Expert on Politics Available for Interviews on What General Election Could Bring next for Congressional Race
09/19/2018
Contacts for media: Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu and Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944 or Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu
The votes have been counted – again – and Lori Trahan has been declared the winner in the race for the Democratic nomination in Massachusetts’ 3rd Congressional District.
Trahan outlasted a field of 10 candidates in the Democratic primary and was named the winner yesterday over Dan Koh by just 145 votes. Her win comes after more than 80,000 ballots were recounted following a 122-vote difference on Election Night two weeks ago.
John Cluverius, an expert on politics and elections, said that with the recount behind her, the fundamentals of the race favor Trahan as she faces Republican Rick Green and independent Mike Mullen in the general election. Trahan is running in a district that trends Democratic and Cluverius says 2018 looks like it will be a good year for Democrats. Even with the hotly contested race for the nomination, Trahan had good favorability ratings and throughout the campaign, neither Koh nor his surrogates attacked Trahan, said Cluverius, associate director of UMass Lowell’s Center for Public Opinion, which hosted a debate and conducted two polls in the race.
However, in a race that has been full of surprises, there are no guarantees and while the large field of Democrats was squaring off, Green and Mullen have been able to save their energy and resources for the general election.
In addition to his role with the Center for Public Opinion, Cluverius teaches in UMass Lowell’s Political Science Department. Before joining the university, he worked as a political operative for a variety of candidates for elective office and interest groups.
To arrange an in-person or telephone interview with Cluverius, contact Christine Gillette at 978-934-2209, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu or Nancy Cicco at 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu.