Massachusetts Republican Governor Charlie Baker won re-election this week by a two-to-one margin, while in Connecticut, Democrat Ned Lamont won a tight race to become the next governor.
Baker earned a second term in office after turning back the challenge of Democrat Jay Gonzalez on Tuesday. There wasn't much drama on Election Night for the Governor as the Associated Press called the race shortly after polls closed.
It was a different story in Connecticut where it didn't become clear until Wednesday morning that Lamont had edged Republican rival Bob Stefanowski, thanks in large part to the Democrat's performance in larger communities.
With Democrats taking over the U.S. House starting next year, two congressmen from western Massachusetts are poised to become committee chairs. Jim McGovern of Worcester is in line to lead the House Rules Committeewhile Springfield's Richard Neal will likely become the chair of the influential House Ways and Means Committee.
And voters in Massachusetts went against ballot Question 1, which, if it had been approved, would have set strict nurse-to-patient ratios. They did okay Question 2, which sets up a committee to look into Citizens United, and voted yes on Question 3, which affirms the state's transgender protections law.
Guests:
- Mike Dobbs, editor, The Reminder
- Matt Szafranski, editor, Western Mass. Politics and Insight
