Constituent pressure doesn’t end at the primary
New Hampshire voters who want Chris Pappas to take a stronger position on Gaza should pay attention to what is happening next door in Maine.
Troy Jackson has called Israel’s actions in Gaza a genocide and opposed sending U.S. tax dollars to Israel’s military. Recent reporting indicates that national political consultants urged Jackson to moderate that position, including advising him to stop using the word “genocide.”
His supporters pushed back.
Grassroots organizers and voters publicly pressured Jackson not to retreat. His campaign has since maintained that his position on Gaza has not changed, and his website continues to state plainly: “End the genocide in Gaza. No U.S. tax dollars to Israel’s military.”
There is a lesson here for New Hampshire.
Chris Pappas has moved on this issue. He has said he would have supported restrictions on certain weapons transfers to Israel, including 2,000-pound bombs and military bulldozers. But he has stopped well short of Jackson’s position.
Those who want Pappas to go further should make that clear. They should ask him to recognize what is happening in Gaza as genocide and oppose further U.S. military aid that enables it.
Politicians hear constantly from consultants, donors and lobbyists. Constituents should make themselves just as difficult to ignore.
Maine is a reminder that political pressure does not end after a primary. Candidates still have to earn the votes, volunteer energy and enthusiasm they need in November.