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The Historical Importance Of Off-Year Elections

"I Voted," stickers are seen at a polling place Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Alexandria, Va. (Alex Brandon/AP)
"I Voted," stickers are seen at a polling place Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017, in Alexandria, Va. (Alex Brandon/AP)

Tuesday’s election was a big night for Democrats, with major victories in Virginia and New Jersey. But as an off-year election, what it says about the state of national politics may be difficult to read.

Here & Now‘s Jeremy Hobson talks with historians Joanne Freeman (@jbf1755) and Brian Balogh (@historyfellow) about how the importance of off-year elections has changed.

Freeman and Balogh are co-hosts of the podcast BackStory, which is produced at the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities.

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