The Horse Race
Your weekly look at politics, policy and elections in Massachusetts
About the show
Steve Koczela of The MassINC Polling Group, reporter Jennifer Smith, Stephanie Murray of Politico, and #MApoli guests deliver weekly updates on every twist, turn, poll, and scoop you need to know on the Massachusetts mayoral, congressional, and statewide races worth watching.
THE HORSE RACE: Steve Koczela, host; Jennifer Smith, host; Stephanie Murray, host; Libby Gormley, producer; Maureen McInerney, graphic designer.
What fans say about the podcast
Indispensable
The Horse Race is a weekly must listen for anyone interested in Massachusetts policy/politics. Steve and Dez offer deep insights and it’s fun to boot. Great guests and special correspondents too. Definitely subscribe.
— Horse Racing is legal again!
Great show!
Very informative and fun to listen to.
— Rebekah39
Essential mapoli podcast
The Horse Race is a must for mapoli addicts. The presentation style is refreshingly free of rancor and bias and offers true expert analysis.
— amoreamAbout the Hosts
Steve Koczela
Host
Steve Koczela is the President of The MassINC Polling Group, where he has grown the organization from its infancy to a nationally known and respected polling provider. During the 2014 election cycle, MPG conducted election polling for WBUR, the continuation of a three-year partnership. Koczela again led the endeavor, producing polls which came within one point of the margin in both the Massachusetts gubernatorial and U.S. Senate Elections. He was also lead writer for Poll Vault, WBUR’s political reporting section during the 2014 Election Cycle.
Jennifer Smith
Host
Formerly News Editor of the Dorchester Reporter and an alum of the Boston Globe and the German Press Agency, Jennifer studies law at Northeastern University. Every other week on the podcast, she brings her deep understanding of municipal affairs, a product of her years of reporting, to provide thoughtful analysis of state and city news.
Stephanie Murray
Host
Stephanie Murray is the author of the POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook. Stephanie is based in Boston and previously covered breaking news for POLITICO in Washington, D.C. She is an alum of the State House News Service in Boston and cut her teeth covering local news for the Daily Hampshire Gazette and The Lowell Sun. Stephanie is a proud graduate of the UMass Journalism Department at UMass Amherst and was a 2017 winner of Roy W. Howard National Collegiate Reporting Competition.
Start with these episodes
Episode 115: If I Had a Billion Dollars
1/23/20--On Tuesday night, Governor Charlie Baker delivered his annual State of the Commmonwealth address, promising aggressive action to address climate change, a partnership with …
Episode 114: Whatever Floats Your Vote
1/15/20--Tuesday's Democratic debate left Steve and Stephanie with little to discuss save a symbolic handshake snub that points to a breakdown of the …
How you can listen to this podcast
You can listen to episodes right here on the website, or if you prefer, in a podcast app. Listening in an app makes it easier to keep track of what you’ve already heard, listen without using your data plan and many other conveniences.