The Democrats running for the open seat in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District shared the stage more than two-dozen times dating back to last December when there were just six contenders vying to succeed retiring four-term Democratic Rep. Carol Shea-Porter.
Now, with the wild and wide-open 11-candidate battle coming to an end, two consistent themes have emerged. First – the two perceived leaders in the race – Executive Councilor Chris Pappas of Manchester and U.S. Marine veteran and former Pentagon and Department of Veterans Affairs official Maura Sullivan of Portsmouth have increasingly come under attack from their rivals.
And second, the polarizing issue of big money in politics and campaign finance reform has stood out as a flashpoint among the left-leaning candidates as they’ve tangled at forums all summer long.
Here’s a closer look at where the candidates stand on some of the top issues in the race in New Hampshire’s 1st District, one of the most high-profile congressional swing districts in the country.
Campaign finance reformIt’s no surprise the issue has taken center stage in the race. Shea-Porter, the retiring incumbent, had highlighted getting big money out of politics even before the landmark 2010 U.S. Supreme Court “Citizens United” ruling that opened the floodgates to campaign spending by for-profit and non-profit corporations as well as labor unions.
Epping’s Naomi Andrews, Shea-Porter’s longtime chief of staff who is vying to succeed her boss in Congress, repeatedly said she’s “committed to overturning Citizens United” and said if elected, she won’t spend her time making calls for campaign cash.
“No other candidate on this stage can claim long-term leadership on this issue like I can,” Andrews said. “I led Carol’s winning campaigns that practiced campaign finance reform.”
State Rep. Mindi Messmer of Rye, an environmental scientist who has
