UMass Lowell Poll: Trump Appears Poised to Win Today’s N.H. Republican Primary

Former President Donald Trump appears poised to win today’s New Hampshire Republican presidential primary by a 16-point margin over former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, according to new poll results issued by the UMass Lowell Center for Public Opinion and YouGov.

Of 600 likely N.H. Republican primary voters surveyed, 50% endorse Trump as the state GOP’s nominee, while 34% support Haley. Poll results show Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis trails at 11%, with 4% undecided and 1% responding they plan to vote for another candidate. The poll was conducted prior to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ suspension of his presidential campaign Sunday. The findings halve Trump’s 32-point victory over Haley in the Iowa caucuses last week and show a tightening in the race, in contrast to responses to a UMass Lowell-YouGov poll issued in December. In that survey of 450 likely Granite State Republican primary voters, 52% said they would vote for Trump and 22% would vote for Haley, once the former president’s ambassador to the United Nations.

Whittier Tech Special Election Hours Tuesday are 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Polls are open Tuesday in all 11 communities that send students to Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School, but voting hours differ from typical elections. Unlike other elections, polling locations will be open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. State law governing regional school special elections requires that “The number and location of the polling place, or places, in each town shall be determined by the district committee after consultation with the selectmen thereof; and the hours during which all the polls in the district are open shall be uniform throughout the district and shall be not less than four nor more than eight consecutive hours.”

A majority vote decides whether a replacement school moves forward. The member communities are Amesbury, Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Ipswich, Merrimac, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, Salisbury and West Newbury.

Cross Section of State and Local Officials Urge ‘Yes’ Vote for Whittier, Decry ‘False’ Info.

This story has been updated with the names of several others who signed on to the letter. One of Haverhill’s state senators, both state representatives, Haverhill’s mayor and several city councilors are not only urging voters to support a replacement Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School next week, but also raising concern over “tribalism on social media.”

In a joint statement, Sen. Pavel M. Payano, Reps. Andy X. Vargas and Ryan M. Hamilton, Haverhill Mayor Melinda E. Barrett, City Council President Thomas J. Sullivan, City Council Vice President Timothy J. Jordan and City Council Past President John A. Michitson and others decried, what they called, “false accusations and the pitting of our communities against each other.”

“Financing a new school is never easy. There are rarely pleasant options for taxpayers. As adults we must govern in reality and face the hard truths.

Analysis, Part 1: Whittier Tech Replacement Myths and Facts Ahead of Jan. 23 Vote

In the public interest, WHAV today presents in two parts, a series of fact checks to shed light on certain myths and little-known facts in advance of next week’s vote on the future of Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School. Part 1 of 2

Those who toured Whittier Tech this past weekend generally reported it to be well maintained. Some learned for first time that Whittier is not part of Haverhill Public Schools and did not suffer from deferred maintenance during the city’s Hale Hospital-driven financial crisis. They also were reminded the school was built before sprinklers were required, existing elevators are not compliant with today’s Americans with Disability Act, the football stadium isn’t being touched and, in fact, a competitive process was used to choose the project’s construction manager and other public bids—representing 90% of the total project cost, are yet to come. As WHAV reported almost a year ago, a school building committee recommended a replacement school with a more than $400 million price tag.

Analysis, Part 2: Is Turnabout Fair Play in Haverhill’s Vote on Whittier Tech?

In the public interest, WHAV today presents in two parts, a series of fact checks to shed light on certain myths and little-known facts in advance of next week’s vote on the future of Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School. Part 2 of 2

There’s a saying that turnabout is fair play. For or against building an estimated $444.6 million replacement Whittier Tech, some leaders appear unaware of the district’s history and a lawsuit 45-years ago that affirmed the formulas. When the agreement among the 11 communities was negotiated in 1967, Whittier had one formula for capital spending, like a new building, and another for paying annual operating costs. Haverhill has paid 50-70% of the annual costs over the past 50 years, but with only 15% of the representation.

UMass Lowell Poll Shows N.H. Republicans Prefer Trump and Support Right to Abortion

With the New Hampshire presidential primary coming up this month, UMass Lowell’s Center for Public Opinion and YouGov poll results show former President Donald Trump holds a commanding lead for the Republican party’s nomination in the 2024 race for the White House, with former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in a not-so-close second – she trails by 30 points. Of 450 likely New Hampshire Republican primary voters surveyed, 52% would vote for Trump, while 22% signaled they would vote for Haley, who once served as Trump’s U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and was recently endorsed in the race by N.H. Gov. Chris Sununu. “The poll results throw cold water on any traction Haley thought she had,” said UMass Lowell’s John Cluverius, the center’s director of survey research and an associate professor of political science. “Despite an endorsement from Sununu–whom the poll found enjoys an 80% favorability rating among respondents–and her attempt to thread the needle on abortion, she can’t seem to close the deal.”

Against Haley, Trump leads in every demographic category, and she fares worse among female respondents than male, he added. Candidates trailing behind include Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, 10%; former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, 6%; entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, 4%; and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, 1%.

Grand Jury Indicts Lawrence Councilor-Elect and One Other on Fraudulent Voting Charges

Two Lawrence women were indicted by an Essex County grand jury on charges related to fraudulent voting in connection with the November 2023 Lawrence election. Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker said Wednesday Lawrence District A Councilor-Elect Fidelina Santiago was indicted on four counts each of illegal voting or attempt to vote, conspiracy to vote or attempt to vote illegally, unlawful interference with voter and obstruction of voting. “Interfering with an election not only undermines the legitimacy of government, but erodes the public’s confidence in the process.  My office will vigorously prosecute individuals that threaten the integrity of elections,” Tucker said in a statement. Indictments were also returned for Jennifer Lopez on the charges of four counts each of illegal voting or attempt to vote, conspiracy to vote or attempt to vote illegally, unlawful interference with voter and obstruction of voting. Both women will be arraigned later.

Legislature to Decide Whether Two Haverhill Candidates Can Run for or Serve Two Offices at Same Time

Haverhill city councilors voted this week to formally ask legislators to ban politicians from running and serving in two offices at the same time. All councilors present Tuesday approved sending the state legislature a home rule petition that would ratify voters overwhelming approval of two ballot questions. Mayor James J. Fiorentini and Mayor-elect Melinda E. Barrett led the call to seek the amendment to the city’s new mostly ward-based elections law. Fiorentini explained. “I personally didn’t have a promise with people running for more than one office, but the people have spoken.