It only costs $10 to appear on the ballot as a candidate for the NH Senate, but it takes much more than that to win an election. According to year-end campaign finance reports, NH’s current senators have already raised over $1.5 million for 2024. Here’s a look at some of the businesses investing in state legislators.
Construction and Real Estate
Roughly one in eight dollars donated to state senators in 2023 came from the construction and real estate industries. These donors showed a slight preference towards Republicans. For example, Glenn Gidley, who runs Salem Manufactured Homes, donated a total of $6,000 to three Republican senators: Denise Ricciardi, Jeb Bradley and Regina Birdsell. Highland & Avery, a real estate and leasing company in Plymouth, cut a $5,000 check to Jeb Bradley and sent $500 in donations to Denise Ricciardi and Regina Birdsell.
Other businesses and associations in this field spread their donations among state senators on both sides of the aisle. For example, the Associated General Contractors of NH PAC and the NH Realtors PAC have both donated to most state senators. Anagnost Investments has also donated more than $14,000 to senators on both sides of the aisle.
Health Care and Insurance
Individuals, businesses and associations related to health care and health insurance similarly accounted for roughly one in eight dollars donated to state Senate candidates in 2023. In most cases these groups donated to many state senators on both sides of the aisle. For example, the NH Hospital Association donated $250 to $1,500 to most of state senators. The Cigna Group Employee PAC similarly donated $500 to $1,000 to most of the Senate. Other frequent donors included the NH Optometric Association PAC, the Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital Network, Delta Dental and HCA NH Fund (chaired by Dean Carucci of Portsmouth Regional Hospital).
Lobbyists
Somewhere around 10% of state Senate donations came from lobbying firms and individual lobbyists in 2023. In most cases, these firms donated $100 to $500 to almost every state senator. These lobbying groups included Barry Government Relations; Demers & Prasol; Dennehy & Bouley; the Dupont Group; J. Grimbilas Strategic Solutions; Preti Strategies; Rath, Young and Pignatelli; Sheehan Phinney Capitol Group; and more. While you may question whether there is a conflict of interest in a lobbyist donating to a candidate, these donations are completely legal so long as they are reported.
Unions
Labor unions are also prominent donors, particularly among Democratic state senators. For example, in 2023 almost every Democrat in the state Senate received a donation from NH SEA PAC (affiliated with SEA/SEIU Local 1984), Granite State Teamsters Drive, and the Professional Fire Fighters of NH PAC. Some notable Republican labor advocates, such as Sen. Sharon Carson, also received funds. These donations ranged from $100 to $3,500.
Gambling
While legislators have never approved a large, for-profit casino in NH, they have gradually expanded gambling by legalizing Keno, sports betting and historic horse racing. In-state and out-of-state gambling groups are accordingly showing financial interest in our state legislature. 2023 state Senate donors include Churchill Downs, DNC Gaming & Entertainment, DraftKings, the NH Group and NHCG LLC. If you don’t recognize some of those names, you might recognize the local charitable gaming locations they manage, from the Lucky Moose in Nashua to Filotimo in Dover.
Motor Vehicles, Hospitality, and Other Industries
Business and associations related to motor vehicles and transportation are also regular donors to state senators. For example, the NH Automobile Dealers Association (through its Motor Vehicle PAC) has donated almost $17,000 across the entire state Senate. The NH Motor Transport Association has similarly donated to over half of the state Senate, both Democrats and Republicans.
There are also frequent and notable donors related to hospitality, food and beverages. For example, the Six PAC, cleverly named to promote the beer and beverage industry in NH, appeared on 13 senators’ campaign finance reports, donating anywhere from $250 to $1,000 per candidate.
Out-of-Staters
According to the reports filed with the Secretary of State, about one in eight Senate donations came from out-of-state in 2023.
Several pharmaceutical companies—including Bristol Myers Squibb, Johnson and Johnson, Merck, and Pfizer—are responsible for $7,000 of donations to both Republicans
and Democrats.
Altria Client Services, from the tobacco products industry, has donated a total of $5,000 to about half of the state Senate.
AirBnB, based in San Francisco, has spent a total of $3,000 on nine state senators.
A Note on the Data
The information in this article was compiled by transcribing campaign finance reports filed with the NH Secretary of State in 2023. Candidates may file handwritten reports, and these reports often lack some details, such as the occupation of an individual donor. Also, as of Dec. 20, 2023, five sitting senators had not yet filed a campaign finance report. There are several possible reasons for not filing a report, such as a lack of fundraising activity. Therefore, this article likely does not reflect 100% of donations made to state Senate candidates and is best appreciated as a snapshot of campaign finance trends heading into 2024. n
Anna Brown is director of research and analysis for Citizens Count, a nonprofit that provides NH residents with information about their representatives and the policy issues shaping NH. For more information, visit CitizensCount.org.
Current Issue - May 2024