Hemingway, Smith Get Poll Nods at Taxpayers Picnic

The Coalition of NH Taxpayers held its 16th Annual Taxpayer Reunion Picnic on July 5, in Hillsborough and a number of Republican candidates took the opportunity to pitch their campaigns to activists. 

In attendance, 181 activists listened to speeches and participated in the picnic’s 2014 primary straw poll and gave decisive support to four candidates.

In the gubernatorial primary, Andrew Hemingway received 71 percent of the vote against Walt Havenstein, who received 43 votes, and Jonathan Smith, who received a single vote.

In the U.S. Senate race, former Sen. Bob Smith received the most votes – 48 percent of the vote – with former state Sen. Jim Rubens coming in second with 28 percent. Former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown received nearly 22 percent of the vote. Both Miro Dziedzic and Gerard Beloin also received votes.

A statement, Smith said, “This is an indication of our grassroots support among conservatives in New Hampshire.  I am the only true constitutional conservative who sticks to the Republican Party platform 100%.”

In the 1st Congressional District race, former U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta bested Dan Innis and Brendan Kelly with 51 percent of the vote. Innis and Kelly received 36 and 35 votes, respectively.

The straw poll in the 2nd Congressional District race was a bit closer. State Rep. Marilinda Garcia received more than 54 percent of the vote with former state Sen. Gary Lambert snagging nearly 40 percent of the vote. Jim Lawrence and Mike Little also received votes.

Former NY Lt. Gov. Dr. Betsy McCaughey also returned to the state to speak about the Affordable Care Act. 

Read all of Patch's 2014 campaign coverage in our Elections section.