Community Corner
Pappas Votes No, Goodlander Votes 'Present' On Resolution Condemning Socialism
The resolution condemned socialism, including the DSA, and called for action on the SAVE America Act to ensure election security.
With rising pressure on his political left flank, U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas voted against a GOP-backed resolution condemning socialism and supporting ballot security measures like voter ID.
It’s the latest sign that establishment Democrats like Pappas and Stefany Shaheen, who have touted their centrist, bipartisan politics in the past, feel the need to embrace progressive politics ahead of next Tuesday’s primary election.
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The resolution “condemns and denounces socialism in all its forms, including the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), and opposes the implementation of socialist policies in the United States.”
It also “calls for enactment of the SAVE America Act to ensure election security, increase public confidence in America’s voting system, and close loopholes in order to prevent noncitizens from voting in elections.”
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Pappas voted no.
His opponent in the primary, Karishma Manzur, is an unapologetic DSA candidate who supports socialized medicine, abolishing ICE, and ending all U.S. support for Israel.
Eight House Democrats supported the resolution, and two — including U.S. Rep. Maggie Goodlander — voted “present.”
Republicans promptly condemned Pappas for refusing to condemn socialism or the Democratic Socialists of America.
“Party Line Pappas just voted in favor of abolishing ICE, defunding the police, and implementing the radical Green New Deal and Medicare for All,” said NRSC Regional Press Secretary Samantha Cantrell.
John Sununu spokesman Mike Schrimpf called it another example of “‘Party First, New Hampshire Second’ with Chris Pappas.”
Public polls show Manzur trending upward, though none puts her within 10 points of Pappas. At the same time, he’s been taking incoming fire from Sununu as well as criticism from the party’s progressive base.
In recent days he’s announced an endorsement from former Vice President Kamala Harris and abandoned his previous pro-Israel stance. He recently voted “present” — as Goodlander did Tuesday — to avoid taking a position on Israel.
Lily Tang Williams, the frontrunner to win the NH-02 GOP nomination, called out Goodlander’s “present” vote.
“Congress isn’t a place to sit on the sidelines—especially when families are still waiting for results on housing, energy, and everyday costs,” Williams said. “On condemning socialism and supporting the SAVE Act, Granite Staters deserve to know where she stands.”
RNC Spokesperson Kristen Cianci denounced them both.
“Americans overwhelmingly reject socialism, but Chris Pappas and Maggie Goodlander refuse to do the same. Granite Staters will never support far-left hacks like Pappas and Goodlander who side with the lunatics pushing open borders, higher taxes, and a free-for-all for prisoners and illegals.”
This story was originally published by the NH Journal, an online news publication dedicated to providing fair, unbiased reporting on, and analysis of, political news of interest to New Hampshire. For more stories from the NH Journal, visit NHJournal.com.
