from Monday’s race.
Continue reading »