Hassan to run for U.S. Senate
Gov. Hassan has made it official with a YouTube video announcement. She is the first Democrat to announce candidacy in the U.S. Senate race for NH’s seat, currently held by Republican Kelly Ayotte.
CONCORD, NH – New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan is running for U.S. Senate, ready to challenge incumbent U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-NH.
The announcement was made Oct. 5 in a video posted on Hassan’s campaign site in which she makes her case, saying she will use her bi-partisan approach as governor of NH to promote business innovation and expand economic opportunity. She also criticizes Washington, D.C.’s current climate, which she says is dominated by special interests and lobbyists “who rigged the system for themselves and against the middle class.”
The second-term governor is the first Democrat to announce she’s in the race to challenge Ayotte. Political pundits regard Hassan as a strong challenger for Ayotte in a swing state that could be pivotal in the contest to control the Senate.
In May, WMUR Granite State Poll reported that a match-up between Hassan and Ayotte would be a “dead heat.”
The following statement was issued Oct. 5 following the news by Executive Councilor Colin Van Ostern:
“Maggie Hassan has been a great leader for our state. Her patient determination and her focus on always doing what’s right for the people of New Hampshire leads to real progress. We need more of that in Washington. I really enjoy working with her, especially on expanding health care coverage to more than 41,000 New Hampshire citizens this past year, fighting for women’s health issues, and advocating for passenger rail to Boston.We live in a special state, and I love New Hampshire deeply. It’s a beautiful place with great communities, hard working people who care about our neighbors, and the best quality of life in the country. Our parents, our kids, our entrepreneurs, our employers, our citizens struggling with addiction, our college students, and every one of us need leaders who will keep our state moving forward and see an even brighter future for all of us.I believe my work making debt-free college a reality for thousands of students at Southern New Hampshire University’s College for America and my past experience as a business leader at successful employers like Stonyfield gives me a good perspective on how we can keep New Hampshire a great place to work and raise a family.Because it is critical we build an even brighter future for the people of New Hampshire, I will make a definitive announcement on whether I plan to be a candidate for Governor in the coming days.”
The National Republican Senate Committee released the following statement following Hassan’s announcement:
“Under Hassan’s failed leadership as a do-nothing Governor, New Hampshire’s economy has stalled and businesses have threatened to leave the state because of her open hostility to pro-growth policies that would create good-paying jobs for Granite Staters. Not to mention, Hassan has proposed raising $100 million in taxes and fees on the backs of working families and voted 82 times for tax and fee increases that became law as a state legislator.
“Hassan has failed to lead an effective response to the heroin crisis – instead passing the buck to her incompetent drug czar and dropping the ball on important grant funding to address substance abuse.
“After just being reelected, she selfishly used her veto pen to pave the way for a Senate run, once again putting her own ambitions ahead of New Hampshire’s needs. Governor Gridlock Maggie Hassan has failed to move New Hampshire forward – and now she wants to take her resume of partisan gridlock to Washington as Harry Reid’s hand-picked Senate candidate.”
You’re one click away! Sign up for our free eNewsletter and never miss another thing.
