In what have historically been highly contested elections, two Dartmouth alumni and four other experienced politicians constitute the small pool of candidates running for New Hampshire governor and 2nd Congressional District representative the district that includes Hanover in November.
The candidates have varied levels of campaign infrastructure and established campaign funds, though it is still early in the campaign season, and other politicians may decide to run in a state in which independents comprise the largest group of voters, according to government professor Linda Fowler.
Democrat Ann McLane Kuster '78 is challenging incumbent Charlie Bass '74, R-N.H., in the 2nd Congressional District in a rematch of the 2010 race.
"I am running again because now more than ever we need a new approach in Congress, with a focus on creating jobs and bringing people together to solve problems," Kuster said through a campaign spokesperson.
No other democratic candidate has announced intentions to challenge Kuster in the primary.
In 2010, Bass beat Kuster by roughly 3,000 votes, or 1.5 percent, according to the clerk of the House of Representatives.
"Annie Kuster did well against Charlie Bass in a really bad year for Democrats, so I think the two house races are going to provide some juice," Fowler said. "There's going to be a lot of money coming into the state from the super PACs."
In the gubernatorial race, four candidates have announced their intentions to replace governor John Lynch, who will step down at the end of this term after serving as the democratic governor since 2005.
Kevin Smith, a former state congressman, and Ovide Lamontagne, a Manchester-based attorney, will compete for the Republican nomination.
Lamontagne, who has exchanged a mutual endorsement with Bass, unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the U.S. Senate in 2010.
Smith said his prior legislative and executive experience set him apart from his rival for the Republican nomination.
"I'm the only one who's offered a specific plan for how we're going to become the most economically competitive state," he said in an interview with The Dartmouth. "We have a higher median age than the state of Florida, and that's a real problem because our young workers, they're the workers of the future."
Maggie Hassan, former majority leader of the state Senate, and Jackie Cilley, who previously served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives and state senate, will compete for the democratic nomination to replace Lynch.
"I'm running for governor to focus on making New Hampshire's workforce the best in the country, aligning our educational system with the needs of 21st century businesses and continuing to operate with the same fiscal discipline that Gov. Lynch championed and that our citizens demand and deserve," Hassan said in an email to The Dartmouth sent by campaign manager Matt Burgess.
Hassan, who declared her candidacy in October 2011, has embarked on an "Innovate New Hampshire" tour to speak with businesses, employees and educators in the state.
Cilley announced her intention to run on Feb. 7 and has established a campaign website and Facebook group, as well as Twitter, Flickr and YouTube accounts.
"It is time to create jobs for working families rather than limit their opportunities," she wrote on her website. "As the daughter of millworkers, I want the same opportunities for our citizens that I myself enjoyed."
Smith and Lamontagne have also established websites, sought out endorsements and begun to campaign visibly.
"Our support is growing organically," Smith said. "It's a campaign of ideas and a campaign of solutions."
In the 14 months since her loss to Bass, Kuster has raised over $1 million, according to the Union Leader. Bass had raised $760,000 as of Dec. 31, 2011, according to the Union Leader.
While Kuster's website and campaign are in motion, the Bass campaign appears to be in the early stages of campaigning, with only a website homepage and links to contribute, volunteer and raise awareness.
"Because he is an incumbent, his campaign is just getting started," College Republicans President J.P. Harrington '14 said. "We've had a great relationship with him, and we had a very strong level of support in terms of phone banking in 2010."
The College Democrats, whose members worked extensively on the Kuster campaign in 2010, will work with various democratic candidates this election cycle, according to president Sam Lewis '13.
Lewis said Kuster will likely visit in the spring. He has been contact with the New Hampshire Democratic Party and the Hanover Democrats.
The campaigns of Ovide LaMontagne, Jackie Cilley and Charlie Bass could not be reached for comment by press time.
