Baldasaro To Run For House Speaker | NH Patch Political Roundup

CONCORD, NH — The races in New Hampshire have not officially ended as at least two candidates will be vying for the Speakership to lead the New Hampshire House.

One of the candidates, state Rep. Al Baldasaro, R-Londonderry, a long-time representative, announced his intention last week to run. In the minority leader race, Baldasaro lost by nine votes and a lot of representatives at the time, because there were four candidates running, did not think he had a chance. He had been a floor leader this past session but believed a new speaker was needed for the GOP.

"I love Dick," he said, speaking of minority leader Dick Hinch, a Republican from Merrimack, who was also expected to run. "He's a nice guy. But we need a leader that will stand up and speak up for Republicans."

At the same time, Baldasaro said, the speaker had to show fairness to the minority party, the Democrats, something that was not offered by Democrats to Republicans during the last session. He said Speaker Steve Shurtleff, D-Penacook, was not fair in that way — going after Republicans for everything but standing silent when Democrats misbehaved. Baldasaro noted, in the past, he worked in a bipartisan manner on several bills including supporting veterans, animal safety, and other issues with Democrats like Renny Cushing, D-Hampton, and Kathy Rogers, D-Concord.

Baldasaro, who had made colorful and controversial comments in the past himself, said many in the House, from both sides of the aisle, were cordial. In the past, representatives would acknowledge each other, have lunch, and work on legislation where there was common ground. But not today. There had been a change lately when more progressive Democrats were elected to office.

"In my last two years, it has been the worst I have ever seen," he said. "You have these young progressives who came up there … they are very vicious; they're rude; you say, 'Hi' to them and they walk by. They don't say nothing. They are constantly attacking you; constantly Twittering at you, name calling and calling us Nazis."

Baldasaro said the attitude of the new left trickled down, too, to the committee level, and that was not the way it was supposed to be. Each side is elected, gets to serve, and gets to speak their mind, he said, adding it was a free speech concern.

"They gaveled every time when we said something they didn't like," he said.

Baldasaro said he would work with Democrats on the issues that did not separate each side. Yes, there would be arguments about policy, he said. But, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic problems facing the state, "we've got tough decisions coming up … we have to work together because if the revenues aren't there and we have shortfalls, that means the budget has to be straightened out without raising taxes or fees."

Many Democrats knew there were issues in their caucus and said so privately, Baldasaro said. He hoped they would be willing to come together for the future of the state — and he hoped to be there, as speaker, to help.

"I get along with everybody … but I don't take no (expletive) either," he said.

Hinch did not return a call and email seeking comment about the House speaker's race. However, he told the New Hampshire Journal he would be running for the seat after Republicans caucus later this month.

State Rep. Laurie Sanborn, R-Bedford, who has previously considered running for speaker, said she would not be a candidate in 2020.

Recounts? We've Got 'Em

There are 16 recounts scheduled for state races in New Hampshire this year.

On Monday, the District 11 state Senate race between former state Sen. Gary Daniels, a Republican, beat incumbent state Sen. Shannon Chandley, the Democrat, by 198 votes. The seat represents Amherst, Merrimack, and Milford.

The Hillsborough District 34 race between the third-place finisher, Melbourne Moran Jr., a Democrat from Nashua, and Charlie Hall, a Republican, was a one vote separation, according to unofficial returns published Wednesday. But by Friday, those numbers had shifted and now, Moran leads by 21 votes.

The District 9 state Senate race, which represents Bedford, will be recounted Tuesday.

Denise Ricciardi, the Republican challenger, beat state Sen. Jeanne Dietsch, the Democrat, by 127 votes, according to unofficial returns. But later in the week, an error in Richmond was discovered and the spread grew to 409 votes — which led to a Republicans leader congratulating Ricciardi.

"The voters have clearly spoken their opposition to a statewide income tax," said state Sen. Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro. "I know Denise will work with Governor Sununu and the new Republican Majority to represent the best interests of her district and make them proud."

Dietsch, however, did not concede, and petitioned for a recount.

"After an unprecedented and unique election, we want to make sure every single voter has their voice heard and are taking time to examine our options to make sure that’s the case," the campaign said in an email.

Also Tuesday, the Merrimack District 17 race, a 193-vote difference between incumbent state Rep. Safir Wazir, D-Concord, and Dennis Soucy, a Republican, will be recounted.

The District 12 state Senate race between state Sen. Melanie Levesque, D-Nashua, and Kevin Avard, a Nashua Republican, will be recounted Wednesday. Currently, Avard is projected the winner with an 805 vote lead.

Just 36 votes separates the fourth and fifth place finishers in the Rockingham District 7 seats, four which represent Windham. State Rep. Julius Soti, R-Windham, beat Democrat challenger Kristi St. Laurent. That race will be recounted Thursday.

On Nov. 18, the District 5 Executive Council race, a rematch between former Executive Councilor David Wheeler, a Republican, and current Executive Councilor Debora Pignatelli, a Democrat, will also be recounted. In the unofficial returns, Wheeler had a 1,227 vote lead. However, Merrimack, according to a post on GraniteGrok.com, misreported its numbers and now, the spread is 2,499 votes.

For dates and times of all the recounts at the State Archives building, visit the Secretary of State's Office website.

Soucy Will Be Senate Leader

Even though a few of the Senate seat outcomes are being contested, Republicans are expected to have control of the body.

So it was no surprise Friday when current Senate President Donna Soucy, D-Manchester, was elected the new Democratic leader for the next two years. All 10 Democrats who are returning or are Senator-elect voted unanimously to support Soucy.

"It has been my honor to serve as Senate President for the last two years, and I am honored and humbled to be elected Leader as we head into this new session," she said. "Although the majority has shifted, this caucus is excited to get back to work. Democrats in the State Senate have been laser-focused on the issues most pertinent to New Hampshire families over the last two years — from fighting to protect health care access to building back our economy. And as we turn our heads towards recovery in the post-pandemic world, that focus will be more important than ever. I know I speak for all of my fellow Senate Democrats when I say we are ready to work with our Republican colleagues to continue fighting for Granite State families. In the midst of a global pandemic and worsening divisiveness in our politics and issues across the country, bipartisan collaboration is even more important here at home. I look forward to working together with all our Senate colleagues to deliver for New Hampshire."

Get Rid Of Polling? How Close Were They In NH?

Speaking of New Hampshire Journal, Michael Graham published a column about polling and just how disastrous it was in 2020 — not unlike 2016.

But in New Hampshire, some of the polls were pretty close and within fractions of a percent — even if they were not believable at the time.

As noted in a previous post on Patch, Joe Biden was polling anywhere from 8 to 14 percent in the state and won by 7.2 percent.

As another example, in every survey between late September and late October, Sununu saw spread of 23 to 25 percent in his reelection race after polls posted spreads of 15 to 18 percent in early September. Very few politicos believed the governor would win by that much, especially since there was a presumption that the tens of millions of dollars dumped into New Hampshire by special interest groups to defeat President Donald Trump would harm the governor, too. In the end, the spread between Sununu and his opponent, Dan Feltes, a Concord state Senator, was greater — a stunning 32 percent.

In the U.S. Senate race, it was a similar situation: The incumbent, U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat, is popular, not unlike the governor. The polling between her and her Republican opponent, Bryant "Corky" Messner, ran between 11 and 19 percent. That amount was believable but the expectation was that the race would tighten in the end like they always do. However, Shaheen ran away with the win with a whopping 16 percent.

And in the U.S. House races, not unlike governor and Senate, the polls were close to accurate: In the 1st Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, the incumbent who is a Democrat, was polling between 5 and 18 percent. There was one survey that had Republican challenger Matt Mowers leading by 2 points. But in the end, Pappas won by a little less than 5 percent. In the 2nd Congressional District, Democrat Ann McLane Kuster, the incumbent, was polling anywhere from 4 to 15 percent. The 4 percent poll got Republican Steve Negron, who was challenging her for a second time in 2020, excited by his chances. But in the end, the vote spread was more than 10 points.

While polling was somewhat accurate in New Hampshire, it was wildly inaccurate across the country in most cases. And, the relentless publication of the data, especially meaningless national polls which have no bearing on the outcome of any presidential race, could be perceived as forms of potential voter suppression on two levels: scaring some voters into not wanting to be involved in their franchise because their candidate had no chance of winning and scaring them into thinking their candidate had a massive lead and it was in the bag, so there is no need to vote. After two presidential cycles with massive problems and inaccuracies, it is clearly time for a change with polling even though political junkies love the numbers.

Read the full polling piece here.

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