I was born and raised in Manchester. Other than first grade, I attended and graduated from public schools and a trade school in Manchester.
Francine, my wife, is from Vermont, just two miles from the New Hampshire border. She has lived in New Hampshire since she was 18. We got married at a church in Manchester.
We bought a house and raised two boys in Manchester. Our boys attended public schools in Manchester, then both graduated from UNH.
We downsized and moved to Amherst when we became empty-nesters. I’ve lived in New Hampshire my entire life.
I am a retired union carpenter, state representative, and proud Granite Stater. NOT a Free Stater.
I understand that not everyone elected to the State House is native to New Hampshire, or has to be, but not all moved to New Hampshire to take over and destroy it. Just the Free Staters.
Because of its small size, its large volunteer legislature and its total turnover of legislators every two years, New Hampshire was an easy target. Free Staters now control about 25% of the 400-member House, with another 25% (Republicans) voting with them almost all of the time.
Is New Hampshire perfect? No, but I don’t want to secede from the United States!
Jason Sorens, founder of the Free State Project and resident of Amherst, wrote, “Let’s Secede!” in 2001, so I’d say he and his followers do.
Because this will never happen, Free Staters are systematically destroying the way of life we Granite Staters work hard for each and every day. Good, solid public education with safe schools for our kids; labor laws that keep our workforce safe and positively affect our lives; the ability to work hard and afford a place to live and raise our families; and affordable healthcare are all on the chopping block. If all of this sounds familiar, please refer to the Project 2025 handbook.
In 2023, Former state representative and Free Stater Jason Gerhard (R, Merrimack-25) submitted a bill to terminate all New Hampshire laws.
Most Granite Staters have no idea that this is happening, but it is. A lot of damage has been done since Jason Osborne was elected in 2014 with help from Koch-funded organizations like Americans for Prosperity, American Legislative Exchange Council and The Josiah Bartlett Center. He eventually bought and whipped his way to majority leader. As majority “leader,” he stood in front of the House during one session and basically told the Democrats that he didn’t need us, because the Republicans have the majority. That is not leadership.
Now he’s touring the Granite State with a few of his minions spewing hate and lies about Democrats. But when he’s called out, he runs away with his tail between his legs. If reelected, I believe he will be buying and whipping his way to gain votes in his run for Speaker. This will not happen if the Democrats have the majority.
All of the nastiness brought on by the Free Staters and the Republican-led State House over the past 10 years will take some time to undo. We can start by voting them out. Not sure if the person running in your area is a Free Stater? Look them in the eye and ask them! Still not sure? Check out the Granite State Matters’ guide, or the Honorable Jeanne Dietsch’s substack. Her booklet “Who Are The Free Staters?” is a short, great, insightful read. Be aware that some Free Stater are running as Democrats.
As the Free Staters are being thinned out from the State House and other elected positions throughout New Hampshire, perhaps they can regroup by pooling their money and buying an island. Once established, Jason Sorens, Jason Osborne, Jason Gerhard, and other Free Staters not named Jason can arm wrestle for who gets to be president, supreme leader, grand poobah, head porcupine or whatever their leader is called.
In closing I’d like to quote a Mötley Crüe song: “Don’t go away mad, just go away!”
Rep. Dan LeClerc represents Hillsborough 34th district in the town of Amherst.