Profiles of New Hampshire’s 2020 Gubernatorial Candidates
It is difficult to keep track of all that is going on these days.
With the world watching the enduring pandemic, it seems that many of us have turned away from politics. Those of us paying attention to the news are caught up in the natural disasters, the horrific tragedies (such as that in Lebanon), the ongoing protests, and of course daily updates on the virus locally and globally. And, for many of us, it seems that even when we do pay attention to politics, it is often the approaching national election between Joe Biden and Donald J. Trump that we attempt to follow. However, politics, at every level, is the driving force behind much of what is going on in the world today. We can (and should) at least partially attribute current natural disasters to the lack of action by world leaders when it comes to climate change; we can (and should) call out politicians for their idleness in denouncing racism; we can (and should) hold leaders accountable for how poorly the coronavirus pandemic has been treated around the world, and particularly here in the U.S.
I suppose my point is this: global and local politics matter. Now perhaps more than ever.
So, although the New Hampshire 2020 gubernatorial may not seem particularly sexy or even all that pertinent, I believe we should educate ourselves as best as we can on all that is going on around us.
In New Hampshire, Andru Volinsky is the Democratic party’s likely nominee. He assumed office in the New Hampshire Executive council in 2017 and claims that, “as Executive Councilor, [he is] working tirelessly to enact checks and balances and ensure that the contracts and nominations that cross my desk represent the best interests of the state”. He has, “dedicated [his] life to ensure equity, specifically as it relates to educating our children and the way public schools are funded in New Hampshire”. He believes that “climate change is an existential crisis” and that “corporate… money has no place in politics”. In short, he is running to “make sure every kid in New Hampshire has a quality state-funded public school education, and to stand up against the disaster of climate change.”
Update: Dan Feltes is the New Hampshire democratic party’s candidate, as of September 9th. Feltes grew up in a working class family in Iowa, where he later earned his undergraduate degree. After receiving a degree in law, he worked as a legal aide attorney for nearly a decade. In 2014 he won a seat in the state senate and was elected to a second term in 2016. He claims he is running “for Governor to fight for all Granite Staters; to make health care more affordable, ensure working people earn a living wage, to strengthen our local public schools with a clear plan for safety and support, to help us get out of COVID-19…. and finally make real progress on the climate crisis.”
Libertarian Darryl Perry is also on this cycle’s ballot. He has formerly held no political office but has been an “advocate & activist for peace and liberty” throughout his life. He is currently running “on a platform of criminal justice reform, lower taxation, and ballot access reform & voting rights.”
Incumbent Chris Sununu, a Republican, is seeking a third term this year. He was elected to the NH Executive Council in 2010 and assumed office as New Hampshire’s governor in 2017. He was re-elected in November of 2018 (defeating Democratic opposition, Molly Kelly). In June of both 2018 and 2019, “Sununu vetoed New Hampshire Senate Bill 446, which would have increased the size limit for renewable energy projects”, illustrating his stance on clean energy as well as economic expenditure. He additionally “vetoed a bill that would ban the public from carrying firearms on school playgrounds”. He says he is “not opposed” to abortion rights, but “does not support taxpayer funding for abortions and supports the ban on partial-birth abortion”, is opposed to legalizing marjuana, appears supportive of LGBTQ+ rights, and “has supported tax cuts for businesses and a reduction in property taxes”. All in all, many would consider him a moderate conservative.