New Hampshire was the state that made Bill Clinton the comeback kid in 1992, propelling him to the presidency. Sixteen years later, Hillary Clinton won the state’s first-in-the-nation presidential primary in an upset.
And two years ago, in honor of the former president’s legacy, the New Hampshire Democratic Party became the only state party in the country to name a major fund-raising dinner after Bill Clinton.
But this week, New Hampshire Democrats reversed course and announced they had voted to walk away from the Clinton name for the annual fall fete. The event once known as the Kennedy-Clinton dinner, which Bill Clinton headlined as recently as 2014, will now be called the Eleanor Roosevelt Dinner.
Last week, members of the state Democratic Party were asked via paper ballot whether they wanted to make another change and, if so, what the new name should be.
On the first question, party officials said a majority voted for the change — although they declined to release the total. For the question of what to name the dinner, 52 percent picked Roosevelt over three other options: the Unity Dinner, the Victory Dinner, and Democracy for All.
State Republicans had criticized the dinner’s namesake, noting Bill Clinton’s affair with an intern and other allegations of sexual misconduct.
One member of the Democratic party, Terry Shumaker, who served as a US ambassador in the Clinton administration and is a close ally of the former president, expressed disappointment over the change and said he voted against it.
“But in the greater scheme of things, I think President Clinton would agree with me that it is more important we elect Democrats in the fall given who is in the White House versus which figures from the past we name a political dinner after,’’ he said.
As recently as 2014, the same event was named the Jefferson-Jackson dinner, but activists called for a change. Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson are considered the forefathers of the Democratic Party — but they were also among the dozen US presidents who owned slaves.
James Pindell
National group gave $3m to PAC backing Baker
In what may just be the first of many substantial investments, the Republican Governors Association poured $2.8 million into a super PAC before the group began running a new television spot touting Governor Charlie Baker’s reelection campaign, new records show.
The national organization made its contribution to the Commonwealth Future Independent Expenditure PAC in multiple installments, the last of which landed on July 20 — the same day the PAC made its $2.4 million ad buy.
The TV spot — which disclosed that the RGA was a donor but didn’t divulge how much it contributed — began running in local markets last week, giving Baker a boost even before he’s begun hitting the campaign trail ahead of the Sept. 4 primary.
At the time, Jamie Rhoades, a PAC spokeswoman, declined to detail the RGA’s contributions or how much it spent on the advertisement. But records filed this week with the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance show millions of dollars flowing into the race.
The RGA contributed $1.05 million in April before giving another $1.75 million in late July, directly coinciding with the PAC making its media buy in support of Baker. The PAC also spent another $15,000 in “production costs,’’ according to records.
It also took in smaller donations. Chris and Lisa Collins, the latter of whom serves as the PAC’s chair, donated $5,000 apiece. As did Jennifer Nassour, a former chair of the state Republican Party, and Brendon Giblin, a Southborough real estate developer who, in the past, has donated to Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, but Democrats as well.
Four years ago, the RGA contributed a total of $10.75 million to the PAC, helping fuel the $11.7 million in ads it ran in the months leading up to Baker’s victory over Martha Coakleythat November.
Jon Thompson, an RGA spokesman, declined to say how much the organization intends to invest going forward, but he indicated the group is eager to help Baker this election cycle.
“Governor Charlie Baker’s strong leadership and record of reform in Massachusetts is a successful lesson of effective governance that we want to promote,’’ he said.
Matt Stout
Transgender candidate takes role in ballot issue
As one of 10 Democrats vying for a single congressional seat, Alexandra Chandler tells voters about her background (she’s a former Navy intelligence analyst) and lays out her priorities (jobs and fighting opioid addiction). She’s quick to note her average donation is $27.
But Chandler has been discussing another priority, one with seemingly few ties to a crowded Sept. 4 primary for the Third District seat in Washington: a state ballot question.
It also happens to be personal for Chandler.
The state’s first openly transgender candidate for Congress, Chandler says she intends to put another voice to the ballot measure that asks voters whether to keep the state’s antidiscrimination law on transgender rights on the books.
Advocates seeking to keep the law are prepared to spend heavily in the campaign, after opponents raised enough signatures to push the question onto the ballot.
It centers on a 2016 bill signed by Governor Charlie Bakerthat bans discrimination against transgender individuals in public places, and allows transgender individuals to use bathrooms that match their gender identity. Slated as Question 3, a “yes’’ vote would keep in place the current law, while a “no’’ vote would repeal it.
The law has critics, who argue that male sexual predators, under the guise of being transgender women, could enter women’s restrooms and locker rooms.
For Chandler, it’s meant that amid talking about the economy and the Third District while door-knocking, she said she also lays out her case about the ballot question.
The potential of being Congress’ first openly transgender candidate is not always front-and-center in her campaign, but it’s becoming an increasing part. On Thursday she released her first campaign video focused on being “a voice for the trans kids out there,’’ and features Vanessa Ford and Ford’s 7-year-old daughter, Ellie, who is transgender.
“I also see it as partially my responsibility,’’ Chandler said. “I am already the first openly trans candidate for federal office in Massachusetts — period, whether I win in the primary or not. If I don’t talk about it, who is going to talk about it?
With no guarantee of advancing past the crowded field, Chandler said she intends to be involved “one way or another’’ on the ballot question this fall.
“It is important,’’ she said, “because Massachusetts, whether we like it or not, we have a historic responsibility for the country.’’
Matt Stout
Hassan plans trip to Iowa
Add Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire to the long list of prominent politicians making the trek to Iowa, the state that traditionally kicks off the presidential primary.
Hassan will be the featured speaker at an Iowa Democratic Party event in Dubuque later in the month, according to New Hampshire Democrats with knowledge of the upcoming trip.
The Iowa rally is aimed at driving out Democrats to vote this fall, particularly in contested contests for governor and for a congressional seat in the Dubuque area.
Hassan, a former two-term governor elected to the Senate in 2016, will appear alongside Christie Vilsack, Iowa’s former first lady, along with a bevy of local politicians at the Aug. 26th “Back to Blue Women for Iowa’’ event.
Hassan has a lot of company this month in visiting the Hawkeye State: Others in Iowa this month include US Representative John Delaneyof Maryland, US Representative Eric Swalwellof California, entrepreneur Andrew Yang, billionaire Tom Steyer, Montana Governor Steve Bullock, and former Housing and Urban Development secretary Julian Castro— all men who have stated they are running for president or potentially exploring a run.
Hassan has never publicly addressed a 2020 presidential bid, although she has been the subject of some speculation about it recently.
James Pindell
