For the past two years, Republicans have had control of the New Hampshire House, Senate, Executive Council and governorship. With that power they’ve been able to implement their policies with limited input from Democrats. And in that time, what has New Hampshire gotten in return? Not much, but corporate tax cuts and policies that benefit their wealthy friends instead of the needs of hard-working Granite Staters.
But time is running out for this imbalanced, right-wing government, and Democrats are ready to make historic gains, balance the political landscape, expand opportunity for all our citizens and make New Hampshire a better, fairer and safer place.
With the filing period officially ended, we are ecstatic to see that we are breaking records with number of candidates who have filed to run for office in the state House and state Senate. In November, Democrats will be running in all 24 Senate districts, and we have candidates running in 383 seats in the House. This is the highest number of candidates recruited to run from either party. Ever.
The sheer number of Democrats eager to get involved in the democratic process and run for office has set the foundation for what will be an incredible showing for progressives in November. Voters across the state are sick and tired of living under Donald Trump and Chris Sununu’s unresponsive and ineffective governments. They want change, not just crumbs, and our candidates are willing to work with everyone to get things done.
With Democrats in control of the State House, we’ll build a New Hampshire that works for all people and all places. We need an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy; schools were every kid can learn and get ahead; and a health care system that focuses on wellness and provides affordable, reasonable access to all people.
And that is just the start.
Democrats want to make sure that every person in New Hampshire has the chance to succeed, and that just won’t happen while Sununu and the Republicans are in charge.
We are still five months away from the general election. But in that time, let’s hold tight to the raw energy and sheer determination and work ethic that has propelled Democrats over the past two years to nine special election victories, a sweep of the municipal elections and an unprecedented showing at Town Meeting Day.
These victories were all impactful and helped lead us to this point where we can make history by electing large Democratic majorities in both the state House and state Senate. But, historic landslides don’t happen in a vacuum. It’s incumbent on every voter to do their part and donate and volunteer to their local candidates. Get involved in the election process now so we have two years to implement policies that will benefit everyone, not just the few.
(Rep. Steve Shurtleff is the House Democratic leader. Sen. Jeff Woodburn is the Senate Democratic leader.)