GOP candidates line up for District 18 state Senate primary contest
The 2014 election is barely in the rearview mirror, but Republicans in state Senate District 18 are already lining up to compete for the seat currently held by Democrat Donna Soucy. Two well-known Litchfield Republicans have signalled their intent to compete in the district comprising Manchester Wards 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and the town of Litchfield.
Last month, five-term state Rep. Ralph Boehm (R-Litchfield) announced his candidacy and launched a “Ralph G. Boehm for NH Senate” Facebook page. A few days later, former state representative and 2014 Republican state senate nominee George Lambert told his Facebook friends that he also plans to enter the race.
Both candidates have similar conservative voting records. Boehm received a perfect 100% score from the archconservative House Republican Alliance in 2014 and a 99% score in 2013. Lambert, then a state representative, received scores of 98% and 99% for the same periods.
Both were endorsed by the libertarian Republican Liberty Caucus in their last campaigns though they have differing views on marijuana reform, a litmus test for many libertarians.
Lambert co-sponsored 2014 legislation that would have legalized and regulated recreational marijuana use. Boehm has expressed reservations about marijuana reform noting “it has been determined by many neurosurgeons, and psychiatrists, and the Harvard Medical Center that marijuana causes brain damage especially in young people.” He criticized the “Libertarian philosophy” he described as “no laws on any drugs.”
Lambert claims Boehm is the choice of the party establishment. The two candidates did line up on different sides in the 2013 contest for party chair. Boehm backed eventual winner Jennifer Horn, while Lambert, who is now leading a “J-Ho Must Go” campaign to oust Horn, supported Horn’s opponent, activist Andrew Hemingway.
On the other hand, both candidates have publicly attacked Sen. Kelly Ayotte, the state’s highest-ranking Republican officeholder and titular head of the state party. Boehm called for a Republican primary opponent to take on Ayotte after she voted to confirm Loretta Lynch for Attorney General. Lambert declared war on Ayotte after she endorsed Gene Chandler and opposed Bill O’Brien for state House Speaker.
Soucy has not announced if she will run for re-election. In 2014, the incumbent Democrat beat Lambert by a 53.1% to 46.7% margin. In presidential contests, District 18 has voted slightly more Republican than the state at large (PVI=R+2). Pres. Obama carried the district in 2012 by 3.7 points, winning it with a 51.1% to 47.4% margin.