This year’s elections made one thing clear in New Hampshire: Granite State voters turned out to support champions intent on getting big money out of politics. Up and down the ballot, they voted for candidates firmly behind a robust agenda for reforms aimed at creating a democracy truly of the people.

Hillary Clinton and her platform for comprehensive money in politics reform won the day in New Hampshire. New Hampshire voters also chose to replace U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte with Maggie Hassan, who supports a constitutional amendment to overturn cases like Citizens United. Ayotte has failed to support such an amendment, despite being repeatedly asked by her constituents. 

Granite Staters voted to replace campaign finance scandal-ridden Frank Guinta with longtime champion Carol Shea-Porter in Congressional District 1.

Voters also made money in politics a down-ballot issue. Pending a recount, incumbent Hillsboro District 28 state representatives Eric Eastman and Elizabeth Ferreira will likely be replaced by former state representatives Jan Schmidt and Sylvia Gale. Eastman and Ferreira voted multiple times against SB 136, a bill that nearly made New Hampshire the 17th state to go on record in support of overturning cases like Citizens United—while Schmidt and Gale voted to pass a nearly identical bill as previously elected state representatives in 2014.

“Up and down the ballot, Granite Staters voted for people who are committed to fighting big money in politics. We elected representatives who will fight for democratic reforms for all,” said Linds Jakows, NH Campaign Organizer at People For the American Way. “In the wake of electing a president who hired the head of Citizens United to help run his campaign, local, state, and national efforts to fight the corrosive influence of money in politics is more important than ever.”

Some highlights of People For the American Way’s work in New Hampshire fighting big money in politics this election cycle:

• Led New Hampshire voters in building support for SB 136, a proposal in favor of a constitutional amendment to overturn cases like Citizens United, through petition deliveries, meetings with representatives, op-eds and letters to the editor, and more. In January 2016, SB 136 initially passed—briefly making New Hampshire the 17th state to officially call for an amendment—until New Hampshire State House leadership succeeded in getting 14 Republicans to change their votes and kill the bill. Representatives Eastman and Ferreira, who voted multiple times against the bill, appear to have been defeated this election, pending recount.
• Knocked on almost 4,000 doors to urge voters to support Maggie Hassan over Kelly Ayotte because of their stances on money in politics reforms and filling Supreme Court vacancies. To see the literature we distributed to voters, email [email protected].
• Knocked on almost 1,000 doors in Hillsboro 28 to urge voters to vote on money in politics when casting a ballot for state representatives. To see the literature we distributed to voters, email [email protected].
• Held “Ayotte Won’t Get Money Out” light brigade in July 2015 after she refused to support the Democracy For All amendment
• Organized Granite State activists to submit questions on money in politics reform to U.S. Senate debates and candidate interviews

To interview Linds Jakows and learn more about our money in politics work, please email [email protected].

###