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Changes to primary calendar, districts could shift political power in New Hampshire

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AdvertisementRepublican control of legislature could put incumbent seats in jeopardyChanges to primary calendar, districts could shift political power in New HampshireRepublican control of legislature could put incumbent seats in jeopardyHide TranscriptShow TranscriptLOOMING FIGHT OVER REDISTRICTING. ADAM: WHILE THE STATE TRAINS ITS ENERGIES AND RESOURCES ON TAMING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN 2021, THIS YEAR COULD ALSO SEE A DRAMATIC RESHAPING OF NEW HAMPSHIRE POLITICS. THE DISCUSSION FORMALLY BEGINS THIS WEEK, WITH LEGISLATION TO MOVE THE STATE PRIMARY ELECTION FROM SEPTEMBER TO AS EARLY AS JUNE REP. ALEXANDER: THE NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE PRIMARY IS ONE OF THE LATEST IN THE COUNTRY, AND IT’S IN SEPTEMBER, SO THIS BILL WOULD EXTEND THE GENERAL ELECTION AND SHORTEN THE PRIMARY. ADAM: GRANITE STATE POLITICOS HAVE LONG LAMENTED THE CURRENT SYSTEM, WHICH CAN ALLOW NASTY PRIMARY FIGHTS TO DRAG ON FOR MONTHS WINNERS FREQUENTLY EMERGE POLITICALLY WEAKENED AND DRAINED OF RESOURCES FOR THE FRENETIC EIGHT-WEEK GENERAL ELECTION SCRAMBLE TO NOVEMBER. REP. BERRY: THE LATE PRIMARY BECOMES A PROTECTION PLAN FOR THE INCUMBENT, BECAUSE THE INCUMBENT GETS TO MESSAGE TO THE BROADER ELECTORATE FOR MUCH LONGER. ADAM: HISTORICALLY, SECRETARY STATE BILL GARDNER HAS OPPOSED MOVING THE STATE PRIMARY DATE, BUT SEVERAL KEY REPUBLICANS BELIEVE THIS SESSION THEY HAVE THE MOMENTUM AND THE VOTES, AND NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE A CHANGE. IN ADDITION TO REARRANGING THE CALENDAR, THE GOP MAJORITIES COULD ALSO FAST-TRACK THE REDRAWING OF THE STATE’S POLITICAL MAPS BY PASSING REDISTRICTING LEGISLATION THIS YEAR. MUCH ATTENTION WILL FOCUS ON T TWO CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS. NEW HAMPSHIRE GOP CHAIRMAN STEVE STEPANEK RECENTLY INDICATED THE GOAL WILL BE TWO SAFE SEATS, ONE BLUE AND ONE RED, ESSENTIALLY LEAVING ONE OF THE CURRENT DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENTS OUT OF JOB. LUCAS MEYER: JUST LAST WEEKEND, WE SAW THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE REPUBLICAN PARTY GUARANTEE THAT REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO WIN ONE OF THE TWO CONGRESSIONAL RACES IN 2022. THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS ALREADY CALLING AN ELECTION TWO YEAR FROM NOW, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY CONTROL THE REDISTRICTING PROCES ADAM: THE MAPS THAT ARE APPROVED EITHER THIS YEAR OR NEXT WILL DEFINE STATE POLITICS FOR THE REST OF THIS DECADE. IT IS A POLITICAL PROCESS, AND REPUBLICANS WILL PRESS THE ADVANTAGE THEY WON AT THE BALLOT BOX. BUT THE LESS COMPETITIVE THE MAPS GET, THE LOUDER T ACCUSATIONS ARE LIKELY TO BE OF GERRYMANDERING. REP. ALEXANDER: THE VOTERS WEIGHED IN, AND THEY ELECTED JOE BIDEAdvertisementChanges to primary calendar, districts could shift political power in New HampshireRepublican control of legislature could put incumbent seats in jeopardyBig changes could be coming this year for New Hampshire's political maps and calendar.The changes could mean a dramatic reshaping of New Hampshire politics. The discussion formally begins this week with legislation to move the state primary election from September to as early as June."The New Hampshire state primary is one of the latest in the country, and it's in September," said state Rep. Joe Alexander, R-Goffstown. "So, this bill would extend the general election and shorten the primary."Granite State politicos have long lamented the current system, which can allow nasty primary fights to drag on for months. Winners frequently emerge politically weakened and drained of resources for the frenetic eight-week general election scramble to November. "The late primary becomes a protection plan for the incumbent because the incumbent gets to message to the broader electorate for much longer," said state Rep. Ross Berry, R-Manchester.Historically, Secretary of State Bill Gardner has opposed moving the state primary date, but several key Republicans said they believe this session, they have the momentum and the votes, and now is the time to make a change.In addition to re-arranging the calendar, the GOP majorities could also fast-track the redrawing of the state's political maps by passing redistricting legislation this year.Much attention will focus on the two congressional districts. State Republican Party Chairman Steve Stepanek recently indicated the goal will be two safe seats: One blue and one red, essentially leaving one of the current Democratic incumbents out of a job. "Just last weekend, we saw the chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party guarantee that Republicans are going to win one of the two congressional races in 2022," said Lucas Meyer, 2020 campaign manager for U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas. "Let that sink in. The Republican Party is already calling an election two years from now because they know they control the redistricting process."The maps that are approved either this year or next will define state politics for the rest of this decade. It's a political process, and Republicans will likely press the advantage they won at the ballot box. But the less competitive the maps get, the louder the accusations are likely to be of gerrymandering."The voters weighed in, and they elected Joe Biden president for New Hampshire, and those same voters who voted for Joe Biden also voted to flip 50 seats in the House and four seats in the Senate, so we do have a job to do," Alexander said. "We're going to get it done, and we're going to follow the Constitution."Big changes could be coming this year for New Hampshire's political maps and calendar.The changes could mean a dramatic reshaping of New Hampshire politics. The discussion formally begins this week with legislation to move the state primary election from September to as early as June.Advertisement"The New Hampshire state primary is one of the latest in the country, and it's in September," said state Rep. Joe Alexander, R-Goffstown. "So, this bill would extend the general election and shorten the primary."Granite State politicos have long lamented the current system, which can allow nasty primary fights to drag on for months. Winners frequently emerge politically weakened and drained of resources for the frenetic eight-week general election scramble to November. "The late primary becomes a protection plan for the incumbent because the incumbent gets to message to the broader electorate for much longer," said state Rep. Ross Berry, R-Manchester.Historically, Secretary of State Bill Gardner has opposed moving the state primary date, but several key Republicans said they believe this session, they have the momentum and the votes, and now is the time to make a change.In addition to re-arranging the calendar, the GOP majorities could also fast-track the redrawing of the state's political maps by passing redistricting legislation this year.Much attention will focus on the two congressional districts. State Republican Party Chairman Steve Stepanek recently indicated the goal will be two safe seats: One blue and one red, essentially leaving one of the current Democratic incumbents out of a job. "Just last weekend, we saw the chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party guarantee that Republicans are going to win one of the two congressional races in 2022," said Lucas Meyer, 2020 campaign manager for U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas. "Let that sink in. The Republican Party is already calling an election two years from now because they know they control the redistricting process."The maps that are approved either this year or next will define state politics for the rest of this decade. It's a political process, and Republicans will likely press the advantage they won at the ballot box. But the less competitive the maps get, the louder the accusations are likely to be of gerrymandering."The voters weighed in, and they elected Joe Biden president for New Hampshire, and those same voters who voted for Joe Biden also voted to flip 50 seats in the House and four seats in the Senate, so we do have a job to do," Alexander said. "We're going to get it done, and we're going to follow the Constitution."Loading more articles...

AdvertisementRepublican control of legislature could put incumbent seats in jeopardyChanges to primary calendar, districts could shift political power in New HampshireRepublican control of legislature could put incumbent seats in jeopardyHide TranscriptShow TranscriptLOOMING FIGHT OVER REDISTRICTING. ADAM: WHILE THE STATE TRAINS ITS ENERGIES AND RESOURCES ON TAMING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN 2021, THIS YEAR COULD ALSO SEE A DRAMATIC RESHAPING OF NEW HAMPSHIRE POLITICS. THE DISCUSSION FORMALLY BEGINS THIS WEEK, WITH LEGISLATION TO MOVE THE STATE PRIMARY ELECTION FROM SEPTEMBER TO AS EARLY AS...

Changes to primary calendar, districts could shift political power in New Hampshire

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