New Hampshire’s party chairs
Posted by Norman Bouthilette on Sep 19, 2016
On September 19th, New Hampshire’s party chairs Ray Buckley, Chair of NH Democratic Party and the Republican counterpart Jennifer Horn, addressed the Rotary Club of Nashua regarding their opinion /positions on State politics. Both were proud to share the critical role NH plays in the elections at all levels Presidential, Senate, State and House. NH voters are the key to what presidential candidates seek in needing the 270 electoral votes in NH.
Jennifer would like the politicians to have a better tone, less negative and more respectful. It seems that many campaigns become too personal and the issues aren’t discussed like they should.
Although both seemed to agree that their roles as chairs is to protect their brand/party, at the same time to get their republican or democratic candidate elected. Ray did say there have been times when less desirable candidates do run for office but it’s about protecting their brand.
Kevin H continued his moderating skills with the 2 chairs into a Q & A session.
Q: One question was asked about their opinion on voter ID.
Ray – Since the voter ID has been initiated in NH we have in last 20 years two instance of someone pretending to be someone else. How many hundreds were discouraged from voting? We believe it was intended on discouraging low income and minority voters.
Jens - The issue is that we have laws and voter ID is about making sure that those people who are legally allowed to vote, do so, and those who are not don’t.
Q: In today’s day and age where do you feel is the best place for people to get an accurate representation of your party’s platform? Is it debates, social media, written word is it television?
Jen – What I like about the Republican Party is we really do represent a broad spectrum of principal ideas. Social Media is not the smartest way to look for information. I look at the candidate’s website. It is important to hold candidates accountable to their words.
Q: When you find a candidate you personally don’t like what frustrations do you go through?
Ray: If I think there is someone on the ballot my job is to protect the brand. I would not encourage people to support that person.
Jen - It’s part of the job. If someone on my platform says things that are damaging, in the end I believe that to get republicans elected it is my responsibly to stand up and tell them what republicans stand for. The principals and what we believe in.
Q How to become a delegate in the national convention?
Jen - To become a delegate in the national convention each candidate chooses their own delegates in advance of the primary. They give it to the Secretary of State. We get 23 delegates out of NH in the Republican Party. Each candidate who is going to be on the ballot submits by a certain deadline and they are allocated as per the percentages of votes. They have to get 10% of the vote to get any delegates at all out of NH.
Ray – Ours is a very complicated process. There are 3 ways of being a delegate from NH. One of the differences is that we have a 15% versus a 10% for republicans. The first tier is elected through the congressional district caucuses. We like the causes because it brings in many people. That elects a total of 16. There are 8 per congressional district, 4 males and four 4 females. They have to prove that they actively engaged minority communities to encourage diversity among the delegates. Those 16 meet in April and select an additional 8 and anyone can file once again for that. It is used to add diversity to the delegation. Then there is the automatic delegates branded super delegates. They are 8 people who are automatically delegates. They are the Governor, Senator, Congress woman and the five members of the committee for a total of 32 delegates.