Maggie Hassan Announces Bid for Senate in 2016
On Oct. 5, New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan announced her decision to run for Senate as a Democrat in the 2016 race against incumbent GOP Senator Kelly Ayotte. She is acting as a potential advancement for Democrats hoping to recapture the Senate. According to state polling, the candidates start in a statistical tie, with Ayotte at 45 percent support and Hassan at 43 percent.
According to Hassan, as Governor, she has worked to bring people together to solve problems in the “New Hampshire Way.” She has used bipartisan solutions to hold down the cost of college tuition, fix roads and bridges, combat the substance abuse crisis, encourage innovation and expand access to quality, affordable health coverage.
Hassan cites her reason for running as a continuation of her work as governor. “In order to continue working to realize our state’s full potential, we need a response from Washington that meets the progress we’re making here at home,” Hassan said. “Washington has given in to powerful special interests and lobbyists who rig the system for themselves and against the middle-class, and I believe we can do better for New Hampshire families.”
In the Senate, Hassan plans to fight “critical issues” for New Hampshire families and businesses by pushing for solutions like making college more affordable and reducing the burden of student loan debt, fixing highways, roads and bridges and protecting social security and Medicare for New Hampshire’s seniors.
Although she will focus on securing a place in Senate, Hassan said that her job as Governor “has always and will always come first.” She said that now that there is an established fiscally responsible budget, there needs to be continuous work on moving the state forward with steps such as re-authorizing Medicaid expansion and building on efforts to combat substance abuse.
After retiring from Principal at Exeter last year to take care of family matters, Tom Hassan plans to be more involved as the First Gentleman of New Hampshire, including helping his wife through election season. Tom Hassan described running for any office as “a family affair.” He described some of the ways in which he plans to be involved with her campaign.
“I will be on the road both in the state and throughout the country campaigning for Maggie, sometimes filling in when she can’t be there given her continued responsibilities as Governor of NH,” he said. “Also, I will be working behind the scenes to ensure our household is running smoothly including coordinating services for our disabled son Ben.”
Gov. Hassan explained how important Tom’s support is within her life and career. “Whether it’s at public events or in the quieter moments at home, Tom has always been there,” Hassan said. “I’m extremely grateful for the love and support my family gives me each and every day, and I couldn’t do this important work without them.”
In addition to helping his wife handle her various responsibilities, Tom Hassan also plans to provide her with moral support throughout the campaign. He has confidence in his wife’s ability to lead and serve as a Senator of the U.S.
“I am excited and believe that Maggie will bring the same high level of energy, compassion and smarts to her work as Senator that she has in her other elected roles over the years,” he said.
Some students and faculty were more cautious about supporting Governor Hassan.
Though science instructor Michael McLaughlin considers Hassan an “honest candidate with good intentions,” he characterized her as “overprotective, nanny-state official with a desire to raise taxes,” and lauded the republicans in the legislature and the people of New Hampshire in keeping her in a fiscally conservative space.
Senior Spencer Burleigh believes that Hassan has been a “mediocre” governor and does not support her decision to run for Senate. “Hassan seems to be pandering to national pressure from her party to take back the Senate. She has gotten away from what is best for New Hampshire,” Burleigh said. “People don’t seem to be interested. She’s not an especially exciting candidate.”
Many Exonians, however, agreed with Tom Hassan, supporting Governor Hassan’s campaign for senate and recognizing ways in which she could help the country. A number of students of campus even plan to actively support Governor Hassan’s campaign once the election season begins.
Senior Max Eberstadt-Beattie, a member of the Democratic Club, said the club plans to campaign for Hassan, “doing everything in [its] power to make sure she gets elected.” According to him, the club “loves Hassan” and believes she is the most qualified and effective leader for which New Hampshire could ask.
Upper Charis Edwards agreed, adding that she believes Hassan will make a signifcant impact. “To make real progress in a democracy, we have to work across the isle and occasionally compromise so that positive change can happen,” she said. “Hassan had a great example of that with her work on the New Hampshire budget and I look forward to her bringing that spirit to congress if she’s elected.”
Contributions from Emily Pelliccia