Gay Congressman Chris Pappas Poised to Launch Senate Bid

metroweekly.com:

Valley News about a listening tour he launched visiting all ten of New Hampshire’s counties, a step that usually precedes an official campaign announcement. “We’re getting out there and having lots of conversations with folks in all corners of the Granite State about what the path forward should look like, and I really trust and value the feedback of this state,” Pappas told the paper. “After all, I’ve lived here my entire life.

I have a small family business here. I’m grounded in the people, places, and values of New Hampshire, and I want to do what’s right for our great state and our future.”Pappas claims he has been approached by folks asking him to seek the soon-to-be-open Senate seat, saying he wants to “get out there and people where they are to see what’s on their minds, and to see if running for Senate makes sense.”Announcing at the beginning of the second quarter would give Pappas three months to raise cash before filing with the Federal Election Commission.

FEC filings are often seen as indicative of a campaign’s strength — and can influence whether national organizations decide to invest money in a race.According to Axios, the most recent FEC filings show Pappas ended last year with $400,000 in cash on hand, which can be transferred to his Senate campaign should he choose to run.New Hampshire’s other congressional representative, Maggie Goodlander, a first-term member, is also considering a run, according to Axios.If Pappas decides not to run, retired Democratic U.S.

Rep. Anne McLane Kuster, who preceded Goodlander as the 2nd District representative, may enter the race, the online news outlet reported.