2016 Election Night

In addition to a measure seeking to legalize recreational marijuana, Massachusetts voters also face another highly controversial ballot initiative: expanding the number of charter schools. If approved, Question 2 would lift the state’s cap to allow up to 12 new charter schools. Polls taken earlier this year found that a majority of the Bay State was backing charter expansion: a February poll by UMass Amherst showed 51 percent were in favor, as did a Western New England University poll in April. However, by this fall, sentiment has shifted noticeably toward the “No” campaign. Four polls taken since September — two by WBUR, in addition to ones by WNE and Suffolk University — have shown, on average, 46 percent of likely voters are opposed and 42 percent are supportive (with 11 percent undecided). Charter schools are incredibly contentious in the state. Supporters and opponents of question 2 have raised nearly $27 million for the contest — more than five times the amount spent on the marijuana legalization initiative. The state’s popular Republican governor, Charlie Baker, has been a big backer of the “Yes” side, while the Democratic brass has resolutely for “No” — Sen. Elizabeth Warren, in particular.

Looking for a different perspective on voting patterns? Over at ProPublica, Lena Groeger mapped, for every presidential election since 1828, the counties that voted for a losing candidate.

Unemployment rate (September): 5.7 percent (U.S.: 5 percent) Median income (2015): $55,702 (U.S.: $55,775) Poverty rate (2015): 13.2 percent (U.S.: 14.7 percent) College share (2015): 29.7 percent (U.S.: 30.6 percent) Pennsylvania wasn’t hit as hard by the recession as states such as Arizona, Florida and Michigan — its unemployment rate never reached 9 percent in the recession — and it saw a relatively strong recovery. More recently, however, that progress has stalled; the state’s unemployment rate has risen by a full percentage point since the end of last year and is now solidly above the national mark. Really, though, it is a mistake to think about Pennsylvania as one state. Philadelphia and its suburbs are solidly part of the Northeastern corridor; Chester County, west of Philadelphia, is one of the richest counties in the country. But western Pennsylvania has never fully recovered from the decline of the steel industry; even Pittsburgh, which has experienced a revival in recent years, is still losing population.