It was the first few minutes of the filing period for Republican and Democratic candidates who will compete in the Sept. 10 primaries for governor, executive councilor, state representative, state senator, U.S. representative and county offices before the election. generals of November 5. .
Today the deadline to run for the elections opens. Here’s the scene at the state house right now, where Chuck Morse supporters have lined the hallway. They’re singing “Chuck Morse.” He is one of the Republican candidates for governor. pic.twitter.com/ystQ9PSceF
-Amanda Gokee (@amanda_gokee) June 5, 2024
The governor’s race is of particular interest this year, as incumbent Republican Gov. Chris Sununu is not seeking re-election. It’s the first gubernatorial race without him on the ballot in a decade, and several contenders are vying to succeed him.
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Morse is running in the Republican primary against former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, and other Republican candidates could join them. Candidates for the Democratic nomination include executive councilor Cinde Warmington, former Manchester mayor Joyce Craig and Newmarket business owner Jon Kiper.
The 10-day filing period can sometimes present a moment of truth, leading candidates to drop out. That was the case for Michael Strand, a Democrat who suspended his campaign Tuesday for Executive Council and endorsed Jim O’Connell.
Some opponents of Warmington’s candidacy asked him Tuesday to also end his campaign rather than formally run for office. During a press conference, they cited his lobbying work two decades ago for OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma as disqualifying.
“I don’t want to live in a state governed by an enemy of the recovery community,” said Jason Snook of Exeter, an alcohol and drug abuse counselor who said he battled addiction after taking OxyContin to ease the trauma of his service. military.
Warmington, who reported earning $16,995 in lobbying fees from Purdue Pharma in 2002, told KeynoteUSA last fall that he would have handled the situation differently if he had known then what he knows now about the extent of the deception that fueled the opioid crisis. . His campaign spokesman, Miles Cunning, said Tuesday that he has a strong track record supporting solutions to this issue.
“Cinde’s own father struggled with substance use disorder, which is why she has spent decades advocating for greater access to treatment for families facing addiction,” Cunning said, calling the news conference an effort to “defame” Warmington.
Some of those who worked behind the scenes at Tuesday’s news conference support Warmington’s Democratic opponents. Doug Marino, who organized the event, endorsed Craig. He said Craig’s campaign was not involved. Amanda Bouldin, state representative and treasurer of Kiper’s campaign, reserved space in the legislative office building for the event. She said Kiper’s campaign was not involved.
Aside from Sununu’s departure, the departure of another prominent figure is also impacting the Granite State’s political ranks this election cycle.
Congresswoman Annie M. Kuster’s decision not to seek re-election led three fellow Democrats (Colin Van Ostern, Becky Whitley and Maggie Goodlander) to announce that they will run for her seat. Republican candidates Vikram Mansharamani, Lily Tang Williams and others will compete for the chance to flip that seat.
Candidates have until next Friday, June 14 to register.
This story first appeared in Globe NH | Morning Report, our free newsletter, focused on the news you need to know about New Hampshire, including great coverage from the Boston Globe and links to interesting articles from elsewhere. If you would like to receive it by email Monday through Friday, you can sign up here.
You can contact Amanda Gokee at amanda.gokee@globe.com. follow her @amanda_gokee. You can contact Steven Porter at steven.porter@globe.com. FOLLOW IT @reporteroportero.
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