Disaffected Republicans launch independent third-party campaign: ‘Time to burn down the NHGOP’
A group of disaffected Republicans, led by Free State Project chair Aaron Day, is working to obtain signatures for a slate of candidates to run as independents in the November general election with the intent of punishing the GOP for supporting Medicaid expansion. “[T]ime to burn down the NHGOP,” Day announced.
Day, who also chairs the New Hampshire Republican Liberty Caucus, first signaled the possibility of an independent third-party campaign late last year after blaming Sen. Kelly Ayotte for the legislature’s plan to reauthorize Medicaid expansion.
“She and the GOP establishment think Medicaid expansion will help them politically,” the Bedford Republican told Breitbart. “They should understand that such an action will doom them politically.”
The feud with Ayotte dates back to 2014 when Day excoriated Ayotte for leading a group of party leaders who opposed former state House Speaker Bill O’Brien in his bid to retake the House Speakership. “Republicans were set to return a conservative, who opposed Medicaid expansion, to the Speaker’s chair until Ayotte interfered,” Day explained.
The day after Republican lawmakers joined business groups and advocacy organizations in a press conference last month to announce their plan to reauthorize the expanded Medicaid program, Day followed up on his threat.
“After yesterday’s crony press conference, it became clear that the votes are mostly backed in,” he wrote on Facebook. “There will be a slate of independent candidates mounting a real run (not just a protest vote). The level of cronyism and corruption is out of control.”
“This will be a serious and well funded effort,” Day promised. The slate of candidates Day announced includes a mix of Republican and Libertarian politicians:
U.S. Senate: Andrew Hemingway. (Day notes Hemingway has not committed to participating in the race.) Hemingway is the entrepreneur and political activist who lost to Walt Havenstein in the 2014 Republican primary for governor.
Governor: Mike Gill. Gill, the owner of The Mortgage Specialist who has never run for public office, is best known for his profanity-laced signs attacking politicians and judges.
Congress, District 1: Brendan Kelly. Kelly ran for Congress in 2014 as a Republican, finishing third behind Frank Guinta and Dan Innis with 8.4 percent of the vote. In 2012, Kelly ran for the seat as a Libertarian. He received 4.2 percent of the vote in the race won by Carol Shea Porter.
Congress, District 2: John Babiarz. Babiarz ran for governor in 2010 and 2012 as a Libertarian. In the 2012 race against Maggie Hassan and Ovide Lamontagne, Babiarz received 19,251 votes, 2.8 percent of the total.
State Senate, District 16: JR Hoell. The Dunbarton Republican is serving his third term in the House where he has been a vocal gun-rights advocate. The Senate seat is currently held by Republican Sen. David Boutin.
As Day announced the slate of independent candidates, a new Facebook page for the NH Independents Coalition launched. Representatives of the group posted messages on social media soliciting supporters to help collect signatures on nominating petitions for the candidates.
“We are running an Independent slate of liberty-friendly candidates for the November ballot…” one message read. “[W]e are paying $1.25 per signature and with a referral who collects at least 50 the rate jumps to $1.50… Thank you for your help promoting liberty candidates!”
Independent candidates for statewide office must obtain 3,000 signatures from registered voters. Congressional candidates need 1,500 signatures. Those vying for the state senate require 750 valid signatures. The deadline for submitting nomination papers is August 10, 2016.
The NH Independents Coalition Facebook page describes the current status of the initiative: “Pouring the gasoline, preparing the match.”