New England Election Update SPECIAL POLICY POLICY and RESEARCH BRIEF 45 Temple Place Boston, MA 02111 Fall 2010 Race 10/13/10
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New England Election Update SPECIAL POLICY POLICY AND RESEARCH BRIEF 45 Temple Place Boston, MA 02111 Fall 2010 Race 10/13/10 New England Election Coverage & Forecasts Written by: Political Climate and Analysis P.1 Carolyn House and Senate Committee P.2 Morwick Connecticut Race P.3 Carolyn Morwick is a consultant Maine & Massachusetts Races P.4 at NEBHE and former director of New Hampshire, Rhode Island & the Caucus of New England State Legislatures Vermont Races P.5 Edited by: A High-Stakes Election for New England. John O. Harney Like the traditional four seasons in New District in New Hampshire vacated his post to run for Executive Editor Gregg’s Senate seat. New England Journal of England, election season has the potential Higher Education to bring about stunning change. This year, In what some are calling, “the Scott Brown factor”, races at the gubernatorial, federal and state House members from each New England state are legislative levels will have significant impacts being challenged, except Mike Capuano (D-Mass.) who Matthew A. Crellin on education and policy in the region for years is running unopposed. Members of New England’s con- Director of Policy and Research to come. gressional delegation occupy positions on key commit- tees. But in recent years, the region’s clout has waned. The political landscape in New England will be dramati- New England’s influence on the Senate Committee on POLICY AND RESEARCH cally altered following the Nov. 2 midterm elections. At Health, Education, Labor and Pensions has diminished NEBHE’s Department of least four of the six New England states will elect new Policy and Research serves considerably with the passing of Edward M. Kennedy governors. Governors M. Jodi Rell (R-Conn.), John E. as a resource to education, who chaired the HELP Committee, and the retirements Baldacci (D-Maine), Donald Carcieri (R-R.I.) and James government, and business of Dodd and Gregg. The remaining New Englanders on Douglas (R-Vt.) are not seeking re-election. Deval leaders throughout New the committee include Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Bernie England. It seeks to provide Patrick (D-Mass.) and John Lynch (D-N.H.) are seeking Sanders (I-Vt.). Dodd also chaired the powerful Senate timely information and policy re-election, but both face challengers. Committee on Banks, Housing and Urban Affairs. research to inform decision- makers and the public about At the federal level, two new U.S. senators will be elect- issues relating to higher With anger running high among voters and jobs front ed from Connecticut and New Hampshire. Democrat education and workforce and center, those seeking to be re-elected are in many Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Republican Judd Gregg development throughout cases facing strong opposition. Depending on the out- of New Hampshire are not seeking re-election. In addi- New England. come of midterm elections, key committees in congress, tion to the Senate seats, two seats in the U.S. House which influence education, workforce development poli- of Representatives opened up when William Delahunt cy and investment may undergo more changes. of the 10th Congressional District in Massachusetts retired, and Paul Hodes of the 2nd Congressional Michael K. Thomas President and CEO About NEBHE: The New England Board of Congressional Higher Education (NEBHE) promotes greater educational Committees opportunities and services for the residents of New England. In pursuit of this mission, Current members of these we work across the six New committees from New England states to: England are as follows: * Engage and assist leaders in the assessment, develop- ment, and implementation of sound education practices and policies of regional significance. * Promote policies, programs, and best practices to assist the states in implementing impor- House Budget Committee John Tierney (D-Mass.), member of the key Subcommittee tant regional higher education policies. Focus: setting total spending limits Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), on Labor, HHS, Education and * Promote regional coopera- for the federal budget Carol Shea Porter (D-N.H.) Related Agencies tion and programs that encour- age the efficient use and shar- ing of educational resources. New England members: James House Ways and Means Senate Health, Education, * Provide leadership to McGovern (D-Mass.), Niki Committee Labor and Pensions (HELP) strengthen the relationship Tsongas (D-Mass.) Focus: all federal tax policies, Committee between higher education and the economic well-being of New Temporary Assistance for Needy Focus: authorizes Workforce England. House Appropriations Families, Trade Adjustment Investment Act, Higher Education Committee Assistance Act, Perkins Act, Adult Basic Policy & Research Staff: Matthew Crellin – Director of Policy Focus: discretionary federal fund- Education. and Research ing, Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, New England members: Education and Related Agencies John Larson (D-Conn.), New England members: John O. Harney – Executive Editor, New England Journal of Higher determines funding levels for job Richard Neal (D-Mass.) Reed (D-R.I.), Education training, education and human Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) services based on House Budget Senate Budget Committee Dodd and Gregg are mem- Charles Desmond – Senior Fellow Committee funding targets Focus: sets total spending limits bers of the key Subcommittee Carolyn Morwick – Policy for the federal budget on Employment and Workplace Consultant New England members: Safety until 12/31/10.) Darrell Aaron – Policy Research Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), New England members: Graduate Assistant John Olver (D-Mass.) Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Senate Finance Committee Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) Focus: Authorizes all federal tax Shoshana Akins – Communications Assistant House Education and Labor policies, Temporary Assistance for Committee Senate Appropriations Needy Families, Trade Adjustment Christine Cassis – Communications Focus: federal programs in educa- Committee Assistance. Assistant tion from preschool through higher Focus: sets funding levels for job Ian Davis – Administrative education, including Workforce training, education and human ser- New England members: Coordinator Investment Act, Higher Education vices John Kerry (D-Mass.), David Mabe – Policy Research Act, Perkins Act for Career, Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) Graduate Assistant Technical Education and Adult New England members: Neither Kerry nor Snowe are Basic Education Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), members of the key Subcommittee Courtney Wilk – Policy Research Graduate Assistant Susan Collins (R-Maine) on Social Security, Pensions and New England members: and Jack Reed (D-R.I), who is a Family Policy. Contested Races in Connecticut New England Governor: District 2 Joe Courtney (D) Thomas Foley (R) Janet Peckinpaugh (R) Dannel Malloy (D) Tom Marsh (I) Democratic U.S. Rep. Courtney, who is seeking a third term, is Warren Mossler (I) a member of the House Education and Labor Committee. He is being challenged by Republican Peckinpaugh, a small business Democrat Malloy, a former prosecutor and mayor of Stamford will owner. The latest polls conducted by Merriman River Group show face off with Republican businessman, Foley. Latest polls show Courtney leading Peckinpaugh 55% to 41%. the race tightening with Foley gaining. The latest Quinnipiac University poll gives Malloy a 3-point lead, while Rasmussen District 3 polls say Malloy is up by 5 points. The polls also indicate that Rosa DeLauro (D) Independent voters are breaking for the Republican candidate, Jerry Labriola (R) Foley. Democratic U.S. Rep. DeLauro has served ten terms and sits U.S. Senate: on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, where she chairs the Subcommittee on Agriculture and is a member of the Richard Blumenthal (D) Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, Labor, Education and Related Linda McMahon (R) Agencies. She is being challenged by Republican Labriola , an attorney and treasurer of the Republican State Committee. This Senate seat has been vacated by long time Democratic DeLauro currently leads Labriola by more than 20 points. Sen. Dodd, who chose not to seek re-election. Attorney General Blumenthal, a Democrat, hopes to prevail over Republican District 4 McMahon, former head of World Wrestling Entertainment, James Himes (D) a Stamford based company. The latest Rasmussen poll shows Dan Debicella (R) Blumenthal leading with 54% to McMahon’s 43%. Connecticut’s 4th Congressional District is a statistical dead heat. U.S. House of Representatives: Democratic U.S. Rep. Himes is seeking his second term and is being challenged by Republican state Sen. Debicella, who has District 1 a narrow lead according to the latest polls by Merriman River John Larson (D) Group. Political observers say the race will be decided by the city Ann Brickley (R) of Bridgeport. Democratic U.S. Rep. Larson has served six terms and is currently District 5 part of Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s leadership team and a member of Christopher Murphy (D) the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. Larson is facing Sam Caligiuri (R) a tough fight from Republican Brickley, a professional engineer, who worked for United Technologies Corp. and GE. Brickley has Two-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Murphy has fallen behind chal- moved up in the polls and now trails Larson by 7 points. lenger, Republican State Sen. Caligiuri. The latest Merriman River Group poll shows Cailigiuri moving ahead of Murphy. Maine Massachusetts Governor: Governor: Two-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Tsongas cur- rently serves on the House Armed Services Deval Patrick (D) Committee and the House Budget Committee. Libby Mitchell (D) Charles Baker (R) She is being is challenged by Republican busi- Paul LePage (R) Tim Cahill (I) nessman Golnik of Carlisle, and Independent Jill Stein (Green Party) candidates, Brown of Chelmsford and Clark of Elliot Cutler (I) Berlin. Shawn Moody (I) The race for governor of Massachusetts Kevin Scott (I) continues to be close. Democratic Gov. District 6 Patrick, seeking a second term, is tied with John Tierney (D) Republican Baker, former CEO of Harvard Bill Hudak (R) The race for governor is tighten- Pilgrim Health Care. In a messy political situ- ation, Independent candidate, Cahill, charged Democratic U.S.