Frank Guinta Mayor of Manchester NH Eyes Congressional Run

CQ Politics notes that Frank Guinta is likely to run against Carol Shea Porter for the first Congressional seat of New Hampshire.


New Hampshire: Guinta Files to Run in Shea-Porter's Congressional District

Republican Frank Guinta, mayor of Manchester, filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to run in New Hampshire's 1st District.

Guinta recently announced he would not seek re-election as mayor and was mulling a run for federal office in 2010. But Guinta has not publicly announced whether he will run for the open Senate seat or for the 1st Congressional District seat.

Guinta's advisor, Mike Biundo, stressed Friday that the mayor has yet to make an official announcement, adding that one is expected in the coming week.

As mayor of the state's largest city, Guinta's name has often been at the top of Republicans' lists of prospective candidates for higher office.

"Frank Guinta's proven record of protecting taxpayer dollars provides a clear contrast to the reckless Washington spending that has been rubber-stamped by Carol Shea-Porter at the expense of New Hampshire families," Paul Lindsay, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said in a statement Friday. "While this has been a traditionally challenging state for Republicans in recent elections, an established community leader like Guinta has the ability to bridge party lines and once again give New Hampshire the representation it deserves."

NH GOP Fills Senate Slate

From NH GOP...

CONCORD – The New Hampshire Republican Party filed a candidate for State Senate District 24 this afternoon, meaning the party will contest all 24 New Hampshire Senate districts.

Christian Callahan, a Portsmouth businessman, filed to run against incumbent senator Martha Fuller-Clark. Callahan’s candidacy means that no Democratic candidate is left unopposed this election cycle.

In the state House of Representatives, New Hampshire Republicans are fielding a total of 364 candidates covering 324 seats.

“I am confident we have more than the number of candidates we need running in winnable districts to restore a Republican majority in one if not both houses of the legislature,” said Fergus Cullen, chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party.

“I think it’s fair to say that our candidate recruitment efforts exceeded expectations. We have more candidates, and better quality candidates, than many observers predicted we would have. This is a sign that the Republican Party is regaining strength, energy, and optimism heading into election season,” Cullen said.

There will be Republican primaries in three state senate districts (2, 3, and 7) and in many state house districts.

“Unlike the Democrats, who quashed primaries, Republicans believe competition yields stronger, hungrier candidates more likely to win general elections. We let the voters choose, not party bosses,” Cullen said.