New book traces Twin States’ cultural split to the soil itself

Brian Porto at his home in Windsor, Vt., on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. Porto spent the past four years of his retirement writing a book about the politics of Vermont and New Hampshire. “I was expecting differences between the two states, but there really are a lot of similarities,” he said. Alex Driehaus/Valley NewsThis story by Molly Hughes was first published in the Valley News on Sept. 24, 2026.New Hampshire puts “Live Free or Die” on its license plates. Vermont&rsquo