"Shea-Porter narrowly edges Guinta for return to CD1 seat"
By Dan Tuohy, New Hampshire Union Leader, and Kimberley Haas, NH Union Leader Correspondent, November 9, 2016
Carol Shea-Porter will be back in Washington, having regained the 1st Congressional District seat she lost in 2014, by defeating Republican incumbent Frank Guinta and independent Shawn O'Connor on Tuesday, November 8th, 2016.
Shortly before 5 a.m., the Associated Press called the race for the former two-term congresswoman and Democrat from Rochester.
In a noontime statement, Shea-Porter said she was grateful for the 1st District voters to give her another chance to represent them in Congress.
"Our country has just endured a difficult campaign, but we must move forward together and work with each other to restore the American dream," she said. "My priorities haven't changed: I know we can build an economy that works for everyone, not just a few. That's why I'll keep fighting for good, middle-class jobs. It's why I'll again support investing in medical research, infrastructure, clean air, safe drinking water, education, and safe communities."
"I was a military spouse and am grateful to my husband and all veterans for their service, and I am pleased that I can be an advocate again for veterans, our military men and women, and their families."
Guinta, a two-term congressman and former Manchester mayor, had yet to issue a statement by noon.
It appears that Shea-Porter will join an all-female and all-Democrat congressional delegation. Gov. Maggie Hassan, D-Newfields, has claimed victory in the U.S. Senate race, but Republican incumbent Kelly Ayotte is likely to request an official recount, given the close finish.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee issued a statement congratulating Shea-Porter on winning. DCCC Chairman Ben Ray Lujan said, "From making sure our veterans get the services they deserve to protecting Social Security and Medicare, voters know Carol Shea-Porter will focus on the issues that matter."
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"Shea-Porter takes back 1st Congressional District seat"
By Dan Tuohy, New Hampshire Union Leader, and Kimberley Haas, NH Union Leader Correspondent, November 10, 2016
MANCHESTER — Carol Shea-Porter will be back in Washington after she regained the 1st Congressional District seat she lost in 2014 by defeating Republican incumbent Frank Guinta and independent Shawn O’Connor on Tuesday.
The former three-term congresswoman and Democrat from Rochester declared victory around noon on Wednesday, when results showed her on top with a nearly 5,000 vote margin.
She said she was grateful for the 1st District voters for giving her another chance to represent them in Congress.
“Our country has just endured a difficult campaign, but we must move forward together and work with each other to restore the American dream,” she said in a statement. “My priorities haven’t changed: I know we can build an economy that works for everyone, not just a few. That’s why I’ll keep fighting for good, middle-class jobs. It’s why I’ll again support investing in medical research, infrastructure, clean air, safe drinking water, education, and safe communities.”
Shea-Porter, 63, said that as a military spouse she would advocate for veterans and military men and women and their families.
Unofficial results show a close contest — the fourth time she and Guinta have appeared on the general election ballot. Shea-Porter earned 162,114 votes to Guinta’s 157,209, or 44 percent to 43 percent.
The Associated Press called the race at about 5 a.m. Wednesday.
The race was so tight that the campaigns called it a night Tuesday without much to say. At the midnight hour, at Murphy’s Taproom, Morgan Guinta stood at the podium on behalf of her husband and thanked supporters before encouraging them to go home and get some rest.
“I wish I had news,” she said. “I wish I knew what time I’d be having news. But we don’t. I think that you guys deserve to go home and put your feet up. Don’t we all?”
Independent Shawn O’Connor, who collected about 35,000 votes, was a wild card in the race. He attacked both Guinta and Shea-Porter. Libertarian Robert Lombardo had 6,780, and independent Brendan Kelly had about 6,000.
Shea-Porter won every Manchester ward but one. She racked up the score in Durham, 5,871 to 2,430; in Exeter, 4,932 to 3,069; and won Hooksett, 3,218 to 2,809. Guinta won Bedford, 6,569 to 4,886; Derry 7,779 to 6,359; Goffstown 4,411 to 3,662; Londonderry, 6,606 to 5,531; Merrimack 6,901 to 6,101; and Raymond, 2,588 to 1,909. Shea-Porter won her hometown of Rochester by just 110 votes.
Shea-Porter will join an all-female and all-Democrat congressional delegation. Gov. Maggie Hassan, D-Newfields, defeated Republican incumbent Kelly Ayotte in the U.S. Senate race.
Guinta, 46, survived a GOP primary challenge and calls from within his own party to resign in 2015 after the Federal Election Commission fined him $15,000 for using an illegal $355,000 loan from his parents to fund his first congressional campaign. He maintains the money was his. Shea-Porter, appearing on the general election ballot against Guinta for a fourth time, brought up the scandal throughout her campaign.
Paul O’Connor, the former president of the Metal Trades Council at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, said Shea-Porter will fight for the 1st District, including the shipyard. He contrasted Shea-Porter with Guinta by saying she is supportive of working families and necessary social programs, while Guinta is a “corporate lobbyist.”
“I see a guy who supports tax breaks, big oil and big pharmaceutical. He voted for a sequester, which had a negative impact on our Shipyard,” he said.
Steven Miller of Merrimack, who was at Guinta’s party at Murphy’s Taproom in Manchester, said O’Connor gave Guinta a better shot at winning.
“Whoever wins this time, the other — their career is over,” Miller said of the Guinta and Shea-Porter rematch.
Shea-Porter supporters said Guinta’s finance scandal was a factor in the race.
“He’s still lying about it. He’s still denying it,” said Mo Baxley of Laconia. “Ethics are important to me.”
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee issued a statement congratulating Shea-Porter on winning. DCCC Chairman Ben Ray Lujan said, “From making sure our veterans get the services they deserve to protecting Social Security and Medicare, voters know Carol Shea-Porter will focus on the issues that matter.”
dtuohy@unionleader.com
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"Shea-Porter stands with veterans"
The NH Union Leader, Letter, April 5. 2018
To the Editor: We are Vietnam veterans and have supported Carol Shea-Porter since her first campaign in 2006. As the daughter of a World War II veteran and the wife of a Vietnam-era veteran, Carol has been a very strong supporter of veterans issues. She supported the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act and she authored the Veterans Health Equity Act that resulted in a new mental health facility, a contract for impatient services with Concord Hospital and an outpatient clinic in Conway. In addition, she voted for the law providing assistance for caregivers of disabled veterans and improved health care services for women veterans. She introduced legislation, now law, to prevent the government from collecting debt from families of troops dying from combat injuries. The above list represents a small sample of Carol Shea-Porter’s efforts to help veterans.
Carol Shea-Porter recently received the endorsement of the Veterans and Military Families for Progress. She has been and consistently is a strong supporter of veterans, active military and their families. Frank Guinta not so much.
We strongly support Carol Shea-Porter and recognize her efforts.
Kathryn and Michael Cauble
Bedford, New Hampshire
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