LEBANON, N.H. (WCAX) – The general election is now just over three weeks away. In New Hampshire, we are following two big contests– the race for governor and the race for New Hampshire’s 2nd Congressional District. There is no incumbent in either race.
Congresswoman Annie Kuster is well known throughout New Hampshire’s 2nd District. But the Democrat is not in the race this year. That means both candidates who want to replace her are working hard to get their names out.
“Typically when you have relatively unknown candidates, money is a really key factor in the race,” Dartmouth College Political Expert Linda Fowler said.
Fowler says the 2nd District nominee for the Democrats, Maggie Goodlander, proved during the primary she can raise money. The Nashua native has spent most of her career in Washington, D.C., at the Department of Justice and, most recently, as senior advisor on President Biden’s Unity Agenda.
Her opponent, Republican Lily Tang Williams, is relatively new to New Hampshire. Tang Williams ran unsuccessfully for the 2nd District party nomination in 2022. Prior to that, she was active in Colorado politics. Tang Williams immigrated to the United States from her native China.
“I think it is not so much what their resumes are as it is what their issue positions are,” Fowler said.
Fowler says women’s reproductive rights could play a big role at the polls.
Abortion is also a central issue in the race for governor between Republican Kelly Ayotte and Democrat Joyce Craig.
Craig served three terms as mayor of Manchester, New Hampshire’s largest city.
Ayotte is a former U.S. senator who likely has more statewide name recognition, though she has been out of politics since losing to Maggie Hassan in 2016.
“The real question is whether people who have gotten involved in the time that she was out of office are going to be effective in her campaign,” Fowler said.
Fowler says the top of the ticket could also play a factor. Former President Trump lost New Hampshire twice, both in 2016 and 2020. However, Gov. Chris Sununu pulled out victories during both of those elections. He announced he wasn’t seeking a fifth term earlier this year.
“I think the New Hampshire electorate is pretty sophisticated,” Fowler said. “I think the problem for Ayotte is that we have had the same party in the governor’s office for a long time.”
Also on the ballot in the governor’s race in New Hampshire– Libertarian candidate Stephen Villee.
An important note about the New Hampshire electorate is that undeclared voters make up the largest voting block in the state.
