Democratic Party of New Hampshire

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Democratic Party of New Hampshire
Basic facts
Location:	Concord, N.H.
Type:	Political party
Affiliation:	Democratic
Top official:	Raymond Buckley, Chair
Website:	Official website

The Democratic Party of New Hampshire is the New Hampshire political party affiliate of the national Democratic Party. The group is headquartered in Concord, New Hampshire.

The party is composed of a governing body and numerous committees.

Party chair

Raymond Buckley

Raymond Buckley Buckley served as the Democratic Party of New Hampshire's coordinated campaign director for two election cycles and as the party's executive director for four years. He went on to serve as the party's first vice chair from 1999 to 2007. He assumed the chairmanship in 2007 and is currently serving in his 9th two-year term.

Buckley gained early political experience as a member of former President Jimmy Carter's New Hampshire steering committee. He later served eight terms in the New Hampshire House of Representatives from 1986 to 2004. In 2006, Buckley served as the executive director of the New Hampshire State Senate Democratic Caucus.

Party leadership

As of April 2024, the executive director of the New Hampshire Democratic Party was Jack Tormoehlen.

The website for the New Hampshire Democratic Party lists the following individuals as the party's state leadership as of April 2024:

• Raymond Buckley, Chair
• Martha Fuller Clark, First vice chair
• Maura Sullivan, Second vice chair
• Maitri Chittidi, Secretary
• Caitlin Rollo, Treasurer
• Donna Soucy, National committeewoman
• William Shaheen, National committeeman
• Joanne Dowdell, DNC at-large member

For more information on the party's full leadership and staff, please click here.

Party platform

The party's 2022 platform is composed of 12 main issues:

• Education
  "Democrats have long valued education as the key to success, for individuals, for our state and for our nation. Democrats believe and are committed to quality public education that provides the foundation for a brighter future for all New Hampshire’s children by preparing them for participation in our society and to build a workforce equipped to meet the educational demands of the 21st century."
• Healthcare
  "Democrats believe access to affordable, comprehensive health care is a right. We support policies that build on the Affordable Care Act to expand access, ensure reasonable coverage for services, increase transparency related to cost and quality, and control health care costs in New Hampshire."
• Housing
  "Democrats believe affordable housing is essential to the growth of our economy, the strength of our families, and our communities. We support policies that ensure access to safe, affordable, accessible housing without discrimination."
• Environment and agriculture
  "Democrats support responsible economic development that protects our environment and preserves our natural resources for future generations. Protection of our environment is critical to the survival of our planet, to the health and well-being of our residents, and to the quality of life and economy of our State."
• Public safety
  "Democrats believe public safety, emergency preparedness, and homeland security are vital to our ability to build and preserve strong communities. We support our fire, police, and emergency responders and honor their often unsung work. Proper staffing is essential to public safety."
• Transportation and infrastructure
  "Democrats believe that a good transportation system promotes social and economic justice by allowing all the people of our state the ability to take advantage of opportunities regardless of their geographic location or economic circumstances. New Hampshire’s transportation system should be comprehensive, safe, efficient, reliable and cost effective."
• Energy
  "Democrats believe energy policies that promote energy efficiency, clean- energy technologies and energy conservation are essential to lowering energy costs, enhancing energy security and reliability and protecting our environment. We recognize the value of achieving energy efficiency as an environmentally-friendly and cost effective means of meeting our future energy needs."
• Preserving the safety net for our most vulnerable citizens
  "Democrats support policies that help enable vulnerable families and individuals to live, work and participate in their communities. We support community-based services for individuals with disabilities; physical and mental illnesses and low-income children, elderly residents including the increased availability and continued access to affordable, high quality childcare, programs that enable individuals with disabilities and low income parents to find sustainable employment at a living wage; and partnerships with communities to reduce substance abuse and delinquency rates."
• Retirement security
  "Democrats believe every person deserves to retire with dignity. We believe that all residents of New Hampshire should have the opportunity to be financially secure as they reach retirement."
• Honoring our veterans
  "As Democrats we honor our veterans and the innumerable sacrifices they and their families have made. As the only state in the United States that does not have a full service veteran’s hospital, we support the efforts of our congressional delegation to expand access to health care by contracting with local hospitals and doctors via 'Veterans’ Choice'. Our nation must honor its commitments to veterans of all wars, including physical and mental healthcare, education, and disability support."
• Business investment and jobs
  "Democrats support policies that foster a vibrant and diverse business climate and economy. The foundation of a favorable business environment is a well-trained workforce with the skills necessary to compete in an increasingly globalized economy."
• Job security
  "We support our workers and policies that ensure fair, competitive and living wages and equal pay for equal work. We support an increase in the minimum wage to ensure full time workers do not live in poverty."
• Job education and training
  "Democrats believe our residents are our most valuable economic asset. Skilled workers enrich our communities, ensure that our economy continues to grow and provides for a strong middle class."
• Keeping and attracting the next generation
  "Democrats believe that retaining the next generation and attracting young families and individuals to our state are imperatives for ensuring our economic growth."
• Rural development
  "Democrats believe that investing in our rural communities-especially the North Country-builds a sustainable economy and vigorous middle class."
• Urban development
  "Democrats recognize the important role of our urban areas in providing job opportunities and fostering growth of diverse vibrant communities. We appreciate the unique challenges presented in urban settings and support policies to address important concerns such as the shortage of affordable housing, the need for greater access to public transportation, homelessness, inclusive integrated population and public safety."
• Voting rights and democracy
  "Democrats seek to secure the right to vote and to broaden voter participation, not restrict it through voter identification laws or measures that are aimed at preventing students, the elderly, voters with disabilities, or minorities from exercising their constitutional right to vote."
• First in the nation primary
  "We are proud to support and defend New Hampshire’s first in the nation primary and will fight to protect this important status."
• Working together to protect our constitutional freedom for all
  "Democrats believe in basic protections and security for all people in our state, and that everyone should be free from discrimination including in employment, housing, education, and public accommodations."
• Fairness and justice
  "Democrats believe in equal justice under the law. We support full, fair, and timely access to our courts, both criminal and civil, and in the protection of the constitutional right to a trial by jury."
• Fiscal responsibility
  "Democrats believe government provides essential services to our citizenry. These services include the rule of law, the health and safety of our residents, consumer protection, the protection of our environment, public education and the physical infrastructure necessary to maintain a robust economy and expand employment opportunities."

Party rules and bylaws

Candidate ballot access
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See also: Rules of the New Hampshire Democratic Party

The state party is governed by a set of rules and bylaws. Typically, these give structure to the different levels of organization—local, county, and state committees—and establish protocol for electing committee members. The bylaws also typically give details on the party's process for nominating and sending delegates to the national party convention during presidential elections. The following is a selection of the New Hampshire Democratic Party's rules. This selection focuses on the structure and governance of the party:

• The State Chair, with the approval of the Executive Committee, will appoint a Delegate Selection and Credentials Committee consisting of the First Vice Chair and at least two other persons which will determine the procedures for delegate selection and the credentials of members of the Conventions and will hear and act upon any challenge to the qualifications of any member of the Conventions. The First Vice Chair will serve as Chair of the Delegate Selection and Credentials Committee for the NHDP Conventions. (2.E.1)
• It is the responsibility of the members of the Democratic State Committee to participate actively in formulating policy, conducting business, and maintaining the financial stability of the State Party as necessary or appropriate to carry out the goals of the NHDP. (3.A)
• The Chair, Vice Chairs, Secretary, Treasurer, and Legal Counsel are elected by the State Committee at a meeting held on a Saturday or Sunday in March of odd numbered years to serve for terms of two years. Officers shall be elected by an open ballot process in compliance with the rules of the Democratic National Committee. The Executive Committee shall establish the specific date of the election no later than the preceding December 10. (3.D.2.A)

Party candidates

Note: The following table lists candidates who filed to run for office with this political party in a given year. This may also include candidates who filed to run with more than one political party. The list may not be comprehensive if the state's official filing deadline has not passed. This list may not populate if no candidates have filed to run with this political party. The table lists non-presidential candidates who filed to run for office with this political party in a given year. For more information on presidential candidates and elections, please click here.

Using the tools at the top of the table, you can increase the number of candidates shown on your screen or scroll through the table to view additional candidates. To report an error, please email us at [email protected].

See also

• List of political parties in the United States
• Political parties in New Hampshire
• Democratic Party
• New Hampshire

External links

• Search Google News for this topic
• New Hampshire Democratic Party Website
• New Hampshire Democratic Party on Facebook
• New Hampshire Democratic Party on Twitter