Day one of filings in NH, here are the interesting ones.
Democrats.
Two of the most interesting files are cranks primarying Dems Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Rep. Ann Kuster
US Senator
Tom Alciere: a GOP state representative elected in 2000 who resigned after people discovered his writings where he talked about his desire to see cops killed.
In 2016 he tried to primary GOP US Senator Kelly Ayotte and in 2018 he ran for the libertarian nomination for NH-02, but lost the nomination by a wide margin.
NH-02 Joseph Mirzoeff, who is apparently a Seth Rich conspiracy theorist.
State Senate
Senate District 15
This is a real one. Former state Rep Candace Bouchard (Concord ward 9) is running for senate district 15. this is a solid dem district that was held by Dan Feltes who is running for governor. Former congressman Paul Hodes is expected to join the race, but since leaving electoral politics in 2011 he’s gone a little weird, serving as Marianne Williamson's state director.
GOP
Numerous incumbents filed for re-election, along with some cranks.
Governor
Nobody, formerly Rich Paul, who ran for mayor of Keene in 2019 has filed to run against incumbent Governor Chris Sununu.
NH-01
Matt Mowers, a former state department advisor to the Trump administration filed to run. He has raised decent amounts of money (354K last quarter) and was endorsed by US House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
Executive Council 1
Kim Strathdee. she tried to primary the incumbent GOP councilor in2018 and received 20% of the vote. Dems won the seat in 2018, but it's a rural district that is swingy.
EC 2
Stewart I. Levenson. A physician and VA whistleblower. the seat is open with incumbent Andru Volinski running for governor, but it’s a dem vote sink, so Levenson is unlikely to win.
EC 4
Ted Gatsas, the incumbent, filed for re-election. Gatsas was mayor of Manchester from 2011-2017, he ran for governor in 2016, coming in 3rd out of 5 major candidates in the GOP primary and lost re-election in 2017 to current Mayor Joyce Craig. The district is red but has suburbs that are turning blue and can be won by Dems, as now US Rep. Chris Pappas (D-Manchester) held this seat from 2013-2019.
EC 5
Dave Wheeler. Wheeler was the EC from 2001-2005, 2011-2013and 2015-2019. The seat is held by Deborah Pignatelli who was the EC from 2006-2011 and 2013-2015.
State senate
Senate District 1
David Starr, incumbent filed for re-election. This district is located at the tip of the state in Coos County and part of Grafton county. It’s slightly Republican, Trump won it 45-50. In 2018, the incumbent Dem, Jeff Woodburn, who was the Democratic Senate Minority Leader, was charged on counts of domestic violence. Dems withdrew their support and Starr went to win the seat by 9.4 points.
Erin Hennessey: 3 term rep from Grafton 1 who is challenging Starr in the primary.
SD 6
James P. Gray filed for re-election. He’s been the incumbent since 2016 and serves on the Rochester City Council in ward 6. This district comprises Rochester and a few smaller nearby towns. It’s fairly conservative having voted for trump 56-39, but it is winnable.
SD 7
Harold French, the incumbent, filed for re-election. He's been in office since 2016, having served one term as a state rep in the preceding two years. The district is comprised of parts of Belknap and Merrimack county and voted for trump 54-41.
SD 11
Gary Daniels. He was the senator of the district from 2016-2018, Milford school board member, and a state rep throughout the 90s and 2000s. Daniels lost to Dem Shannon Chandly in 2018 by 7 points. The district, which comprises parts of central Hillsborough County went to trump 48-46 in 2016.
SD 17
John Reagan, incumbent filed for re-election. he’s been the senator since 2012. The district, which comprises Merrimack, Rockingham, and Strafford Counties voted for trump 55-40.
SD 18. Ross Terrio, a school board member from Manchester Ward 7 is running. In 2016 he was the GOP nominee in this senate district after winning the nomination with 36.65% to George Lamberts 33.33%. In the general election against the incumbent, now Senate President, Donna Soucy he lost by 10 points.
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