New England Polls: Democrats Hold Wide Leads in Federal Races, NH Governorship Deadlocked
A 7NEWS/University of New Hampshire survey released on Election Day shows strong Democratic advantages in Massachusetts and New Hampshire Senate contests, while the Granite State governor's race remains statistically tied.
By Layla Fontaine ·
Democratic candidates hold substantial leads in four of the five major federal and state races being tracked across New England, according to a poll released by 7NEWS and the University of New Hampshire. The survey data, conducted ahead of Tuesday's Election Day, indicates that the only contest currently showing a statistical tie is the race for governor in New Hampshire.
In Massachusetts, incumbent Governor Mauray Healey leads Republican challenger Mike Minogue by 19 points. The poll places Healey at 55 percent support, while Minogue sits at 36 percent. Independent candidate Ashley James captures 4 percent of the vote. In the concurrent bid for the U.S. Senate, Democrat Ed Markey maintains a 21-point advantage over Republican attorney John Deaton.
Across the state line, U.S. Representative Chris Pappas leads former Senator John Sununu in the New Hampshire Senate race. The poll reports Pappas at 54 percent and Sununu at 42 percent, a 12-point margin. Andy Smith, director of the UNH Survey Center, noted that Democratic voters in the region appear energized. He stated that every vote for a Democrat is effectively a vote against President Trump, making it difficult for the Republican Party to peel off those supporters.
The New Hampshire governor's race presents a different picture. Incumbent Republican Kelly Ayotte and Democratic challenger Ciny Warmington are tied at 48 percent each. Software developer Stephen Villee receives 2 percent of the support. Smith explained that the governor's race is likely functioning as a down-ballot contest. He suggested that Democrats will vote for the party slate in the Senate race and extend that support to Warmington.
The polling data reflects a clear divergence between federal races and state executive contests in the region. While Democratic leads in the Massachusetts and New Hampshire Senate races are wide, the governorship in New Hampshire remains undecided within the margin of error. Voters in both states are scheduled to cast ballots on Tuesday to determine the final outcomes of these five key elections.
