New Hampshire's 2020 Candidates Make Their Last Pitches: Watch

CONCORD, NH — The new coronavirus has not put the kibosh on traditional campaigning in New Hampshire — it is just a bit different than before.

Democrats and Republicans were out and about on Labor Day making pitches and asking for votes just hours before the state's Sept. 8 primary. Both ballots have competitive statewide races.

Two attorneys and Democrats from Concord, state Sen. Dan Feltes and Executive Councilor Andru Volinsky, are vying to be the party's nominee for governor while both U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and U.S. Rep. Ann McLane Kuster have challengers, too. Tom Alciere and Paul Krautmann are challenging Shaheen while Joseph Mirzoeff is running against Kuster. U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, in the first congressional district, is unopposed.

Republican voters also have competitive races to choose from. Gov. Chris Sunun is being challenged by Franklin City Councilor Karen Testerman and Nobody while Don Bolduc and Corky Messner as well as Gerard Beloin and Andy Martin are vying to be the GOP challenge to Shaheen. In the first congressional district, Michael Callis, Jeff Denaro, Matt Mayberry, and Matt Mowers are attempting to secure the Republican nomination while Matthew Bjelobrk, Lynne Ferrari Blankenbeker, and Steve Negron are attempting to win the second congressional district nomination. Eli Clemmer is also on the ballot but he has endorsed Negron.

There are also lower races for county, state senate, and state representative in some district.

Salem GOP Labor Day Picnic

Sununu, Bolduc, Messner, and others attended the Salem GOP's annual Labor Day picnic at the Salem-Derry Elks Club.

The event featured food, music, and speeches, with masks and social distancing, too, which made it a bit different than the past. Organizers spread more of the tables and chairs out than in the past — while many people decided to mingle.

Sununu gave Republicans an overview of why he was running for reelection and pleaded for unity within the party after Wednesday — saying it was the only way to ensure the GOP would elect others to help him with court nominees and public policy.

Congressional candidates Blankenbeker, Bjelobrk, and Negron explained why they were running — with Clemmer offering his reasoning for dropping out and backing Negron.

Bolduc and Messner also made their pitches to voters. Bolduc introduced Victoria Whitcher, the widow of Staff Sgt. David J. Whitcher, who died in a training mission in 2016, as well as their son David Whitcher Jr., calling them heroes.

Straw Poll Results

Attendees of the Salem GOP voted in a straw poll and here are the results:

For governor, Sununu bested Testerman 87-16 while Nobody received no votes.

In the Senate race, Bolduc beat Messner 62-36.

For Congress, Blankenbeker and Negron were tied — 43 to 43 while Clemmer received four votes and Bjelobrk none.

In the Executive Council race, Bruce Crochetiere beat Janet Stevens, 54-22, with Tim Comerford receiving 18 votes.

In the sheriff's race, Charles Massahos bested Kevin Coycle, 79-10.

Democrats Make One Last Push

Both Feltes and Volinsky are in a tight race for the Democrat's nomination.

Feltes campaigned with Teamsters in Manchester in the morning while Volinsky held a car rally in Concord outside of the NEA-NH headquarters in the South End in the late afternoon.

At Volinsky's event, a duo played some tunes, including Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are A-Changin'," as well as others while the candidate pledged to fight for climate action, protecting state employees and teachers and improving schools, and a green new deal for New Hampshire.

Feltes, in Concord, gave his elevator pitch saying that unlike his opponent, who was a corporate attorney, he had always worked for ordinary people — first, as a legal aid attorney, and later, as a state Senator.

Picking On Victor?

During the last couple of months or so of the campaign, Bolduc, who has a service dog named Victor, to help with his post-traumatic stress disorder, has insinuated in interviews that there were "whisper campaigns" in Republican circles that somehow, he was incapable of being a Senator, due to having Victor has a pet.

In one interview in August, Bolduc stated some Republicans — not Democrats, "in their little small circles," had stated he was "weak, broke, (and) needs a dog."

When asked for evidence or anything about the whispering, the Bolduc campaign chose not to comment on the matter.

Sununu Says, 'Thank You'

Patch Community Voter Guides

Not sure where and when to vote? Here are the Patch voter guides:

• Election 2020: Amherst NH Primary Voter Guide
• Election 2020: Bedford NH Primary Voter Guide
• Election 2020: Concord NH Primary Voter Guide
• Election 2020: Exeter NH Primary Voter Guide
• Election 2020: Hampton, North Hampton NH Primary Voter Guide
• Election 2020: Londonderry NH Primary Voter Guide
• Election 2020: Merrimack NH Primary Voter Guide
• Election 2020: Milford NH Primary Voter Guide
• Election 2020: Nashua NH Primary Voter Guide
• Election 2020: Portsmouth NH Primary Voter Guide
• Election 2020: Salem NH Primary Voter Guide
• Election 2020: Windham NH Primary Voter Guide

Do not forget to vote on Tuesday!

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