Hundreds Of Democrats, Republicans File For NH, Federal Offices

CONCORD, NH — Regardless of which political party you belong to or if you're an indie and decide at the last minute which primary ballot to choose, there is no reason not to vote on Sept. 8. Hundreds of candidates filed to run for offices up and down the ticket and nearly every major race is competitive. The filings for candidates closed Friday.

Governor's Race

Republican incumbent Gov. Chris Sununu, who ran unopposed in 2018, has two challengers this year in the GOP primary.

Conservative activist and Cornerstone Action founder Karen Testerman filed this week, upset about the governor's handling of the coronavirus closures and stay-at-home orders. Marijuana legalization and liberty activist Rich Paul, is running as "Nobody" on the ballot for the Republican nomination.

For the Democrats, as Patch wrote last year, it is the battle of the Concord fathers and attorneys, as state Sen. Dan Feltes and Andru Volinsky, the Executive Councilor for District 2, faceoff for the nomination.

U.S. Senator

Incumbent U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is seeking a third term after unseating another Sununu, John E. Sununu, in 2008.

She has two challengers in the primary: Tom Alciere of Nashua, a former state representative who resigned after calling police officers "enemy officers," due to the war on drugs, and advocating violence against them, has filed to run. Also challenging Shaheen is Dr. Paul J. Krautmann of Keene, a retired dentist.

On the Republican side, four candidates are attempting to win the nomination: Gerard Beloin of Colebrook, who unsuccessful ran for the Second Congressional District seat two years ago and the Senate in 2014; Don Bolduc, a retired general from Stratham; Andy Martin, an attorney, journalist, and author of the book, "Obama: The Man Behind The Mask," who has run numerous candidates for Senate in Florida, Illinois, and New Hampshire; and Corky Messmer, a trial attorney who has come under fire for appearing to carpetbag into the state from Colorado (he owns property in Wolfeboro and voted there in 2018).

U.S. Congress

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, D-Manchester, has no primary challengers but his counterpart in District 2 has one.

U.S. Rep. Ann McLane Kuster, D-Hopkinton will be challenged in the primary by Joseph Mirzoeff, a retiree and former Keene city council candidate

Four Republicans also would like to serve District 2 in the Congress: Matthew Bjelobrk, a selectman in Haverhill and vice chairman of the Grafton County Republican Committee; Lynne Ferrari Blankenbeker, a former state representative and naval reservist nurse of Concord; Eli Clemmer, a Berlin teacher; and Steve Negron, a former Nashua state representative who was the 2018 GOP nominee.

While Pappas doesn't have a primary contender, he has five potential Republican challengers battling for their nomination: Michael Callis, a stone craft artist from Conway who unsuccessfully sought the GOP nomination in 2018; Jeff Denaro of Auburn, a union plumber who also unsuccessfully sought the GOP nomination in 2018; Matt Mayberry, the chairman of the New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights and a Dover city councilor; Matt Mowers, the former executive director of the New Hampshire Republican Party and White House advisor at the state department; and Kevin Rondeau of Manchester, a former congressional candidate in 2010.

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Executive Council Seats

Twenty-three candidates are running for five Executive Council seats.

In District 1, which represents the Lakes Region, North Country, and Upper Valley, Michael Cryans, the incumbent, is running unopposed in the Democrat's primary.

Republican Joseph Kenney, who was unseated by Cryans after serving two terms in the seat, is running again for the seat, as is Kim Strathdee, who ran in 2018.

District 2, which is an open seat since Volinsky is running for governor, has six candidates running for the Democrat's nomination: Leah Plunkett, a UNH Law School associate dean and author of the book, "Sharenthood"; John Shea, who held the seat between 2006 and 2010; Emmett Soldati, the owner of Teatotaller Café in Somersworth; Concord attorney Jay Surdukowski; Craig Thompson, a state representative and farmer from Harrisville; and Cinde Warmington, a Concord attorney.

Republicans have two candidates on the ballot: Jim Beard, a retired aviator and sales representative from Lempster, and Dr. Stewart Levenson of Hopkinton who ran for Congress in 2018 in District 2, coming in second.

Concord is the only Patch community served by the District 1 seat which has been nicknamed the upside down crescent moon seat, running from one part of the state to the other, and is considered a poster child against gerrymandering.

Executive Councilor Russell Prescott, a Republican, is not running for reelection in District 3, so there are a number of candidates running for the open seat. Two Democrats — Patty Lovejoy, a state representative from Stratham, and Mindi Messmer, an environmental consultant and former state representative who placed third in the 2018 Congressional primary.

Timothy Comerford of Fremont, a state representative, is one of three Republicans running for the seat. Hampton Falls businessman Bruce Crochetiere is also running along with Janet Stevens, a nonprofit advocate and mother from Rye, who is also in the hunt.

The District 3 councilor represents Exeter, Hampton, North Hampton, Portsmouth, Salem, and Windham and other communities.

Ted Gatsas, the current District 4 Executive Councilor, is running unopposed — but he has three potential Democrats running as challengers. Kola Adewumi of Hooksett is running for the seat along with Jerome Duval, a Bedford real estate agent, and Mark Mackenzie, the former head of the New Hampshire AFL-CIO and Manchester state representative who placed eighth in the 10-way Congressional race in 2018.

The District 4 seat represents Bedford, Londonderry, and other communities.

Debora Pignatelli, who has represented the District 5 seat for a number of terms, off and on, is running for reelection again and is unopposed.

She will be challenged on the Republican said by either Bob Clegg, a former state Senator from Hudson, or Dave Wheeler, the former Executive Councilor from Milford.

The District 5 seat represents the communities of Amherst, Merrimack, Milford, Nashua, and many others.

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NH State Senate

The following candidates will be running for state Senate in Patch communities:

District 9, serving Bedford and other communities southwest of Bedford: Democrat Jeanne Dietsch of Peterborough, a tech entrepreneur, is running for reelection and is unopposed. Republican Denise Ricciardi of Bedford, a town councilor, is running unopposed in her party's primary.

District 11, serving Amherst, Merrimack, Milford, and Wilton: Democrat Shannon Chandley of Amherst is running for reelection and is unopposed in the primary. Gary Daniels, the former state Senator who lost the seat two years ago to Chandley, is running unopposed for the Republican primary.

District 12, serving the west side of Nashua as well as other communities: Democrat Melanie Levesque of Brookline, the first African-American elected to the state Senate, is running for reelection. Kevin Avard, a business owner and musician, who served in the seat for four years and lost reelection in 2018 by around 150 votes, is running unopposed for the Republican nomination.

District 13, serving the rest of Nashua: Incumbent state Sen. Cindy Rosenwald, a Democrat, is running unopposed. Mariellen MacKay, a former Republican state representative, is running unopposed for her party's nomination.

District 14, serving Londonderry and other communities to the south: Incumbent Sharon Carson, a Republican from Londonderry, is running for reelection. Democrat Nancy Hendricks, a Londonderry school board member, is running for her party's nomination.

District 15, serving Concord and communities to the west, is an open seat being vacated by Feltes, who is running for governor. Three Democrats are running for the seat: Candace Bouchard, the Ward 9 Concord city councilor and mayor pro temp, Paul Hodes of Concord, a musician, attorney, and former Representative to Congress, and Becky Whitley, a Concord attorney. Republican Linda Rae Banfill, a retired journalist and mayoral candidate in Concord, is unopposed for her party's nomination.

District 19, serving Windham and two other communities, has an incumbent, state Sen. Regina Birdsell, a Republican from Derry, running for reelection. Democrat Joshua Bourdon, a town councilor from Derry, was considering a run for the District 3 Executive Council earlier this year, but switched gears and filed to challenge Birdsell. He is running unopposed for his party's nomination.

District 21, which represents voters in Portsmouth and surrounding communities, is another open seat this year with the retirement of long-time state Sen. Martha Fuller Clark. Two Democrats are running for their party's nomination: Rebecca Perkins Kwoka, an attorney and Portsmouth city councilor, is running, along with Deaglan McEachern, a businessman and Portsmouth city councilor, and placed sixth in the 10-way 2018 Congressional race.

District 22 represents Salem and surrounding communities and incumbent state Sen. Chuck Morse, the former Senate president, is running unopposed for the Republican nomination. He will be challenged by Democrat Thomas Haynes, also from Salem.

District 23 represents Exeter and a number of surrounding communities to the west and incumbent state Sen. Jon Morgan of Brentwood, a Democrat, is running unopposed. Two Republicans are seeking the party's nomination: Allen Winston Cook, a former state representative from Brentwood, and Bill Gannon, a former state representative from Sandown, who lost to Morgan by around 100 votes in 2018.

District 25 represents Hampton, North Hampton, and surrounding communities. The incumbent, state Sen. Tom Sherman of Rye, a Democrat, is running unopposed. Two Republicans are seeking the GOP nomination: Regina Barnes of Hampton, a selectwoman, is facing off against Lou Gargiulo, a real estate business owner, former state representative, and selectman from Hampton Falls.

Hillsborough County Offices

Sheriff: Democrat Bill Barry of Manchester is running unopposed. Christopher Connelly of Mont Vernon and Joshua Holmes of Manchester are seeking the Republican nomination.

Attorney: Democrat Michael Conlon of Goffstown, the incumbent, is running unopposed. Dan Hynes of Bedford and John Coughlin of Amherst are seeking the Republican nomination.

Treasurer: William Bryk of Antrim is running unopposed for the Democrat's nomination while Republican David Fredette of Nashua is running for the GOP nomination.

Register of Deeds: Jim O'Connell of Manchester and Mary Ann Crowell of Brookline are seeking the Democrat's nomination while April Kaplan of Amherst, Edward Sapienza of Manchester, and Jack Flanagan of Mason are seeking the Republican nomination.

Register of Probate: Democrat Elizabeth Ropp of Manchester is running unopposed while David Recupero of Weare and Elizabeth Moreau of Manchester seek the Republican nomination.

Commissioner District 1: Democrat Jon Hopwood of Manchester is running unopposed while Republican Toni Pappas is running unopposed.

Commissioner District 2: Democrats Daniel Hansberry of Nashua and David Lisle of Nashua are seeking the nomination while Michael Soucy of Nashua runs unopposed for the GOP nomination.

Commissioner District 3: Julie Radhakrishnan of Amherst and Suzanne Ketteridge of Amherst are seeking the Democrat's nomination while Robert Rowe of Amherst seeks the Republican nomination.

Merrimack County Offices

Sheriff: Republicans Dennis Crawford of Warner and James Valiquet of Newbury are seeking their party's nomination. Democrats David Croft of Salisbury, Keith Mitchell of Pembroke, and Michael Labrecque of Epsom are seeking the Democrat's nomination.

Attorney: Paul Halvorsen of Concord is unopposed for the Republican nomination while incumbent Democrat Robin Davis of Epsom is unopposed for her party's nomination.

Treasurer: Democrat Kathleen Donnelly of Concord is unopposed.

Register of Deeds: Democrat Susan Cragin of Concord is unopposed.

Register of Probate: Scott Maltzie of Boscawen is unopposed for the Republican nomination. Incumbent Jane Bradstreet of Hopkinton is being challenged by Erica Davis of Concord in the Democrat's primary.

Commissioner District 1: Democrat Tara Reardon is unopposed.

Commissioner District 2: Stuart Trachy of Franklin is running unopposed for the Republican nomination while Mario Ratzki of Andover is unopposed for the Democrats.

Rockingham County Offices

Sheriff: Patrick Rivard of Chester is running unopposed for the Democrat's nomination. Chuck Massahos, the incumbent, of Salem, is being challenged by Kevin Coyle of Portsmouth for the GOP nomination.

Attorney: Steven Briden of Exeter is unopposed for the Democrat's nomination while incumbent Patricia Conway of Salem is unopposed for the Republican nomination.

Treasurer: Ty Quinn of Nottingham is unopposed for the Democrat's nomination while Scott Priestley of Windham is running for the GOP nomination.

Register of Deeds: Michael McCord of Exeter is unopposed for the Democrat's nomination. Cathy Stacey of Salem is unopposed for the Republican's nomination.

Register of Probate: Bob Davidson of Nottingham is unopposed for the Democrat's nomination. Ray Tweedie, a Republican from Rye, is unopposed for the Republican's nomination.

Commissioner District 1: Democrats Kate Coyle of Portsmouth and Mark Bodi of Portsmouth are seeking their party's nomination. Joe Premo and Kevin St. James, both of Kingston, are challenging each other for the Republican nomination.

Commissioner District 2: Stephen D'Angelo of Chester is running unopposed.

Commissioner District 3: Two Republicans, Brian Chirichiello of Derry and Bruce Breton of Windham, seek their party's nomination.

NH State Representatives

The following candidates will be running for state Representatives in Patch communities:

Hillsborough District 22 (Amherst): For the Democrats, Theresa Cheslock, Tony Labranche, incumbent Megan Murray, and Daniel Veilleux, all of Amherst, are attempting to win one of three nominations. For the GOP, Pamela Coughlin, Peter Hansen, Peter Maresco, and Danielle Pray, all from Amherst, are seeking to win one of three nominations.

Hillsborough District 7 (Bedford): For the Democrats, Daniel Dong, incumbent Sue Mullen, Emma Paradis, and Catherine Rombeau, all of Bedford, are competing for five slots. For the Republicans, incumbent David Danielson, Ted Gorski, incumbent Linda Gould, incumbent John Graham, Phil Greazzo, Niki Kelsey, and Stephen Kenda, are all competing for five slots.

Hillsborough District 41 (Amherst, Bedford floterial): Incumbent Laurie Sanborn of Bedford is running unopposed for the Republican nomination while Lisa Nash of Bedford is running for the Democrat's nomination.

Merrimack District 10 (Concord's Ward 5, Hopkinton floterial): Incumbent David Luneau of Hopkinton, incumbent Mel Myler of Hopkinton, Joel Prescott of Hopkinton, and incumbent Mary Jane Wallner of Concord are competing for three slots. For Republicans, Pam Ean of Concord and John French IV of Hopkinton are seeking one of three slots.

Merrimack District 11 (Ward 1 in Penacook): Stephen Shurtleff, the Speaker of the House, is unopposed for the Democrat's nomination.

Merrimack District 12 (Ward 2 in Concord): Patrice Myers, a Republican, is unopposed while incumbent Connie Lane, a Democrat, is also unopposed.

Merrimack District 13 (Ward 3 in Concord): Incumbent Beth Richards is unopposed for the Democrats while Samuel Bahuma is unopposed for the GOP.

Merrimack District 14 (Ward 4 in Concord): Incumbent Jim MacKay, a Democrat, is unopposed for the seat.

Merrimack District 15 (Ward 6 in Concord): Eric Gallager is unopposed for the Democrats.

Merrimack District 16 (Ward 7 in Concord): Robert Bertrand is unopposed for Republicans while incumbent Timothy Soucy is unopposed for Democrats.

Merrimack District 17 (Ward 8 in Concord): Incumbent Safiya Wazir is unopposed for Democrats and Dennis Soucy is unopposed for Republicans.

Merrimack District 18 (Ward 9 in Concord): Kris Schultz is unopposed for Democrats.

Merrimack District 19 (Ward 10 in Concord): Christy Bartlett is unopposed for Democrats.

Merrimack District 27 (Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 floterial, two seats): Japhet Stevens is running unopposed for Republicans while Art Ellison and Rebecca McWilliams, both Democrats, are unopposed.

Merrimack District 28 (Wards 8, 9, 10 floterial): Incumbent Katherine Rogers is unopposed for Democrats while Andrew Georgevits is unopposed for Republicans.

Rockingham District 18 (Exeter): Incumbent Democrats Lisa Bunker, Julie Gilman, and Gaby Grossman, as well as Mark Paige are running unopposed for four slots while Republicans Edward Duncan, William Smith, Greg Stone, and Carl Wikstrom are running unopposed for four slots.

Rockingham District 36 (Exeter, Stratham floterial): Daniel Gray of Exeter is running unopposed for the Republicans while Alexis Simpson is running unopposed for the Democrats.

Rockingham District 21 (Hampton): Mike Edgar, Katherine Harake, and incumbent Tom Loughman are all unopposed for four Democrat slots. Tracy Emerick, David Hagen, and Sharleene Hurst are unopposed for four Republican slots.

Rockingham District 37 (Hampton, Hampton Falls, Seabrook floterial): Incumbent Jason Janvrin of Seabrook is unopposed for Republicans while E. Elaine Andrews-Ahearn of Hampton Falls is unopposed for Democrats.

Rockingham District 5 (Londonderry): Ted Combes, Mack Leathurby, Luisa Piette, Martha Smith, and incumbent Anne Warner are all unopposed for seven slots for Democrats. Republicans are fielding seven candidates: Incumbents Al Baldasaro, Tom Dolan, David Lundgren, Betsy McKinney, Sherman Packard, and Doug Thomas, and Wayne MacDonald.

Hillsborough District 21 (Merrimack): Democrats have forwarded six candidates for eight slots: Cynthia Parente, incumbent Rosemarie Rung, Bryce Stack, incumbent Kathyrn Stack, Joseph Sylvester, and incumbent Wendy Thomas. Republicans have six candidates, too: Melissa Blasek, incumbent Dick Hinch, Maureen Mooney, incumbent Jeanine Notter, R. Brian Snow, and Lindsay Tausch.

Hillsborough District 23 (Milford): Three Republicans are seeking three slots: Vanessa Sheehan, Mike Thornton, and Steve Tourangeau. Democrats have four candidates for three slots Alexander Lloyd, Maria Perez, incumbent Peter Petrigno, and Herb Salmon.

Hillsborough District 40 (Hollis, Milford, Mont Vernon, New Boston floterial): Democrats have one candidate, Ben Ming of Hollis, while Republicans have one candidate, Keith Ammon of New Boston.

Hillsborough District 28 (Nashua Ward 1): All three Democrats, who are also incumbents, are running again: William Bordy, Bruce Cohen, and Jan Schmidt. Republicans are running two candidates, Tom Lanzara and Rosemary Russell, for two slots

Hillsborough District 29 (Nashua Ward 2): Republicans have three candidates running: Michael McCarthy, Brian Mercer, and Julie Smith. Incumbent Democrats Paul Bergeron, Ray Newman, and Sue Newman are all running again.

Hillsborough District 30 (Nashua Ward 3): All three incumbents, Democrats Sherry Dutzy, Patricia Klee, and Suzanne Vail are running again. Doris Hohensee and David Schoneman are two Republicans running for three slots while

Hillsborough District 31 (Nashua Ward 4): Joost Baumeister, Ryan Terrell, and Elizabeth Van Twuyver are all running for the Republican slots while all three Democrat incumbents, David Cote, Fred Davis Jr., and Manny Espitia, are running again.

Hillsborough District 32 (Nashua Ward 5): All three Democrat incumbents are running again: Allison Nutting-Wong, Michael Pedersen, and Dan Toomey. Republicans Paula Johnson and Di Lothrop are running for two of the three slots.

Hillsborough District 33 (Nashua Ward 6): Kevin Scully is on the ballot for Republicans while Democrats fielded four candidates: Efstathia Booras and incumbents Ken Gidge, Mark King, and Frances Nutter-Upham.

Hillsborough District 34 (Nashua Ward 7): Melbourne Moran Jr. and incumbent Catherine Sofikitis are running for the Democrats. Republicans Jacqueline Casey, Charlie Hall, and Edith Hogan are also running.

Hillsborough District 35 (Nashua Ward 8): Anthony DiPaolo and Paul Hutsteiner are running for the Republican slots. For the Democrats, incumbents Skip Cleaver, Latha Mangipudi, and Laura Damphousse Telerski are running for three slots.

Hillsborough District 36 (Nashua Ward 9): Incumbents Linda Harriott-Gathright, Marty Jack, and Michael O'Brien Sr. are running for Democrat slots. Tyler Gouveia, Paula Desjardins Moran, and Bill Ohmn are the Republicans running.

Rockingham District 22 (North Hampton): Kirsten Schultz, a Republican, is running as well as the incumbent, Jim Maggiore, a Democrat.

Rockingham District 31 (North Hampton, Ward 3 in Portsmouth floterial): Henry Marsh of North Hampton is on the ballot for Republicans seeking the single seat.

Rockingham District 25 (Ward 1 in Portsmouth): Incumbent Laura Pantelakos, a Democrat, is being challenged by Robin Vogt in the primary.

Rockingham District 26 (Ward 2 in Portsmouth): Alexandria Knox is the lone Republican seeking a single slot on her party's ticket while incumbent Rebecca McBeath is seeking reelection for the Democrats.

Rockingham District 27 (Ward 3 in Portsmouth): Incumbent Democrat Peter Smossich is seeking a single seat.

Rockingham District 28 (Ward 4 in Portsmouth): Republican Cynthia Taylor-Hollanbeck is seeking the single slot while incumbent Gerald W.R. Ward seeks the Democrat's slot.

Rockingham District 29 (Ward 5 in Portsmouth): Incumbent Democrat David Meuse is on the ballot.

Rockingham District 30 (Wards 1, 2, 4, 5 in Portsmouth floterial): Incumbent Democrat Jacqueline Cali-Pitts is being challenged by Rick DiPentima in the primary.

Rockingham District 8 (Salem): 12 Republicans are seeking eight slots: incumbent Daryl Abbas, Dave Blake, Tanya Donnelly, incumbent Fred Doucette, incumbent Bob Elliott, incumbent Betty Gay, incumbent John Janigan, John Manning Jr., incumbent Everett McBride Jr., Joe Sweeney, incumbent John Sytek, and Susan Vandecasteele. Democrats have nine candidates seeking eight slots: Greg Davis, Sara Dillingham, Cam Innalfo, Claire Karibian, Sean Lewis, Donna Loranger, Jacqueline Muollo, Maureen Thibault, and Bonnie Wright.

Rockingham District 7 (Windham): Democrats have five candidates running for four slots: Henri Azibert, Valerie Roman, Iona Singureanu, and Kristi St. Laurent. Republicans have five candidates running for four slots: Incumbents Mary Griffin, Walter Kolodzicj, and Charles McMahon as well as Bob Lynn and Julius Soti.

There are more candidates who have declared intent to run and are collecting signatures. Patch will update this post when those candidates gain ballot access.

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This article originally appeared on the Concord Patch