State Filing Period Opens

The political tug-of-war resumes today in swing-state New Hampshire as candidates begin to officially file for office.

Republicans and Democrats were already retracing the partisan battle lines ahead of the state filing period opening at 8 this morning. Candidates have until 5 p.m. on June 15 to file papers with the New Hampshire Secretary of State's office.

At least 14 Democrats running for state Senate plan to file together at 9 a.m., a first step toward their party's hopes of wrestling the legislative majority from the GOP.

Candidates for governor, Congress, Executive Council, state Senate and county offices file with the Secretary of State. State representative candidates file with their town or city clerk.  

Though the recently enacted House redistricting law is being challenged in court, the filing period will proceed, subject to any future court decision, according to Secretary of State Bill Gardner.

The state primary is Sept. 11. The general election is Nov. 6.

Other expected candidate filing events include:

• Former U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, a Rochester Democrat running to recapture the 1st District congressional seat, plans to file at the Statehouse at 10 a.m. today, June 6.
• U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta, the Republican incumbent in the 1st District, has a campaign kick-off scheduled for June 11 at 6:30 p.m. at his Manchester campaign office.
• Ann McLane Kuster, the Democrat seeking to challenge U.S. Rep. Charlie Bass for the 2nd District seat, is scheduled to hold a campaign kick-off June 7 at 12:15 p.m. outside the Statehouse.

The 14 Democrats planning to file for state Senate together Wednesday include: state Rep. David Watters of Dover for District 4; former Sen. Peggy Gilmour of Hollis for District 12; former Sen. Bette Lasky of Nashua for District 13; Sen. Sylvia Larsen, the Senate Democratic Leader from Concord, for District 15; Nancy Fraher of Chichester for District 17; former Sen. Martha Fuller Clark of Portsmouth for District 21; Carol Croteau of Kingston for District 23; former Sen. Bev Hollingworth of Hampton for District 24.

Check back with Patch for an update on the state filing period later this morning.