S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, gubernatorial candidate Joyce Craig, and Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey at canvas kick-off in Manchester. Photo Dan Splaine Photography
MANCHESTER, NH – An impressive line-up of Democratic elected officials gathered in Manchester on Tuesday to kick off a campaign canvas drive. Three former governors – Maggie Hassan, Jeanne Shaheen and Gina Raimondo– and one sitting governor, Maura Healey – along with NH Congressman Chris Pappas came out to drive support for the candidate they are all supporting as the next governor of New Hampshire, Joyce Craig.
U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen was the 78th governor of New Hampshire. She is the first woman to be elected both as governor and to the U.S. Senate. U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan was the 81st governor of New Hampshire. She is the second woman to be elected both as governor and senator. Gina Raimondo, who serves as the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, was the first female governor of Rhode Island. Governor Maura Healey is the first female governor of Massachusetts.
This show of force along with Congressman Chris Pappas were on the stump for former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig as well as all Democratic candidates up and down the ticket for next week’s election. They spoke to a standing-room-only crowd of volunteers, campaign staff, and other elected officials.
Shaheen began by stressing the importance and value of the door knocking and calls made by volunteers. In a state with a history of tight races, they make the difference.
She then moved on to her support of the candidates,.
“Joyce and I were campaigning last week together, and we were talking about Chris Sununu’s leadership in New Hampshire, which has been lacking, and then some! And one of the things that Joyce said that I think we should remind everybody is that what Kelly Ayotte offers is more of Chris Sununu. More of Frank Edelblut, who doesn’t support public education. More of a challenge to make sure that people get the health care coverage that they need. Less support for child care, for housing, for the workforce training that we need. We cannot afford that kind of leadership in New Hampshire for four more years. We are so excited to all be here to support our great candidates, to support the down-ballot races.”
Hassan continued with the theme of doing the work of elections to make a difference.
“Here’s a number that a lot of people in this room have heard me say a time or two, which is 1,017 votes. That’s the number of votes that you all helped me win my first election for the United States Senate by, right? 1,017 votes is what made the difference between being able to stop the Republicans in 2017 when they tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act. 1,017 votes in New Hampshire saved health care for 28 million Americans,” Hassan.
Hassan made the connection between the Chips and Science Act passed by the Biden administration with the New Hampshire congressional delegation, and its relevance in the governor’s race.
“Joyce Craig hears about the Chips in Science Act. And as mayor, she gets to work. She rolls up her sleeves. She puts together stakeholder groups. And she figures out how to successfully compete, the only mayor who did it in the country, to get a tech hub grant that is bringing this new bio-fabrication technology to be manufactured, spearheaded here in New Hampshire. It’s going to save lives. And it’s going to be a major economic boon to New Hampshire. That speaks to the skills the determination and the focus of both of these women. And why their focus on what’s best for New Hampshire, why Joyce’s will always guide her as she moves forward as our next governor,” Hassan said.
Congressman Chris Pappas, who grew up in Manchester, responded to the onslaught of political ads that disparage the city he offered a wholehearted and passionate defense of the city and, in turn, for Joyce Craig.
“Look, folks, I’ve lived in Manchester my entire life. This city has challenges, we’ve had them throughout our entire existence, but what has defined Manchester through centuries is our resiliency, our ability to get knocked down for sure, but to get back up, and to figure out how to come together and meet the moment. That’s what we have done since the early days of the Industrial Revolution on up through today,” Pappas said. “And we are in better shape and on the move because of Joyce Craig’s leadership. You just heard some examples of how that’s created jobs, how it’s increased the stock of affordable housing in our city, how it’s made the city of Manchester safer. I am proud to be a lifelong resident of Manchester!”
Craig stressed the limited time to election day and said. “What we’ll be doing for the next seven days is absolutely critical. The phone calls, the door knocking, talking to your families, your friends, relatives, and co-workers, making sure they understand what is on the ballot. And it isn’t just for my race. It is at the top of the ticket all the way down to the bottom of the ticket. Because when we elect Democrats throughout this race in New Hampshire, we can make sure we are protecting freedoms and strengthening the lives of Granite Staters.
Gina Raimondo told the story of her daughter’s disappointment in waking up the day after the 2016 election to discover Hillary Clinton’s loss to Trump. She shared that example to motivate the crowd of volunteers.
“Vow to yourself right now. Right now, vow to yourself, that you are not going to wake up next Wednesday and say to yourself, what more could have I done? You’re going to wake up next Wednesday in a great mood. Number one, because we will have won, Joyce will be a new governor, and Kamala will be a new president, or on her way to being. But also, you will know you did all you could for the country you love and the state that you love. That’s what I’m asking from you,” said Raimondo.
