Politics

New Hampshire Speaker of the House Terie Norelli is not expected to seek re-election this fall.

    Senior Political Reporter Josh Rogers talks with Rick Ganley about the past weekend in political activity in the Granite State and an upcoming vote in the Senate regarding repealing New Hampshire's death penalty.

Rockingham County Attorney James Reams filed a petition challenging his suspension by Attorney General Joseph A. Foster. Reams alleged his November 6, 2013 suspension was illegal and sought that the court order his reinstatement. A judge reinstated Reams on Thursday, April 10.

Read the full text here:

Reams v Foster, Et Al. Order 4/10/14

After months of flirting, former Massachusetts U.S. Senator Scott Brown plans to announce he’s running for U.S. Senate in New Hampshire Thursday in Portsmouth.

Senior Political Reporter Josh Rogers talks with Morning Edition host Rick Ganley about questions being raised regarding potential Republican gubernatorial candidate Walt Havenstein's residency. 

Rogers also talks about big changes at two major New Hampshire newspapers and what's on the docket at the Statehouse this week.

Opponents continue to raise questions about whether a Republican expected to join the race for governor meets the state’s residency requirements.

Scott Brown's official announcement could come as early as next week, according to a report from WMUR.

There’s growing speculation that former Massachusetts U.S. Senator Scott Brown is set to enter the race for U.S. Senate here in New Hampshire.

On the Political Front, NHPR's Senior Political Reporter Josh Rogers talks about the special election to fill the District 1 Executive Council seat. The seat was left vacant after the death of longtime Executive Councilor Ray Burton in November.

Rogers also discusses upcoming House votes on efforts to repeal the death penalty and increase the state's minimum wage.    

Another Republican is weighing a run for governor of New Hampshire.

As NHPR’s Josh Rogers reported on the Political Front this morning, Walter Havenstein of Alton is said to be seriously considering a challenge to Democrat Maggie Hassan.

He is a former chief executive at BAE Systems with a long career working for defense companies.

As Rogers says, this would be Havenstein’s first time running for office.

This week, the legislature returns and hears new bills. Up before the Senate judiciary committee are a proposal to establish domestic violence as a separate crime and one requiring certain persons with mental illness to be barred from owning guns and placed on a federal registry. On Thursday, the House holds its first hearing on a bill to repeal the death penalty.

On the Political Front, NHPR's Josh Rogers talks with Morning Edition host Rick Ganley about how the Democratic members of New Hampshire's Congressional delegation - all facing re-election next fall - are now supporting changes to the Affordable Care Act.  

After the commission's recommendation last month, lawmakers will be debating expanding Medicaid in a special legislative session called by Governor Hassan; it remains to be seen how much bipartisan support the measure will have. We'll be watching the mayor's race in Manchester, where incumbent Mayor Ted Gatsas is being challenged by Alderman Patrick Arnold, and a special House election in Nashua, which pits former House Majority Leader Peter Silva against Democrat Latha Mangipudi.

On the Political Front, NHPR's Josh Rogers discusses the legacy of longtime Executive Councilor Ray Burton.

Burton, a Republican from Bath, announced over the weekend that he would not be seeking reelection after learning that his kidney cancer had returned. 

NHPR’s Josh Rogers talks with Morning Edition host Rick Ganley about the political impact of the shutdown resolution for New Hampshire Senators Kelly Ayotte and Jeanne Shaheen.

Rogers also talks about Shaheen’s fundraising efforts with her reelection coming up, and action at the State House in Concord.