November 5, 2024 • 38 mins
We had a special election edition of NightSide! WBZ NewsRadio had wall to wall, floor to ceiling live anchored election coverage throughout the evening as the poll results pour in throughout the state and nationally. Dan Rea gave political commentary and spoke to a variety of political guests which included Jim Brett, President of the New England Council, Congressman Seth Moulton, MA Rep. David Linsky, former Congressman Mike Capuano, MA GOP Chair Amy Carnevale, NH Gov. Chris Sununu and more!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
We are expecting Senator Warren's challenger, Attorney John Deaton, to
speak to his supporters at about eight forty five this evening.
As you heard, Elizabeth Warren has won that race for
the Senate. Wbz's Mike Macklin is with the Deaton camp
at the Nash Bar and Stage on Tremont Street. Obviously
some wind out of the sales there.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Michael, Well, we're down here in the theater district and
this certainly wasn't the theatrical production that John Deaton was
hoping for Tonight. He's been mixing with his supporters here
at the Nash Bar, making no bones about the fact
that the race is probably going to turn out the
way all of the polls have suggested it would, but
he's not speaking like it. Defeated candidate saying that he
(00:39):
felt he got his message out, got his voice heard,
and he says he presented himself as an alternative to
Elizabeth Warren Dalton bemoaning the one party status of Massachusetts
where the Republicans are virtually out of sight. He says
he would like to change that. He was hoping his
candidacy here in the US Senate race would help change that.
(01:02):
And he says that perhaps there may be another run
in him in the future, although he is not committed
to any particular race or any particular time. But the
fifty seven year old who is an attorney here in
Massachusetts and was making his first run for political office,
seeming fairly satisfied with the job that he did in
this race, no doubt disappointed with the way the vote
(01:25):
count will turn out, but nonetheless thinking that he got
his message. Job. We expect to be hearing from him
within the next hour and Deeton Headquarters by Backlan WBZ,
Boston's news Radio.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
All right, you're listening to an election night coverag John WBZ,
And as we continue along, already several states have called
the presidential race a lot more to go, but Vermont, Massachusetts, Maryland, Connecticut,
and Rhode Island all have gone, have all been called
for Vice President Kamala Harris. She has thirty five electoral
votes as it sits right now. Former President Donald Trump
(01:57):
as one Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, Florida, Lahoma, Mississippi, South Carolina,
and Tennessee and has ninety five electoral votes. Of course,
it's a long night, and we are going to be
waiting to see who's won all the states and eventually
who has won the White House. Independent Bernie Sanders is
on his fourth term in the US Senate, but control
of that chamber is still very much up for grabs.
Jennifer King has everything we need to know about that.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
There are thirty four seats in the US Senate being
contested in this election. Democrats have a fifty one to
forty nine majority, with four independent senators included in their caucus.
Eleven Republican held seats are up for election, all in
red states. The GOP needs to flip two seats to
regain control of the Senate at only one if Donald
Trump wins, since JD Vance would get the tie breaking vote.
In West Virginia, Governor Jim Justice dominated his Republican Senate
(02:41):
primary and is polling at double the numbers of Democrat
Glenn Elliott. Other closely watched Senate races include Montana, where
Democrat John Tester is defending his seat against Tim Sheehey
in a state where Republicans now dominate other statewide offices.
In Ohio, longtime Senate incumbent Shared Brown is facing a
strong challenge from Republican businessman Bernie Morie. With Senate control
on the line. Both Montana and Ohio have seen record
(03:03):
breaking campaign spending.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
I'm Jennifer King control of the US House, who is
also up for grabs in this election. Republicans are trying
to hold onto a slim majority. Several of the districts,
though they're defending, are in deep blue states, ones like
New York and California. Republicans Brenton Williams and Anthony the
Espepsido of New York are both defending their seats, though
the Cook Political Report says their districts are leaning Democrat. Meantime,
(03:27):
control over Virginia's seventh districts still a toss up between
Democrat Eugene Vindman and Republican Derek Anderson. Back to Massachusetts. Now,
five ballot questions statewide on the ballot today, one of
them to change the game for tipped workers the busiest
Jay Well Let explain that one.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
Question five on the ballot asks if tipped workers should
make an increasing wage up to the state minimum on
top of gratuity. If Massachusetts voters opts know on this one,
nothing changes to how they're paid. But if it is
a yes majority, servers bartenders, barbers, bell hops would all
work there way up to fifteen bucks an hour over
the course of five years. It would also open up
(04:04):
the door to tip pooling, where gratuity can be shared
with back end staff like cooks and cleaners, though that's
only optional. Those in favor say the law would protect
employees vulnerable to wage theft and exploitation by their bosses.
Those again, say all this really does is spell a
pay cut to servers, arguing patrons will give less as
a result, and Massachusetts already requires employers to cover the
(04:25):
difference if it's a slow night for tips. J Willett WBZ,
Boston's news radio.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Among the top issues on the minds of voters this
election day, abortion voters in nearly a dozen states voting
today on whether to establish the right to abortion access.
Ten states, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, and Missouri among them,
have measures on their ballot to protect the right to
abortion access or reproductive freedom.
Speaker 5 (04:48):
Since Roe v.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Wade was overturned in twenty twenty two, seven states have
put forward measures on abortion before their voters. In all, seven,
the efforts to preserve abortion rights one exit polls We're
giving us a bit of a glimpse in the minds
of voters as America chooses its next president.
Speaker 6 (05:04):
Americans nationwide how they feel about the state of affairs
in our country. Americans generally are unhappy with the way
things are. Seven to ten say they are dissatisfied or angry.
Close to half say their famili's financial situation is worse
today than it was four years ago. But six and
ten Americans say America's best days are ahead of us
(05:25):
and not in the past. More than seventy percent and
our national exit polls say democracy in America is threatened.
Speaker 5 (05:33):
Is ABC Stephen Portnoy.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Respondents to this ABC poll pointed to the economy as
one of their top concerns this election. We are continuing
to monitor election results from across the country. We want
to get you up to speed on the presidential race.
Of course, it's going to be a long night, maybe
along several days. But as of right now, Donald Trump
has ninety five electoral votes. He has won Indiana, Kentucky,
West Virginia, Florida, Oklahoma, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee, while
(05:59):
the northeast and a few other states belongs to Kamala
Harris Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island all going Harris's way
along with Maryland. She has thirty five electoral votes as
we speak, a lot more results to come in through
not only this evening, but as the days where on.
We're hoping they'll be a call of this race in
the early going and it won't take days upon days,
(06:19):
but we'll see and we'll be here for you no
matter how long it takes. All this campaigning over the
last many months cost the candidates a pretty penny. CBS's
Jim Cursula has those numbers.
Speaker 7 (06:29):
Candidates spent a record sixteen billion dollars on US election campaigns,
according to a nonprofit called Open Secrets. That was an
all time high. In the hotly contested presidential race, Vice
President Kamala Harris emerged as the fundraising leader. Her campaign
directly raised over one billion dollars, with forty percent.
Speaker 8 (06:48):
Coming from small donors.
Speaker 7 (06:50):
Former President Donald Trump's campaign raised three hundred and eighty
two million dollars directly, with twenty eight percent coming from
small donors. Jim Chriscilla CBS.
Speaker 5 (07:00):
It is eight thirteen.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
On election nights, stay with WBZ News Radio for election
coverage throughout the evening wz's night Side with Dan Ray.
Part of our coverage tonight, we'll be hearing from newsmakers
including the President of the New England Council, Jim Brett,
Congressman Seth Molten, former Congressman Mike Capuano, and New Hampshire
Governor Chris Sonunu All straight ahead with Dan Ray and
a whole bunch more.
Speaker 5 (07:20):
Stay with us. Election coverage continues.
Speaker 9 (07:23):
Now night Side with Dan Ray, an election night special
on w b Z, Boston's news radio.
Speaker 10 (07:31):
Good evening, everyone, and welcome on in. My name is
Dan Ray, the host of Nightside, and I have about
eight people tonight that we're going to talk to who
know politics inside and out from different perspectives here in
New England. Going to start off with Jim Brett. He's
the President of the New England Council. Jim Brett. Welcome
back to Nightside, sir. How are you tonight?
Speaker 11 (07:51):
Always a pleasure Dan to be back.
Speaker 10 (07:53):
Well, this is a big night. We only have a
few of these during our lifetimes. You divide by four, however,
whatever it is, if you get four score years in
your lifetime, you get about realistically twenty of these you've
seen more than a few presidential elections, final presidential elections
on that first Tuesday after the first Monday in November,
(08:15):
and you're looking at it from the perspective of the
New England Council. A lot of people don't understand what
the New England Council is, but you're about to, not
you personally, the New England Council is about to turn
one hundred years old. Tell us about it.
Speaker 11 (08:27):
Well, that's an historic figure itself, one hundred years old.
Where the oldest regional business organization in the United States. Obviously,
it was found in nineteen twenty five, and it was
founded in a little town called Poland Spring in Maine.
And there was the governors and the leading CEOs at
the time who were involved in manufacturing of textile and
(08:48):
shoe and they were saying that we need to find
ways of working together because in nineteen twenty five a
lot of the workers were leaving the New England region
going down south to the Carolina's warmer climate, lower taxes,
and they said that we are well situated in our
own individual states. We know the Senators, we know the congressmen,
(09:09):
they know us, but it's more important that we know
more of the elected officials throughout New England that could
help us and be our voice in Washington. And that
was really the genesis, saying, if we work together as
a region, even though we're a very small region of
the United States, we're only about five percent of the
(09:29):
nation's population and about thirteen and a half million people,
half of them in one state. But the genesis was,
if we work together. Vermont's population is no bigger than
the city of Boston, but they have two United States Senators.
So they said, if we're five percent of the nation's
population and we have twelve percent of the United States
(09:51):
Senate in New England, that's a great asset. But we
have to find ways of keeping them engaged, involved and
working together on New England issues. And it's something that
has developed into a very successful advocacy organization. And what
we do is we are engaged with all the members
(10:13):
of Congress, the twenty one members of Congress, and whether
they're Democrats or Republicans today they're Democrats. When I first
started in nineteen ninety six, you know, there's two senators
in New Hampshire, Republicans Bob Smith and Judd Gregg, and
New Ginridge was the Speaker of the House, so they
needed someone who could go to Washington and be their voice,
(10:35):
who could work both sides, both sides of the aisle,
and advocate on behalf of New England, whether it be
on higher ed energy tax policy.
Speaker 10 (10:49):
I also assumed, Jim, that there must be issues, for example,
fishing issues that whether you're a Democrat or a Republican
on that issue, you want to make sure that whatever
restrictions they are imposed on our fishing industry, they're done fairly. Obviously,
you have many regulatory agencies that you have to contend with.
(11:09):
Interesting enough, you talked about the population. I will bet
you that as great as your organization is today, over
time you've lost population and also representation in Congress. I
suspect that back in the day when the New England
Council started, we probably had sixteen or seventeen, maybe even
(11:30):
eighteen members of the House of Representatives, and that figure
has diminished, which means.
Speaker 11 (11:36):
That I think you could double that. In the nineteenth
twenties it was over thirty members, thirty members that we're
advocating on behalf of New England and Washington, and now
we have twenty one and every dessential every ten years
when they do resistrict and someone seems to lose, Rhode
Island seems to lose the seat, Massachusetts seems to lose
(11:58):
the seat. That's why it is so important that they
the members of the delegation work as a region. And
someone like Ritchie Neil, who's the dean who's elected nineteen
eighty eight to Congress from Springfield, he has really truly
led the effort to inform and educate all new members
of Congress from New England that we work together as
(12:20):
a region. Because when we do that, we have a
lot of clout. And we've had a lot of successes
in areas such as tax policy and energy and health care.
And that's because people in other parts of the country
marvel at how well coordinated and cohesive. The New England
delegation is both the House in the Senate, and it's
(12:42):
been that way, whether they're all Democrats are all Republicans,
it's just working together. So it's a joy for me
to work with them because they understand and strength and unity.
We have an awful lot of clout, and as I say,
we've had people from other parts of the country come
to us and say we would like to duplicate what
(13:04):
you do. We would love to have a mid Atlantic Council,
our Southeast Council, but they've been unsuccessful and achieving that.
So we're unique and able to do what we do.
And I think one of the reasons we do as
well is that New England pretty much you know, it's
rich Ox Nation, it's patriots, you know, New England patriots.
Speaker 12 (13:22):
There are many.
Speaker 11 (13:22):
People that live in New Hampshire that work in Massachusetts.
Many people in Massachusetts work in New England in New Hampshire,
many people live in Massachusetts work in Rhode Island. Some
even work in Maine and live here, so we are
a little more cohesive. But I think also we're an
organization that is very unique in this time and era
(13:46):
where there's so much gridlock, so much polarization in Washington,
our organization is able to access Democrats and Republicans to
sit together and to see if we can find common
ground on issues that would be of importance to New England.
It's not the New England Democratic Council, it's not the
(14:07):
New England Republican Council. It's the New England Council. And
who's the New England Council. It's the community health centers,
it's hospitals, it's colleges, it's the biotech, it's the industries
that you could think of. They're part of the New
England Council, all with the mission statement to improve the
economic conditions in New England and have a voice at
(14:28):
the table in Washington. And what I'm very proud of
is to be able to say that we don't give money,
we don't have a pack, we don't give endorsements, we
don't give a grade. And that's why we're able to
get leaders of both parties and Jim white House, Jim.
Speaker 10 (14:46):
Maybe with a little bit of luck, Congress can take
the New England Council as an example and as a
model and maybe work together in the Congress that will
assemble a January. Jim Brett of the New England Council,
present and CEO, thanks so much for joining us tonight
here on nightside in a very important night. And we'll
have you on some night and spend some time taking
(15:08):
phone calls from listeners.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Thanks so much, love you, thanks very much.
Speaker 11 (15:12):
I appreciate Thank you.
Speaker 13 (15:13):
Dan.
Speaker 10 (15:14):
All Right, Jim Brett, back to our other programming here.
Speaker 9 (15:17):
On Nightside Campaign twenty twenty four America Votes. This is
wb Z Boston's news.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
Radio, sixty five degrees in Boston at eight thirty eight.
Good afternoon, make that good evening. I'm Ben Parker. Here's
what's happening. The polls are closed in Massachusetts. In fact,
they closed about a half hour ago. So far, Senator
Elizabeth Warren has one re election, as have five unopposed
(15:45):
members of the House, and Kamala Harris has won Massachusetts
in the presidential race. Right now, there is a focus
on the city of Boston, where many voters had to
wait in line past eight o'clock because they're polling places
ran out of ballots.
Speaker 14 (15:57):
I'm at the Phineas Bate School, Ward eighteen, and as
you can see, the line is very long here. The
good news is that the ballots have arrived, but at
some point throughout the day they ran out of ballots.
Speaker 8 (16:08):
I'm here with Megan Sweeter, and give me a sense.
What time did you get here and how long did
you have to wait?
Speaker 15 (16:13):
So we got here about five twenty and we waited
for about an hour and a half before the ballots
showed up. And when we got here they said that
the ballots were. They were out of ballots, but the
line was moving pretty fast, so we were a little confused.
But we were about ten people behind where they ran
out of ballots.
Speaker 8 (16:31):
How frustrating was that? Did it make you nervous?
Speaker 10 (16:34):
You know what?
Speaker 15 (16:34):
It didn't, because this is a very important election.
Speaker 16 (16:38):
There's a lot at stakes.
Speaker 15 (16:39):
So we had our two kids here, two and four,
and we just hunkered down. They had their little notepad
as stuffed animal, and we just waited it out.
Speaker 8 (16:48):
How relieved were you when the ballots did get here?
Speaker 16 (16:51):
Very relieved.
Speaker 15 (16:51):
Yeah, we were very happy when we saw the cop
walk through with the ballots.
Speaker 8 (16:55):
And finally, why was it important for you to wait?
Speaker 15 (16:58):
It was important, as decided to. It's a crucial election.
It's I think it's important to participate in civic duties
like this and to have your voice heard.
Speaker 14 (17:08):
Megan Sweeter, thank you so much. So that's the situation
here in Rossendale. The good news is that the ballots
have arrived. They're still waiting on more to arrive. But yes,
you can see this line is very long, but people
are waiting patiently and they cannot wait to cast their ballots.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
I was w to bctvs Paul Burton and Rosalindale on
those ballot problems Earlier today, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren winning
her third firm as Massachusetts Senator. Of the vz's Madison
Rodgers is at Warren's campaign watch party in Madison. Apparently
it is a party.
Speaker 13 (17:41):
It is a party. Indeed, Ben, it was only a
matter of moments between Poles closing here in the Bay
State and Democrats notching a victory. Projections do now stay
that Massachusetts has picked Kamala Harris for the next president
and reelected Senator Warren to her third term.
Speaker 16 (17:55):
I'm here with the.
Speaker 13 (17:56):
Senator, the Warren campaign and mass DEM's at a watch
party at a power station. The crowds are celebrating, though
there is some anxiety for running through the crowds. We're
expecting Warren to take the stage for an acceptance speech,
and when she does, you can listen live right here
on WBZ News Radio. Warren appears to have handily defeated
the challenge from Republican John Deaton, but it is anything
(18:17):
but clear which party.
Speaker 16 (18:18):
Will win Senate control.
Speaker 13 (18:20):
Live from the South End, I'm Madison Rogers, WBZ Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 5 (18:25):
All right, tivatuity WBZ.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
We will keep you up to date on all of
the happenings, including reaction from John Deaton's campaign party.
Speaker 5 (18:33):
This evening.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
We do have an update though on the presidential race,
as a couple more states have been called. New Jersey
goes to Vice President Kamala Harris, while Arkansas goes to
former President Donald Trump. As it stands right now, the
electoral vote count Donald Trump with one hundred and one
and Kamala Harris with forty nine eight thirty three. Let's
get you out on the roads. It's traffic and weathered
(18:56):
together the Subaru retailers of New England all wheel drive
traffic on the three is zach, what are you seeing?
Speaker 17 (19:01):
Well, I'm looking right now in the north here starting
on ninety five in Woovern, we just got a report
of a two car crash on the northbound side at
Washington Street Route one. Little tap of the brakes here
on the northbound side from Copland Circle, sorry, Copeland Circle
to lynn Street one twenty eight ninety five Okay, from
Lexington to Lynnfield ninety three Route three, no issues around
their four ninety five merges downtown. ZAKEM. LeVert and Tobin.
No trouble there. Airport tunnels, no delays to and from
(19:24):
Logan River Road. Smooth sailing on those south of town Expressway.
Nothing in your way between the split and the tunnel
Route three twenty four to ninety five, all the speed
limit ride getting by ninety three and out west on
the Pike. No issues in either direction between Natick and
the expressway. Zach Transport to b bzy's twenty four hour traffic.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
We got some record temperatures that they hit our way tomorrow.
Plenty of sunshine, temperatures well into the seventies.
Speaker 9 (19:44):
Your complete coverage of campaign twenty twenty four continues now
on WBZ Boston's news Radio.
Speaker 5 (19:51):
A busy day at the polling places today.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
The ballots in Massachusetts had more than just races on it.
Five ballot questions to consider in the commonwealth. Wbus's Nicole
Davis is here and what are you saying when it
comes to these ballot questions?
Speaker 18 (20:04):
Nicole, Yeah, but we're just starting to get our first
results in on the ballot questions. It is early, but
here is what we have, starting with Question one, which
if passed, would allow the legislature to be audited with
a fraction of cities in towns reporting here, Yes on
one has a big lead, seventy two to twenty eight percent.
Ballot Question two on the mcast a bit closer, but
again with a fraction reporting Yes on two is leading
(20:26):
sixty two to thirty eight percent. Question three to allow
right share drivers to unionize Yes fifty nine and a
half percent, No, forty and a half percent. We did
have a feeling Question five was going to be close.
That is the one about tipping in restaurants and other
tipped wages. So far is closer than the rest of
the questions. No on top with fifty eight percent, Yes
(20:47):
coming in at forty two percent, So again, still pretty early, Ben,
But here's what we have on those. And we did
have another question, Question four that's been the source of
a lot of controversy.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
Sure has the cold. Question four is all about the
ability to grow and use certain psychedelics. Wbz's Jared Brosnan
has more.
Speaker 19 (21:02):
Question four asks voters to consider the legalization of naturally
occurring psychedelic drugs like DMT, mescalin, and psilocybin aka what's
found in magic mushrooms. If passed, anyone over twenty one
years old can grow, share, or use psychedelics at home
as long as they stay below the legal threshold for
each substance, But outside of growing them yourself, the only
way to get the substances is through licensed professionals, so
(21:22):
it wouldn't be as easy as going to a dispensary
for marijuana or a liquor store for alcohol. Those against
legalization point to the potential health risks from adverse reactions
to the drugs and say they're unsure how the state
can regulate at home use. They also worry about a
lack of a breathalyzer type device that can instantly detect
whether someone's under the influence. Those in favors say psychedelics
psilocybin in particular, can help treat things like post traumatic
(21:42):
stress disorder and anxiety. They also argue that expensive treatment
costs would mitigate any rampant recreational use. Jared Brosnan WZ
Boston's News Radio.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
Marijuana, by the way, also a top issue a lot
of states in the selection. Massachusetts legalized recreational pod in
twenty sixteen. This year, though voters in Florida, North Dakota,
South Kota all deciding whether or not to legalize recreational
marijuana in their states. Nebraska is voting on whether or
not to legalize medical cannabis. Nebraska is just one of
six states where marijuana is still completely outlawed, even in
(22:12):
a medical setting. One of the more hotly contested governor's
races is playing out right across the border today in
New Hampshire, WZ. Sherry Small is here now with the
very latest from the Granite State.
Speaker 16 (22:24):
Sherry Hi Ben.
Speaker 20 (22:25):
Yeah, that's right. Polls showing this race to be neck
and neck. Republican candidate Kelly Aot versus Democrat Joyce Craig.
Aon has statewide name recognition that could give her a
leg up. She's a former one term US senator. Before that,
she was a prosecutor then attorney general for the state.
She's pushing her anti tax agenda, new Hampshire being a
(22:47):
no income tax and no.
Speaker 16 (22:48):
Sales tax state.
Speaker 20 (22:50):
She's also touting pro business economic policies one of our slogans,
don't mass it up. She has the endorsement of outgoing
Republican Governor Chris Sanunu. Democrat Joyce Craig, meanwhile, is the
ex mayor of Manchester In twenty seventeen, she was elected
the first woman mayor of the city, holding the office
(23:10):
until January of this year. Prior to that, she served
as an alderman for six years. Her platform, she says
she'll strengthen public schools, increased affordable housing, and protect access
to abortion. Either way, New Hampshire will see its third
woman governor, following Democrats Jen Shaheen and Maggie Hassen, both
are now senators.
Speaker 1 (23:30):
Been all right, Shery, We've got a couple of congressional
races going on in New Hampshire as well. District one
right now, Chris Pappas, who is the Democratic incumbent. He
is leading Russell Presscott fifty one to forty nine percent.
Still very low in the voting tallies. Only nine percent
of the votes have been counted in District one. District
two same deal, very low, under ten percent of the
(23:51):
votes counted, and Maggie Goodlander is leading Lily Tang Williams
by about fifty one to forty eight percent. Seven states
have been won by Kamala Harris so far in this
election day twenty twenty four, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, and Rhode
Island among them. So far in terms of electoral voting
counts fifty two electoral votes for the vice president. While
(24:16):
former President Donald Trump has won ten states, he just
most recently picked up Arkansaw's votes. He has one hundred
and one electoral votes. It's been a busy day at
the polling places all across the country. In fact, many
young Americans casting their ballots for the first time.
Speaker 16 (24:32):
Eighteen year old Tim cast his first ballot and says
it's a big deal.
Speaker 4 (24:36):
I really feel like my voice is being heard, even
though it's one vote.
Speaker 16 (24:40):
He was initially turned away from the polling place because
he was wearing a Trump van's T shirt and political
attire isn't allowed at the polls, but he is proud
of Trump.
Speaker 8 (24:49):
I just I think he did better for our country.
Speaker 16 (24:51):
And being from Texas, Tim says, I.
Speaker 8 (24:53):
Really think the biggest thing for me is immigration.
Speaker 16 (24:56):
Allison Keys, CBS News.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
Some polls are starting to close all across the country.
Massachusetts closed forty minutes ago, so did up many states
along the eastern seaboard. But as we move off to
the west, there are still hours to go before the
pollings closed. CBS's Nicole Skanga tells us today's voting was
also not without its shriff scalers.
Speaker 21 (25:15):
Officials in at least two states, made in Georgia say
police have responded to threats against schools and polling places today,
none of them credible. Brad Raffensberger, the Georgia Secretary of State,
saying in a news conference that officials had identified the
source that it was from Russia. The FBI also putting
out a statement indicating many of the threats appear to
originate from Russian email domains.
Speaker 1 (25:37):
The meantime, officials say the US Capital Visitors Center was
closed this afternoon after a man tried to get into
that building with a torch and a flare gun. All
eyes are on the outcome of this election day, lots
of drama, lots of freight nerves. But Americans are not
the only ones with a close eye on the polls.
Speaker 22 (25:52):
China has no official position but perverse stability, and I.
Speaker 5 (25:56):
Think that probably means Harris.
Speaker 22 (25:58):
A Trump presidency, of course would mean the tariffs that
would further hurt a slow in Chinese economy and a
potential trade war, And of course questions remain. I think
about how far either candidate would support Taiwan.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
That is ABC's Ian Pannell. Kamala Harris has picked up
another state in the race for president eight states now
including Illinois and New Jersey. Massachusetts was called early four Harris,
who now has picked up a few more electoral votes
up to seventy one. Donald Trump sits at one hundred
and one electoral votes. And we should tell you about
(26:30):
Massachusetts congressional races. Elizabeth Warren won the Senate race over
John Deaton today. There are some congressional seats up for
grabs well in terms of the incumbents facing challengers. Five
incumbents didn't face any sort of challenge. They of course won.
Richard Neil in District one has been declared the winner.
He did face a challenge today. There are a few
(26:52):
other challenged seats and we'll keep you posted on those
as the evening goes on. Former President Donald Trump is
trying to do something that hasn't been done since the
late eighteen hundreds become president for a second non consecutive term,
the last and only person to do it. Hello, dear,
this is your old Palgrover, Old pal Grover Cleveland.
Speaker 5 (27:13):
He's the one who turned the trick.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
He was elected as the twenty second president and served
from eighteen eighty five to eighteen eighty nine. After being
defeated by Benjamin Harrison, Cleveland won the presidency again in
as the twenty fourth president. He served then in term
number two, from eighteen ninety three to eighteen ninety seven.
Cleveland's loss in eighteen eighty eight featured and winning the
popular vote but losing with fewer electoral votes. He also
(27:37):
was on the only president who was married in the
White House. He married Francis Fulsom in June of eighteen
eighty six while he was the president. We are following
results here on WBZ throughout the evening. The presidential race
continues on Many polls still open across the country, so
we will have to wait a while longer before we
even start getting counts from there, but we are seeing
(27:58):
some of the results coming in from some of the
races across parts of the country. We do have a
governor's race in New Hampshire that is underway, a Senate
race in Massachusetts that is over. Elizabeth Warren wins her
third term on Capitol Hill. Will continue to keep you
up to date, and we'll continue to check in with
Dan Ray. He's got some exciting guests on this election night,
(28:19):
So stay with us on WBZ. I'm Ben Parker.
Speaker 9 (28:22):
Nights Side with Dan Ray continues now on WBZ News Radio.
Speaker 10 (28:29):
Welcome back. We are interviewing a number of political leaders
from different perspectives and with different experiences and different emphasize
emphasis with us now a state representative, David Lynskey. He's
a Democrat, been in the House Chamber here in Massachusetts
for many, many years. Representative. Welcome to night's side.
Speaker 5 (28:49):
Welcome.
Speaker 10 (28:50):
How are you welcome to w b z's special election coverage.
Speaker 12 (28:53):
Thank you, Dan. It's a big night for America tonight
and I'm very happy to be part of it.
Speaker 10 (28:58):
Well delighted you with us. You have been a state
representative for I know Natick, but do you have other
communities in your in your district as well?
Speaker 12 (29:08):
Yeah, currently I represent all of Natick and half of
the town of Whaleland. I formerly represented Sherburn and Millis too,
but I picked up Whaleland and I'm very happy to
have that too. And I've been in the state legislature
now for twenty five years in Massachusetts and been involved
in a variety of issues.
Speaker 5 (29:28):
And I'm now you have.
Speaker 10 (29:30):
Some seniority then twenty times through.
Speaker 12 (29:34):
Well, one of the things you think, as we're saying,
goes when I first ran that, my slogan was give
a young man a chance, and now it's turned into
there's no substitute for experience.
Speaker 10 (29:45):
No question about that. Perspective always makes us feel that way,
a little bit of age, nothing wrong with that. So look,
one of the things you mentioned was that your district
changes periodically, and of course congressional districts change, and one
of the things that you're very much involved in now
nationally you're a state representative from Massachusetts, but you're involved
with the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, the DLLCC, and you
(30:08):
told me that the Republicans nationally have been i guess
out maneuvering the Democrats when it comes to controlling state legislatures,
not so in Massachusetts. Tell us what's going on and
what you and other members of the DLCC are trying
to do about it.
Speaker 12 (30:26):
Well, so, Dan, I think the reality is is that
because of the dysfunction in Congress for the last many years,
and then also a whole series of Supreme Court decisions
that push decisions down to the state level, including quite
frankly abortion, the importance of state legislatures became magnified immensely,
(30:50):
and so state legislatures now have an enormous impact on
everybody's day to day lives. But the Republicans quite frankly
beat us to the punch about fifteen years ago with
a program to get people elected. Republicans elected the state legislatures,
and what it turned into, quite frankly, was they then
(31:11):
controlled congressional redistricting because that's generally done by state legislators
out there. Now, did you know, for example, that way
more people in this country vote for Democratic congress people
than Republican congress people, but that's never reflected because the
way the maps have been drawn. So we and the
(31:34):
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee over the past few years have
decided to meet the Republican challenge and put a lot
of emphasis in trying to get Democratic majorities in state legislatures.
So tonight is yeah, my colleagues around the country, Yeah.
Speaker 10 (31:53):
On that issue. There are some states, some sparsely populated states,
I think maybe South Coda in Wyoming where they have
two US Senators but only one member of Congress. So
it doesn't make a big difference in states that just
have one member of Congress because there's going to be
really no redistricting. The list as a dramatic increase in population, but.
Speaker 12 (32:16):
It makes them a difference in a Michigan or Wisconsin,
or New York or North Carolina. You know that really
the swing states. So what happens is is, as we
know from what's going on in the in the presidential
electric tonight, in the swing states, the votes are pretty
much split fifty to fifty. But because of redistricting at
(32:36):
both a state legislature level and the congressional level, the
Republicans have really had majorities in those states and in
the congressional delegation and in the state legislature. And so
they've done a great job at it, and we in
the Democratic Party are now trying to match it. And
I expect we're going to have some good news tonight.
Speaker 10 (32:57):
Well, it'll be interesting. I know that it's one point.
Later in the week, we'll find out that across the
country the Republicans or the Democrats either picked up a
lost so many state Senate seats or so many state
legislative seats, state representative seats. State I know it's called
the legislatures are a little different In New York. I
know it's the Assembly, if they're not mistaken, but that's
(33:19):
the equivalent I guess of our House of Representatives. And
do you think that the Democratic Party can turn this around? Obviously,
in Massachusetts, the Democratic Party has a super majority in
both the House and Senate and nothing's going to change
as of tonight. Republicans are hoping to pick up a
seat here, a seat there, but the Democrats run Beacon
(33:41):
Hill in Massachusetts. But it's not always the same way
in the other forty nine state capitals. And that's really
for ex.
Speaker 12 (33:50):
In Pennsylvania right now, the Democrats have a one seat
majority in the in the state House of Representatives and
they're down one seat in the state Senate up in
our neighbors in New Hampshire. That's within three or four
seats in the state Legislature and just a couple of
seats in the state Senate. You know that the changing
(34:13):
the majority in these states can really have a major
effect on people's lives, on democracy, on their right to vote,
on the right to control their bodies. It has enormous impact.
Like I said, the Supreme Court has pushed these decisions
down to the state legislative level.
Speaker 10 (34:31):
Yeah, there's a lot of cases that work their way
up to the Supreme Court to deal with, you know,
apportionment and how districts are constructed, and you'll see those
cases percolate up. The other thing which people need to
understand and maybe you can explain it better than I
that different legislatures around the country are quite different. Meaning
(34:55):
Massachusetts for the most part, members of our legislature, that's
your prime career. You're a legislative you know, elected official.
Whereas in New Hampshire, I think that people it's more
than one.
Speaker 12 (35:09):
Hundred and fifty dollars a year.
Speaker 10 (35:11):
Yeah, right, and no one's going to be able to
live even in New Hampshire on one hundred and fifty
dollars a year, so.
Speaker 12 (35:19):
Of them too, yeah yeah, so very different situation. The
reality is, when you have a situation like that, it
gives the governor a lot more power. When you have
a very part time, inexperienced legislature with no staff and
no expertise, that that's what happens. It hands it hands
the control away from the people, away from the legislature
(35:42):
into the hands of the governor.
Speaker 10 (35:44):
But doesn't it make that a little easier for your
organization of this Legislative Campaign Committee Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee
to go into a state like New Hampshire and find
good candidates who you would approve of and help them
get elected because it's an easier lift, I guess, is
(36:09):
what I'm saying, to turn to flip a state legislature
like New Hampshire than it would be for the Republicans
to in any way shape or form flip a more
professional legislature like Massachusetts.
Speaker 12 (36:22):
Or Now that's exactly right, right. We're putting a lot
of resources into New Hampshire today, obviously, and we've been
doing it for months, but we're also trying to to
get control of state legislatures this session in Minnesota, in Arizona,
and then increase some seats where we're in the minority,
(36:45):
and trying to be able to at least sustain a vetol.
North Carolina as an example of that. They have a
democratic governor, they just elected another democratic governor tonight, but
the legislature down there is overwhelmingly Republican, and when the
governor of Vito is something in North Carolina, they aren't
enough Democratic votes to sustains vetail. So there the Republican
(37:10):
super majority in both the House and the Senate are
really able to control them. So we're trying to pick
up some seats in North Carolina to give that governor
a little help down there.
Speaker 10 (37:21):
And what this shows is that so many of the
states in America, at the legislative level and at the
state level are just very different, the PP dishes of
democracy different, but all of them have impact. And again,
your group, if people want to check it out as
the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, or if they're more interested,
(37:43):
they could get in test with your office at the
State House, Representative David. Great to have you on. Get
you on some night and maybe we'll get some callers
involved as well. But this was a pretty interesting happensity
this lesson tonight. Thanks so much, Representative.
Speaker 12 (37:58):
Thank you, Dan. Have a good evening, and democracy prevail tonight.
Speaker 10 (38:02):
I think it will, there's no question in my mind.
And the show will prevail and continue right after this
quick break right here on WBZ, Boston's news radio
We are expecting Senator Warren's challenger, Attorney John Deaton, to
speak to his supporters at about eight forty five this evening.
As you heard, Elizabeth Warren has won that race for
the Senate. Wbz's Mike Macklin is with the Deaton camp
at the Nash Bar and Stage on Tremont Street. Obviously
some wind out of the sales there.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Michael, Well, we're down here in the theater district and
this certainly wasn't the theatrical production that John Deaton was
hoping for Tonight. He's been mixing with his supporters here
at the Nash Bar, making no bones about the fact
that the race is probably going to turn out the
way all of the polls have suggested it would, but
he's not speaking like it. Defeated candidate saying that he
(00:39):
felt he got his message out, got his voice heard,
and he says he presented himself as an alternative to
Elizabeth Warren Dalton bemoaning the one party status of Massachusetts
where the Republicans are virtually out of sight. He says
he would like to change that. He was hoping his
candidacy here in the US Senate race would help change that.
(01:02):
And he says that perhaps there may be another run
in him in the future, although he is not committed
to any particular race or any particular time. But the
fifty seven year old who is an attorney here in
Massachusetts and was making his first run for political office,
seeming fairly satisfied with the job that he did in
this race, no doubt disappointed with the way the vote
(01:25):
count will turn out, but nonetheless thinking that he got
his message. Job. We expect to be hearing from him
within the next hour and Deeton Headquarters by Backlan WBZ,
Boston's news Radio.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
All right, you're listening to an election night coverag John WBZ,
And as we continue along, already several states have called
the presidential race a lot more to go, but Vermont, Massachusetts, Maryland, Connecticut,
and Rhode Island all have gone, have all been called
for Vice President Kamala Harris. She has thirty five electoral
votes as it sits right now. Former President Donald Trump
(01:57):
as one Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, Florida, Lahoma, Mississippi, South Carolina,
and Tennessee and has ninety five electoral votes. Of course,
it's a long night, and we are going to be
waiting to see who's won all the states and eventually
who has won the White House. Independent Bernie Sanders is
on his fourth term in the US Senate, but control
of that chamber is still very much up for grabs.
Jennifer King has everything we need to know about that.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
There are thirty four seats in the US Senate being
contested in this election. Democrats have a fifty one to
forty nine majority, with four independent senators included in their caucus.
Eleven Republican held seats are up for election, all in
red states. The GOP needs to flip two seats to
regain control of the Senate at only one if Donald
Trump wins, since JD Vance would get the tie breaking vote.
In West Virginia, Governor Jim Justice dominated his Republican Senate
(02:41):
primary and is polling at double the numbers of Democrat
Glenn Elliott. Other closely watched Senate races include Montana, where
Democrat John Tester is defending his seat against Tim Sheehey
in a state where Republicans now dominate other statewide offices.
In Ohio, longtime Senate incumbent Shared Brown is facing a
strong challenge from Republican businessman Bernie Morie. With Senate control
on the line. Both Montana and Ohio have seen record
(03:03):
breaking campaign spending.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
I'm Jennifer King control of the US House, who is
also up for grabs in this election. Republicans are trying
to hold onto a slim majority. Several of the districts,
though they're defending, are in deep blue states, ones like
New York and California. Republicans Brenton Williams and Anthony the
Espepsido of New York are both defending their seats, though
the Cook Political Report says their districts are leaning Democrat. Meantime,
(03:27):
control over Virginia's seventh districts still a toss up between
Democrat Eugene Vindman and Republican Derek Anderson. Back to Massachusetts. Now,
five ballot questions statewide on the ballot today, one of
them to change the game for tipped workers the busiest
Jay Well Let explain that one.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
Question five on the ballot asks if tipped workers should
make an increasing wage up to the state minimum on
top of gratuity. If Massachusetts voters opts know on this one,
nothing changes to how they're paid. But if it is
a yes majority, servers bartenders, barbers, bell hops would all
work there way up to fifteen bucks an hour over
the course of five years. It would also open up
(04:04):
the door to tip pooling, where gratuity can be shared
with back end staff like cooks and cleaners, though that's
only optional. Those in favor say the law would protect
employees vulnerable to wage theft and exploitation by their bosses.
Those again, say all this really does is spell a
pay cut to servers, arguing patrons will give less as
a result, and Massachusetts already requires employers to cover the
(04:25):
difference if it's a slow night for tips. J Willett WBZ,
Boston's news radio.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Among the top issues on the minds of voters this
election day, abortion voters in nearly a dozen states voting
today on whether to establish the right to abortion access.
Ten states, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, and Missouri among them,
have measures on their ballot to protect the right to
abortion access or reproductive freedom.
Speaker 5 (04:48):
Since Roe v.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Wade was overturned in twenty twenty two, seven states have
put forward measures on abortion before their voters. In all, seven,
the efforts to preserve abortion rights one exit polls We're
giving us a bit of a glimpse in the minds
of voters as America chooses its next president.
Speaker 6 (05:04):
Americans nationwide how they feel about the state of affairs
in our country. Americans generally are unhappy with the way
things are. Seven to ten say they are dissatisfied or angry.
Close to half say their famili's financial situation is worse
today than it was four years ago. But six and
ten Americans say America's best days are ahead of us
(05:25):
and not in the past. More than seventy percent and
our national exit polls say democracy in America is threatened.
Speaker 5 (05:33):
Is ABC Stephen Portnoy.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Respondents to this ABC poll pointed to the economy as
one of their top concerns this election. We are continuing
to monitor election results from across the country. We want
to get you up to speed on the presidential race.
Of course, it's going to be a long night, maybe
along several days. But as of right now, Donald Trump
has ninety five electoral votes. He has won Indiana, Kentucky,
West Virginia, Florida, Oklahoma, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee, while
(05:59):
the northeast and a few other states belongs to Kamala
Harris Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island all going Harris's way
along with Maryland. She has thirty five electoral votes as
we speak, a lot more results to come in through
not only this evening, but as the days where on.
We're hoping they'll be a call of this race in
the early going and it won't take days upon days,
(06:19):
but we'll see and we'll be here for you no
matter how long it takes. All this campaigning over the
last many months cost the candidates a pretty penny. CBS's
Jim Cursula has those numbers.
Speaker 7 (06:29):
Candidates spent a record sixteen billion dollars on US election campaigns,
according to a nonprofit called Open Secrets. That was an
all time high. In the hotly contested presidential race, Vice
President Kamala Harris emerged as the fundraising leader. Her campaign
directly raised over one billion dollars, with forty percent.
Speaker 8 (06:48):
Coming from small donors.
Speaker 7 (06:50):
Former President Donald Trump's campaign raised three hundred and eighty
two million dollars directly, with twenty eight percent coming from
small donors. Jim Chriscilla CBS.
Speaker 5 (07:00):
It is eight thirteen.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
On election nights, stay with WBZ News Radio for election
coverage throughout the evening wz's night Side with Dan Ray.
Part of our coverage tonight, we'll be hearing from newsmakers
including the President of the New England Council, Jim Brett,
Congressman Seth Molten, former Congressman Mike Capuano, and New Hampshire
Governor Chris Sonunu All straight ahead with Dan Ray and
a whole bunch more.
Speaker 5 (07:20):
Stay with us. Election coverage continues.
Speaker 9 (07:23):
Now night Side with Dan Ray, an election night special
on w b Z, Boston's news radio.
Speaker 10 (07:31):
Good evening, everyone, and welcome on in. My name is
Dan Ray, the host of Nightside, and I have about
eight people tonight that we're going to talk to who
know politics inside and out from different perspectives here in
New England. Going to start off with Jim Brett. He's
the President of the New England Council. Jim Brett. Welcome
back to Nightside, sir. How are you tonight?
Speaker 11 (07:51):
Always a pleasure Dan to be back.
Speaker 10 (07:53):
Well, this is a big night. We only have a
few of these during our lifetimes. You divide by four, however,
whatever it is, if you get four score years in
your lifetime, you get about realistically twenty of these you've
seen more than a few presidential elections, final presidential elections
on that first Tuesday after the first Monday in November,
(08:15):
and you're looking at it from the perspective of the
New England Council. A lot of people don't understand what
the New England Council is, but you're about to, not
you personally, the New England Council is about to turn
one hundred years old. Tell us about it.
Speaker 11 (08:27):
Well, that's an historic figure itself, one hundred years old.
Where the oldest regional business organization in the United States. Obviously,
it was found in nineteen twenty five, and it was
founded in a little town called Poland Spring in Maine.
And there was the governors and the leading CEOs at
the time who were involved in manufacturing of textile and
(08:48):
shoe and they were saying that we need to find
ways of working together because in nineteen twenty five a
lot of the workers were leaving the New England region
going down south to the Carolina's warmer climate, lower taxes,
and they said that we are well situated in our
own individual states. We know the Senators, we know the congressmen,
(09:09):
they know us, but it's more important that we know
more of the elected officials throughout New England that could
help us and be our voice in Washington. And that
was really the genesis, saying, if we work together as
a region, even though we're a very small region of
the United States, we're only about five percent of the
(09:29):
nation's population and about thirteen and a half million people,
half of them in one state. But the genesis was,
if we work together. Vermont's population is no bigger than
the city of Boston, but they have two United States Senators.
So they said, if we're five percent of the nation's
population and we have twelve percent of the United States
(09:51):
Senate in New England, that's a great asset. But we
have to find ways of keeping them engaged, involved and
working together on New England issues. And it's something that
has developed into a very successful advocacy organization. And what
we do is we are engaged with all the members
(10:13):
of Congress, the twenty one members of Congress, and whether
they're Democrats or Republicans today they're Democrats. When I first
started in nineteen ninety six, you know, there's two senators
in New Hampshire, Republicans Bob Smith and Judd Gregg, and
New Ginridge was the Speaker of the House, so they
needed someone who could go to Washington and be their voice,
(10:35):
who could work both sides, both sides of the aisle,
and advocate on behalf of New England, whether it be
on higher ed energy tax policy.
Speaker 10 (10:49):
I also assumed, Jim, that there must be issues, for example,
fishing issues that whether you're a Democrat or a Republican
on that issue, you want to make sure that whatever
restrictions they are imposed on our fishing industry, they're done fairly. Obviously,
you have many regulatory agencies that you have to contend with.
(11:09):
Interesting enough, you talked about the population. I will bet
you that as great as your organization is today, over
time you've lost population and also representation in Congress. I
suspect that back in the day when the New England
Council started, we probably had sixteen or seventeen, maybe even
(11:30):
eighteen members of the House of Representatives, and that figure
has diminished, which means.
Speaker 11 (11:36):
That I think you could double that. In the nineteenth
twenties it was over thirty members, thirty members that we're
advocating on behalf of New England and Washington, and now
we have twenty one and every dessential every ten years
when they do resistrict and someone seems to lose, Rhode
Island seems to lose the seat, Massachusetts seems to lose
(11:58):
the seat. That's why it is so important that they
the members of the delegation work as a region. And
someone like Ritchie Neil, who's the dean who's elected nineteen
eighty eight to Congress from Springfield, he has really truly
led the effort to inform and educate all new members
of Congress from New England that we work together as
(12:20):
a region. Because when we do that, we have a
lot of clout. And we've had a lot of successes
in areas such as tax policy and energy and health care.
And that's because people in other parts of the country
marvel at how well coordinated and cohesive. The New England
delegation is both the House in the Senate, and it's
(12:42):
been that way, whether they're all Democrats are all Republicans,
it's just working together. So it's a joy for me
to work with them because they understand and strength and unity.
We have an awful lot of clout, and as I say,
we've had people from other parts of the country come
to us and say we would like to duplicate what
(13:04):
you do. We would love to have a mid Atlantic Council,
our Southeast Council, but they've been unsuccessful and achieving that.
So we're unique and able to do what we do.
And I think one of the reasons we do as
well is that New England pretty much you know, it's
rich Ox Nation, it's patriots, you know, New England patriots.
Speaker 12 (13:22):
There are many.
Speaker 11 (13:22):
People that live in New Hampshire that work in Massachusetts.
Many people in Massachusetts work in New England in New Hampshire,
many people live in Massachusetts work in Rhode Island. Some
even work in Maine and live here, so we are
a little more cohesive. But I think also we're an
organization that is very unique in this time and era
(13:46):
where there's so much gridlock, so much polarization in Washington,
our organization is able to access Democrats and Republicans to
sit together and to see if we can find common
ground on issues that would be of importance to New England.
It's not the New England Democratic Council, it's not the
(14:07):
New England Republican Council. It's the New England Council. And
who's the New England Council. It's the community health centers,
it's hospitals, it's colleges, it's the biotech, it's the industries
that you could think of. They're part of the New
England Council, all with the mission statement to improve the
economic conditions in New England and have a voice at
(14:28):
the table in Washington. And what I'm very proud of
is to be able to say that we don't give money,
we don't have a pack, we don't give endorsements, we
don't give a grade. And that's why we're able to
get leaders of both parties and Jim white House, Jim.
Speaker 10 (14:46):
Maybe with a little bit of luck, Congress can take
the New England Council as an example and as a
model and maybe work together in the Congress that will
assemble a January. Jim Brett of the New England Council,
present and CEO, thanks so much for joining us tonight
here on nightside in a very important night. And we'll
have you on some night and spend some time taking
(15:08):
phone calls from listeners.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Thanks so much, love you, thanks very much.
Speaker 11 (15:12):
I appreciate Thank you.
Speaker 13 (15:13):
Dan.
Speaker 10 (15:14):
All Right, Jim Brett, back to our other programming here.
Speaker 9 (15:17):
On Nightside Campaign twenty twenty four America Votes. This is
wb Z Boston's news.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
Radio, sixty five degrees in Boston at eight thirty eight.
Good afternoon, make that good evening. I'm Ben Parker. Here's
what's happening. The polls are closed in Massachusetts. In fact,
they closed about a half hour ago. So far, Senator
Elizabeth Warren has one re election, as have five unopposed
(15:45):
members of the House, and Kamala Harris has won Massachusetts
in the presidential race. Right now, there is a focus
on the city of Boston, where many voters had to
wait in line past eight o'clock because they're polling places
ran out of ballots.
Speaker 14 (15:57):
I'm at the Phineas Bate School, Ward eighteen, and as
you can see, the line is very long here. The
good news is that the ballots have arrived, but at
some point throughout the day they ran out of ballots.
Speaker 8 (16:08):
I'm here with Megan Sweeter, and give me a sense.
What time did you get here and how long did
you have to wait?
Speaker 15 (16:13):
So we got here about five twenty and we waited
for about an hour and a half before the ballots
showed up. And when we got here they said that
the ballots were. They were out of ballots, but the
line was moving pretty fast, so we were a little confused.
But we were about ten people behind where they ran
out of ballots.
Speaker 8 (16:31):
How frustrating was that? Did it make you nervous?
Speaker 10 (16:34):
You know what?
Speaker 15 (16:34):
It didn't, because this is a very important election.
Speaker 16 (16:38):
There's a lot at stakes.
Speaker 15 (16:39):
So we had our two kids here, two and four,
and we just hunkered down. They had their little notepad
as stuffed animal, and we just waited it out.
Speaker 8 (16:48):
How relieved were you when the ballots did get here?
Speaker 16 (16:51):
Very relieved.
Speaker 15 (16:51):
Yeah, we were very happy when we saw the cop
walk through with the ballots.
Speaker 8 (16:55):
And finally, why was it important for you to wait?
Speaker 15 (16:58):
It was important, as decided to. It's a crucial election.
It's I think it's important to participate in civic duties
like this and to have your voice heard.
Speaker 14 (17:08):
Megan Sweeter, thank you so much. So that's the situation
here in Rossendale. The good news is that the ballots
have arrived. They're still waiting on more to arrive. But yes,
you can see this line is very long, but people
are waiting patiently and they cannot wait to cast their ballots.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
I was w to bctvs Paul Burton and Rosalindale on
those ballot problems Earlier today, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren winning
her third firm as Massachusetts Senator. Of the vz's Madison
Rodgers is at Warren's campaign watch party in Madison. Apparently
it is a party.
Speaker 13 (17:41):
It is a party. Indeed, Ben, it was only a
matter of moments between Poles closing here in the Bay
State and Democrats notching a victory. Projections do now stay
that Massachusetts has picked Kamala Harris for the next president
and reelected Senator Warren to her third term.
Speaker 16 (17:55):
I'm here with the.
Speaker 13 (17:56):
Senator, the Warren campaign and mass DEM's at a watch
party at a power station. The crowds are celebrating, though
there is some anxiety for running through the crowds. We're
expecting Warren to take the stage for an acceptance speech,
and when she does, you can listen live right here
on WBZ News Radio. Warren appears to have handily defeated
the challenge from Republican John Deaton, but it is anything
(18:17):
but clear which party.
Speaker 16 (18:18):
Will win Senate control.
Speaker 13 (18:20):
Live from the South End, I'm Madison Rogers, WBZ Boston's
news radio.
Speaker 5 (18:25):
All right, tivatuity WBZ.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
We will keep you up to date on all of
the happenings, including reaction from John Deaton's campaign party.
Speaker 5 (18:33):
This evening.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
We do have an update though on the presidential race,
as a couple more states have been called. New Jersey
goes to Vice President Kamala Harris, while Arkansas goes to
former President Donald Trump. As it stands right now, the
electoral vote count Donald Trump with one hundred and one
and Kamala Harris with forty nine eight thirty three. Let's
get you out on the roads. It's traffic and weathered
(18:56):
together the Subaru retailers of New England all wheel drive
traffic on the three is zach, what are you seeing?
Speaker 17 (19:01):
Well, I'm looking right now in the north here starting
on ninety five in Woovern, we just got a report
of a two car crash on the northbound side at
Washington Street Route one. Little tap of the brakes here
on the northbound side from Copland Circle, sorry, Copeland Circle
to lynn Street one twenty eight ninety five Okay, from
Lexington to Lynnfield ninety three Route three, no issues around
their four ninety five merges downtown. ZAKEM. LeVert and Tobin.
No trouble there. Airport tunnels, no delays to and from
(19:24):
Logan River Road. Smooth sailing on those south of town Expressway.
Nothing in your way between the split and the tunnel
Route three twenty four to ninety five, all the speed
limit ride getting by ninety three and out west on
the Pike. No issues in either direction between Natick and
the expressway. Zach Transport to b bzy's twenty four hour traffic.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
We got some record temperatures that they hit our way tomorrow.
Plenty of sunshine, temperatures well into the seventies.
Speaker 9 (19:44):
Your complete coverage of campaign twenty twenty four continues now
on WBZ Boston's news Radio.
Speaker 5 (19:51):
A busy day at the polling places today.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
The ballots in Massachusetts had more than just races on it.
Five ballot questions to consider in the commonwealth. Wbus's Nicole
Davis is here and what are you saying when it
comes to these ballot questions?
Speaker 18 (20:04):
Nicole, Yeah, but we're just starting to get our first
results in on the ballot questions. It is early, but
here is what we have, starting with Question one, which
if passed, would allow the legislature to be audited with
a fraction of cities in towns reporting here, Yes on
one has a big lead, seventy two to twenty eight percent.
Ballot Question two on the mcast a bit closer, but
again with a fraction reporting Yes on two is leading
(20:26):
sixty two to thirty eight percent. Question three to allow
right share drivers to unionize Yes fifty nine and a
half percent, No, forty and a half percent. We did
have a feeling Question five was going to be close.
That is the one about tipping in restaurants and other
tipped wages. So far is closer than the rest of
the questions. No on top with fifty eight percent, Yes
(20:47):
coming in at forty two percent, So again, still pretty early, Ben,
But here's what we have on those. And we did
have another question, Question four that's been the source of
a lot of controversy.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
Sure has the cold. Question four is all about the
ability to grow and use certain psychedelics. Wbz's Jared Brosnan
has more.
Speaker 19 (21:02):
Question four asks voters to consider the legalization of naturally
occurring psychedelic drugs like DMT, mescalin, and psilocybin aka what's
found in magic mushrooms. If passed, anyone over twenty one
years old can grow, share, or use psychedelics at home
as long as they stay below the legal threshold for
each substance, But outside of growing them yourself, the only
way to get the substances is through licensed professionals, so
(21:22):
it wouldn't be as easy as going to a dispensary
for marijuana or a liquor store for alcohol. Those against
legalization point to the potential health risks from adverse reactions
to the drugs and say they're unsure how the state
can regulate at home use. They also worry about a
lack of a breathalyzer type device that can instantly detect
whether someone's under the influence. Those in favors say psychedelics
psilocybin in particular, can help treat things like post traumatic
(21:42):
stress disorder and anxiety. They also argue that expensive treatment
costs would mitigate any rampant recreational use. Jared Brosnan WZ
Boston's News Radio.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
Marijuana, by the way, also a top issue a lot
of states in the selection. Massachusetts legalized recreational pod in
twenty sixteen. This year, though voters in Florida, North Dakota,
South Kota all deciding whether or not to legalize recreational
marijuana in their states. Nebraska is voting on whether or
not to legalize medical cannabis. Nebraska is just one of
six states where marijuana is still completely outlawed, even in
(22:12):
a medical setting. One of the more hotly contested governor's
races is playing out right across the border today in
New Hampshire, WZ. Sherry Small is here now with the
very latest from the Granite State.
Speaker 16 (22:24):
Sherry Hi Ben.
Speaker 20 (22:25):
Yeah, that's right. Polls showing this race to be neck
and neck. Republican candidate Kelly Aot versus Democrat Joyce Craig.
Aon has statewide name recognition that could give her a
leg up. She's a former one term US senator. Before that,
she was a prosecutor then attorney general for the state.
She's pushing her anti tax agenda, new Hampshire being a
(22:47):
no income tax and no.
Speaker 16 (22:48):
Sales tax state.
Speaker 20 (22:50):
She's also touting pro business economic policies one of our slogans,
don't mass it up. She has the endorsement of outgoing
Republican Governor Chris Sanunu. Democrat Joyce Craig, meanwhile, is the
ex mayor of Manchester In twenty seventeen, she was elected
the first woman mayor of the city, holding the office
(23:10):
until January of this year. Prior to that, she served
as an alderman for six years. Her platform, she says
she'll strengthen public schools, increased affordable housing, and protect access
to abortion. Either way, New Hampshire will see its third
woman governor, following Democrats Jen Shaheen and Maggie Hassen, both
are now senators.
Speaker 1 (23:30):
Been all right, Shery, We've got a couple of congressional
races going on in New Hampshire as well. District one
right now, Chris Pappas, who is the Democratic incumbent. He
is leading Russell Presscott fifty one to forty nine percent.
Still very low in the voting tallies. Only nine percent
of the votes have been counted in District one. District
two same deal, very low, under ten percent of the
(23:51):
votes counted, and Maggie Goodlander is leading Lily Tang Williams
by about fifty one to forty eight percent. Seven states
have been won by Kamala Harris so far in this
election day twenty twenty four, Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, and Rhode
Island among them. So far in terms of electoral voting
counts fifty two electoral votes for the vice president. While
(24:16):
former President Donald Trump has won ten states, he just
most recently picked up Arkansaw's votes. He has one hundred
and one electoral votes. It's been a busy day at
the polling places all across the country. In fact, many
young Americans casting their ballots for the first time.
Speaker 16 (24:32):
Eighteen year old Tim cast his first ballot and says
it's a big deal.
Speaker 4 (24:36):
I really feel like my voice is being heard, even
though it's one vote.
Speaker 16 (24:40):
He was initially turned away from the polling place because
he was wearing a Trump van's T shirt and political
attire isn't allowed at the polls, but he is proud
of Trump.
Speaker 8 (24:49):
I just I think he did better for our country.
Speaker 16 (24:51):
And being from Texas, Tim says, I.
Speaker 8 (24:53):
Really think the biggest thing for me is immigration.
Speaker 16 (24:56):
Allison Keys, CBS News.
Speaker 1 (24:57):
Some polls are starting to close all across the country.
Massachusetts closed forty minutes ago, so did up many states
along the eastern seaboard. But as we move off to
the west, there are still hours to go before the
pollings closed. CBS's Nicole Skanga tells us today's voting was
also not without its shriff scalers.
Speaker 21 (25:15):
Officials in at least two states, made in Georgia say
police have responded to threats against schools and polling places today,
none of them credible. Brad Raffensberger, the Georgia Secretary of State,
saying in a news conference that officials had identified the
source that it was from Russia. The FBI also putting
out a statement indicating many of the threats appear to
originate from Russian email domains.
Speaker 1 (25:37):
The meantime, officials say the US Capital Visitors Center was
closed this afternoon after a man tried to get into
that building with a torch and a flare gun. All
eyes are on the outcome of this election day, lots
of drama, lots of freight nerves. But Americans are not
the only ones with a close eye on the polls.
Speaker 22 (25:52):
China has no official position but perverse stability, and I.
Speaker 5 (25:56):
Think that probably means Harris.
Speaker 22 (25:58):
A Trump presidency, of course would mean the tariffs that
would further hurt a slow in Chinese economy and a
potential trade war, And of course questions remain. I think
about how far either candidate would support Taiwan.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
That is ABC's Ian Pannell. Kamala Harris has picked up
another state in the race for president eight states now
including Illinois and New Jersey. Massachusetts was called early four Harris,
who now has picked up a few more electoral votes
up to seventy one. Donald Trump sits at one hundred
and one electoral votes. And we should tell you about
(26:30):
Massachusetts congressional races. Elizabeth Warren won the Senate race over
John Deaton today. There are some congressional seats up for
grabs well in terms of the incumbents facing challengers. Five
incumbents didn't face any sort of challenge. They of course won.
Richard Neil in District one has been declared the winner.
He did face a challenge today. There are a few
(26:52):
other challenged seats and we'll keep you posted on those
as the evening goes on. Former President Donald Trump is
trying to do something that hasn't been done since the
late eighteen hundreds become president for a second non consecutive term,
the last and only person to do it. Hello, dear,
this is your old Palgrover, Old pal Grover Cleveland.
Speaker 5 (27:13):
He's the one who turned the trick.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
He was elected as the twenty second president and served
from eighteen eighty five to eighteen eighty nine. After being
defeated by Benjamin Harrison, Cleveland won the presidency again in
as the twenty fourth president. He served then in term
number two, from eighteen ninety three to eighteen ninety seven.
Cleveland's loss in eighteen eighty eight featured and winning the
popular vote but losing with fewer electoral votes. He also
(27:37):
was on the only president who was married in the
White House. He married Francis Fulsom in June of eighteen
eighty six while he was the president. We are following
results here on WBZ throughout the evening. The presidential race
continues on Many polls still open across the country, so
we will have to wait a while longer before we
even start getting counts from there, but we are seeing
(27:58):
some of the results coming in from some of the
races across parts of the country. We do have a
governor's race in New Hampshire that is underway, a Senate
race in Massachusetts that is over. Elizabeth Warren wins her
third term on Capitol Hill. Will continue to keep you
up to date, and we'll continue to check in with
Dan Ray. He's got some exciting guests on this election night,
(28:19):
So stay with us on WBZ. I'm Ben Parker.
Speaker 9 (28:22):
Nights Side with Dan Ray continues now on WBZ News Radio.
Speaker 10 (28:29):
Welcome back. We are interviewing a number of political leaders
from different perspectives and with different experiences and different emphasize
emphasis with us now a state representative, David Lynskey. He's
a Democrat, been in the House Chamber here in Massachusetts
for many, many years. Representative. Welcome to night's side.
Speaker 5 (28:49):
Welcome.
Speaker 10 (28:50):
How are you welcome to w b z's special election coverage.
Speaker 12 (28:53):
Thank you, Dan. It's a big night for America tonight
and I'm very happy to be part of it.
Speaker 10 (28:58):
Well delighted you with us. You have been a state
representative for I know Natick, but do you have other
communities in your in your district as well?
Speaker 12 (29:08):
Yeah, currently I represent all of Natick and half of
the town of Whaleland. I formerly represented Sherburn and Millis too,
but I picked up Whaleland and I'm very happy to
have that too. And I've been in the state legislature
now for twenty five years in Massachusetts and been involved
in a variety of issues.
Speaker 5 (29:28):
And I'm now you have.
Speaker 10 (29:30):
Some seniority then twenty times through.
Speaker 12 (29:34):
Well, one of the things you think, as we're saying,
goes when I first ran that, my slogan was give
a young man a chance, and now it's turned into
there's no substitute for experience.
Speaker 10 (29:45):
No question about that. Perspective always makes us feel that way,
a little bit of age, nothing wrong with that. So look,
one of the things you mentioned was that your district
changes periodically, and of course congressional districts change, and one
of the things that you're very much involved in now
nationally you're a state representative from Massachusetts, but you're involved
with the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, the DLLCC, and you
(30:08):
told me that the Republicans nationally have been i guess
out maneuvering the Democrats when it comes to controlling state legislatures,
not so in Massachusetts. Tell us what's going on and
what you and other members of the DLCC are trying
to do about it.
Speaker 12 (30:26):
Well, so, Dan, I think the reality is is that
because of the dysfunction in Congress for the last many years,
and then also a whole series of Supreme Court decisions
that push decisions down to the state level, including quite
frankly abortion, the importance of state legislatures became magnified immensely,
(30:50):
and so state legislatures now have an enormous impact on
everybody's day to day lives. But the Republicans quite frankly
beat us to the punch about fifteen years ago with
a program to get people elected. Republicans elected the state legislatures,
and what it turned into, quite frankly, was they then
(31:11):
controlled congressional redistricting because that's generally done by state legislators
out there. Now, did you know, for example, that way
more people in this country vote for Democratic congress people
than Republican congress people, but that's never reflected because the
way the maps have been drawn. So we and the
(31:34):
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee over the past few years have
decided to meet the Republican challenge and put a lot
of emphasis in trying to get Democratic majorities in state legislatures.
So tonight is yeah, my colleagues around the country, Yeah.
Speaker 10 (31:53):
On that issue. There are some states, some sparsely populated states,
I think maybe South Coda in Wyoming where they have
two US Senators but only one member of Congress. So
it doesn't make a big difference in states that just
have one member of Congress because there's going to be
really no redistricting. The list as a dramatic increase in population, but.
Speaker 12 (32:16):
It makes them a difference in a Michigan or Wisconsin,
or New York or North Carolina. You know that really
the swing states. So what happens is is, as we
know from what's going on in the in the presidential
electric tonight, in the swing states, the votes are pretty
much split fifty to fifty. But because of redistricting at
(32:36):
both a state legislature level and the congressional level, the
Republicans have really had majorities in those states and in
the congressional delegation and in the state legislature. And so
they've done a great job at it, and we in
the Democratic Party are now trying to match it. And
I expect we're going to have some good news tonight.
Speaker 10 (32:57):
Well, it'll be interesting. I know that it's one point.
Later in the week, we'll find out that across the
country the Republicans or the Democrats either picked up a
lost so many state Senate seats or so many state
legislative seats, state representative seats. State I know it's called
the legislatures are a little different In New York. I
know it's the Assembly, if they're not mistaken, but that's
(33:19):
the equivalent I guess of our House of Representatives. And
do you think that the Democratic Party can turn this around? Obviously,
in Massachusetts, the Democratic Party has a super majority in
both the House and Senate and nothing's going to change
as of tonight. Republicans are hoping to pick up a
seat here, a seat there, but the Democrats run Beacon
(33:41):
Hill in Massachusetts. But it's not always the same way
in the other forty nine state capitals. And that's really
for ex.
Speaker 12 (33:50):
In Pennsylvania right now, the Democrats have a one seat
majority in the in the state House of Representatives and
they're down one seat in the state Senate up in
our neighbors in New Hampshire. That's within three or four
seats in the state Legislature and just a couple of
seats in the state Senate. You know that the changing
(34:13):
the majority in these states can really have a major
effect on people's lives, on democracy, on their right to vote,
on the right to control their bodies. It has enormous impact.
Like I said, the Supreme Court has pushed these decisions
down to the state legislative level.
Speaker 10 (34:31):
Yeah, there's a lot of cases that work their way
up to the Supreme Court to deal with, you know,
apportionment and how districts are constructed, and you'll see those
cases percolate up. The other thing which people need to
understand and maybe you can explain it better than I
that different legislatures around the country are quite different. Meaning
(34:55):
Massachusetts for the most part, members of our legislature, that's
your prime career. You're a legislative you know, elected official.
Whereas in New Hampshire, I think that people it's more
than one.
Speaker 12 (35:09):
Hundred and fifty dollars a year.
Speaker 10 (35:11):
Yeah, right, and no one's going to be able to
live even in New Hampshire on one hundred and fifty
dollars a year, so.
Speaker 12 (35:19):
Of them too, yeah yeah, so very different situation. The
reality is, when you have a situation like that, it
gives the governor a lot more power. When you have
a very part time, inexperienced legislature with no staff and
no expertise, that that's what happens. It hands it hands
the control away from the people, away from the legislature
(35:42):
into the hands of the governor.
Speaker 10 (35:44):
But doesn't it make that a little easier for your
organization of this Legislative Campaign Committee Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee
to go into a state like New Hampshire and find
good candidates who you would approve of and help them
get elected because it's an easier lift, I guess, is
(36:09):
what I'm saying, to turn to flip a state legislature
like New Hampshire than it would be for the Republicans
to in any way shape or form flip a more
professional legislature like Massachusetts.
Speaker 12 (36:22):
Or Now that's exactly right, right. We're putting a lot
of resources into New Hampshire today, obviously, and we've been
doing it for months, but we're also trying to to
get control of state legislatures this session in Minnesota, in Arizona,
and then increase some seats where we're in the minority,
(36:45):
and trying to be able to at least sustain a vetol.
North Carolina as an example of that. They have a
democratic governor, they just elected another democratic governor tonight, but
the legislature down there is overwhelmingly Republican, and when the
governor of Vito is something in North Carolina, they aren't
enough Democratic votes to sustains vetail. So there the Republican
(37:10):
super majority in both the House and the Senate are
really able to control them. So we're trying to pick
up some seats in North Carolina to give that governor
a little help down there.
Speaker 10 (37:21):
And what this shows is that so many of the
states in America, at the legislative level and at the
state level are just very different, the PP dishes of
democracy different, but all of them have impact. And again,
your group, if people want to check it out as
the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, or if they're more interested,
(37:43):
they could get in test with your office at the
State House, Representative David. Great to have you on. Get
you on some night and maybe we'll get some callers
involved as well. But this was a pretty interesting happensity
this lesson tonight. Thanks so much, Representative.
Speaker 12 (37:58):
Thank you, Dan. Have a good evening, and democracy prevail tonight.
Speaker 10 (38:02):
I think it will, there's no question in my mind.
And the show will prevail and continue right after this
quick break right here on WBZ, Boston's news radio
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