NH-02: Kuster retiring

[JMT]

https://twitter.com/adamsextonwmur/status/1772976550545097198?s=46&t=-r8JGlJ...

[Brother Jonathan]

I get the sense no one saw this coming. Democrats shouldn't have a problem finding a strong candidate though. Credit to Sawx for the suggestion elsewhere, but Morse would be smart to run here instead of for Governor, since the primary field for the GOP is sparse at this point and he'd have an alright shot at winning the seat.

[free my dawg]

Wow. That's a surprise. Was just starting to ascend in leadership too.

My first thought is Morse dropping down to here. He's their best option here, but even then it's a bruising fight.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Dan Innis take a crack at this again. He's always had higher ambition and actually moved to the other part of the state in 2022.

[JMT]

I’m interested to see which Democrats decide to run. I wonder if it’ll be a crowded field, or if DCCC/national Dems will try to clear the field (given that this is a semi-competitive seat).

Interesting idea to have Chuck Morse run here instead. Does he live in the district? Not that that’s a requirement, but just curious.

[MargieCat]

Maybe former gubernatorial nominee Molly Kelly will run. She's pretty old though.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

YT in shambles

[Brother Jonathan]

I’m interested to see which Democrats decide to run. I wonder if it’ll be a crowded field, or if DCCC/national Dems will try to clear the field (given that this is a semi-competitive seat).

Interesting idea to have Chuck Morse run here instead. Does he live in the district? Not that that’s a requirement, but just curious.

Yes, in Salem I believe.

https://twitter.com/edewittnh/status/1772990302329933991?s=46&t=1EMP6L5xgxnb...

For Dems, a lot of early rumors but we will see. They have no shortage of choices but I will be interested to see if this becomes a fight with a few big names in it.

[Born to Slay. Forced to Work.]

I wonder if Cinde Warmington will drop out of the governor race (which looks like she’s loosing) to run for this seat like Franz did in Washington.

[Holmes]

Not Van Ostern. Please.

[Atlas Force]

https://twitter.com/Jlrube/status/1773039773558411647

[Roll Roons]

Soooo… this should be the last retirement of the cycle, right?

[Atlas Force]

https://twitter.com/PoliticsWolf/status/1773014911716614541

[Tekken_Guy]

Soooo… this should be the last retirement of the cycle, right?

The final filing deadline isn’t until July, which is Louisiana.

[Arizona Iced Tea]

Hopefully Rs nominate a good candidate. Who is running for the GOP nomination?

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Hopefully Rs nominate a good candidate. Who is running for the GOP nomination?

You don't expect with Trump decline in polls to win a District in NH without Sununu Safe D

[Arizona Iced Tea]

Hopefully Rs nominate a good candidate. Who is running for the GOP nomination?

You don't expect with Trump decline in polls to win a District in NH without Sununu Safe D

NH isn't a very polarized state.

[Brother Jonathan]

Hopefully Rs nominate a good candidate. Who is running for the GOP nomination?

At the present moment, a J6 attendee and a former Libertarian politician originally from Colorado, but I imagine at least one, more credible candidate may get in now that the seat is open. Sawx suggested State Senator Dan Innis, which I could see.

Also, just as a general note, NH-02 Republicans have a bad track record when it comes to picking candidates. So while Innis or someone else may be fine, its also generally never a bad bet that the GOP primary base here will go with the less electable, more red-meat candidate.

[Progressive Pessimist]

Lean D at worst.

Angry women will come through again.

[free my dawg]

Apparently the prevailing theory is that the NHGOP is pushing its executive director, Joe Sweeney, to run. Sweeney has done a great job walking the tightrope between the extreme and the establishment and has been mentioned as a rising star for a while.

He's definitely an intriguing candidate. Time will tell if he's able to put it together electorally.

[Mr.Phips]

Hopefully Rs nominate a good candidate. Who is running for the GOP nomination?

You don't expect with Trump decline in polls to win a District in NH without Sununu Safe D

NH isn't a very polarized state.

In state races, no.  For federal races, increasingly yes.

[Brother Jonathan]

https://twitter.com/AdamSextonWMUR/status/1773379707729305963

Of note here too that Van Ostern had previously worked for Kuster, and I believe was her campaign manager at some point.

[Brother Jonathan]

Apparently the prevailing theory is that the NHGOP is pushing its executive director, Joe Sweeney, to run. Sweeney has done a great job walking the tightrope between the extreme and the establishment and has been mentioned as a rising star for a while.

He's definitely an intriguing candidate. Time will tell if he's able to put it together electorally.

A Burns v. Sweeney primary (with some other odds and ends candidates) seems distinctly possible, in which case I think Sweeney would be slightly favored thanks to his balancing act and not being George Hansel (who, in the end, is just too moderate for the NH-02 GOP primary electorate at this point).

Burns has not announced or anything but he seems interested and has been making noise (which is about all he's good for anyway). Wouldn't be surprised if he went for it again. 

[JMT]

Not Van Ostern. Please.

Wait, why? Just curious

[JMT]

https://twitter.com/AdamSextonWMUR/status/1773379707729305963

Of note here too that Van Ostern had previously worked for Kuster, and I believe was her campaign manager at some point.

Yeah I imagine Van Ostern has a good chance of getting Kuster’s endorsement.

[free my dawg]

Not Van Ostern. Please.

Wait, why? Just curious

Presumably because of his losses recently? Although I would argue his SoS loss in 2018 was more of an NHDP problem and less himself.

CVO will probably win the primary and will be a solid vote.