In order to have any real chance, Democrats needed New Hampshire Governor Maggie Hassan to challenge Republican incumbent Kelly Ayotte. Kelly Ayotte next year in what is expected to be a closely-watched race between two popular, well-funded opponents.
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A Democrat, Hassan was elected as the 81st governor of New Hampshire in 2012 and won re-election in 2014.
New Hampshire Republican State Committee Chairman Jennifer Horn shot back at the announcement with more fire, saying that Hassan failed to “lead on the pressing issues facing New Hampshire”.
Hassan’s decision to run for the Senate also means that there will be an open-seat race for New Hampshire governor next year.
The video has the look of a campaign commercial, with footage of Hassan touring businesses and schools. “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”. “We balanced the budget and created a business-friendly environment that has New Hampshire’s unemployment rate at the lowest levels since 2008”.
A number of accomplishments Hassan outlined in the 2 1/2-minute video came during her first term in office, including freezing tuition at state universities, lowering it at community colleges and doubling the research and development tax credit.
“You can count on me to take my bipartisan approach, my common sense and my commitment to problem-solving and results to the Senate”, Hassan said in a video announcing her candidacy.
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Hassan’s announcement comes a little over two weeks after reaching a deal with legislators allowing an $11.3 billion budget plan to go into effect after a months-long stalemate. Given the fact that it is among the states that Republicans must win if they are going to get to 270 Electoral Votes, we can expect that this state will be fought over at both the Presidential and Senate levels.
