This Governor’s Race Gives Bernie Sanders’ Movement One More Shot At A Big Win
In an election cycle filled with competitive Democratic congressional primaries, intraparty gubernatorial races have received less attention.
But New Hampshire’s Democratic primary for governor on Tuesday is one of the last chances this year for an activist in the mold of independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of neighboring Vermont to nab a win.
Sanders has endorsed Andru Volinsky, an attorney, environmentalist and education activist, in his race against Dan Feltes, New Hampshire’s state Senate majority leader, for the party’s gubernatorial nomination.
The winner of Tuesday’s contest will go on to face Republican Gov. Chris Sununu in November.
“My vision for New Hampshire is one where children can have a quality education no matter where they live, where seniors are not forced out of their homes because they cannot pay their property taxes, where we can build affordable housing and we can welcome young families and working families and a vision that allows small businesses to create jobs and grow broadly across the state,” Volinsky told HuffPost.
Feltes, a former legal aid attorney, believes he is best equipped to take on Sununu thanks to the battles he has waged against the governor as a leader in the state legislature. Sununu has vetoed a number of progressive bills passed by the Democratic-controlled legislature, including proposals to raise the minimum wage to $12 by 2023 and provide paid family and medical leave.
“We need to get out of this mess in a way that works for working people and working families, not just corporate special interests and those at the top,” Feltes, who has emphasized his working-class upbringing in campaign material, told HuffPost. “That’s who Chris Sununu has looked out for. My entire life has been much different.”
Volinsky, who is also endorsed by the youth-led climate action group, the Sunrise Movement, has sought to distinguish himself from Feltes by highlighting what he says are three key differences. Volinsky...
