Politics & Government

NH Young Republicans Like Carson in 2016

Lambert, Sanborn, Innis, and Hemingway also popular at GOP event.

The 5th annual New Hampshire Young Republicans Lobster Bake was held in Seabrook on Oct. 19, and some surprising names popped up in the results of the annual straw poll.

Dr. Ben Carson, the former director of pediatric surgery at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center, who was recently hired as a Fox News contributor, walked away with the popularity trophy for the 2016 Republican First in the Nation New Hampshire primary with 43 percent of the vote.

Kentucky U.S. Sen. Rand Paul came in second with 15 percent. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, N.J. Gov. Chris Christie, all received between 6 and 8 percent of the vote. Other potential candidates received low single digits.

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U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, who was almost named Romney’s running mate in 2012, received 4 percent of the presidential preference vote.

For the 2014 gubernatorial race against Gov. Maggie Hassan, a Democrat, state Rep. George Lambert of Litchfield, who is recovering from a mild heart attack, also received 43 percent of the straw poll. Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas, who is in the middle of a rough re-election campaign, received 25 percent of the vote. Chuck Rolecek, a local restauranteur, received 21 percent. Brad Cook, a Republican attorney and possible candidate who is refusing to take the anti-tax “Pledge,” netted 4 percent.

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In another potential 2014 race, U.S. Senate, against incumbent U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, former Mass. U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, who seems to be eyeing a presidential run in 2016, received 28 percent of the vote. In a surprise from the straw poll, state Rep. Laurie Sanborn, R-Bedford, who co-owns The Draft in Concord, received a quarter of the vote. The representative hasn’t said she would be a potential candidate for the seat. Former U.S. Rep. Charles Bass, who is thinking about facing off against Shaheen, received 19 percent. Announced candidates – former state Sen. Jim Rubens and activist Karen Testerman – received 16 percent and 12 percent respectively.

Next year, there are also congressional races, with Republicans attempting to unseat incumbent Democrats U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter in District 1, and U.S. Rep. Ann McLane Kuster, in District 2. Dan Innis, who just stepped down from UNH, received 40 percent of the District 1 vote with radio talk show host Jeff Chidester receiving 32 percent. Former District 1 representative, Frank Guinta, received 21 percent. Rick Parent, who ran for the seat in 2012, received 6 percent.

In District 2, Andrew Hemingway, who recently purchased radio ads targeting Kuster for her role in the government shutdown, received a whopping 74 percent. Former state Sen. Gary Lambert, who is a confirmed candidate against Kuster, received 25 percent. Salem State Rep. Marilinda Garcia also received some write-in votes.

A little less than 100 young Republicans were in attendance for the lobster bake and straw poll at Brown’s in Seabrook.


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