10 Questions with Karishma Manzur, Pappas’ challenger in the Democratic Senate primaries
Conway Daily Sun
MANCHESTER, NH – Exeter resident Karishma Manzur launched her bid for U.S. Senate last month, as she spoke to voters about her working class immigrant background, and her passion to keep big money out of politics.
“I’m running for the U.S. Senate because too many people are needlessly dying, both here at home and abroad. We need Medicare for All, Housing for All, and livable wages to ensure every American can thrive,” Manzur told the Ink Link. “And our foreign policy must be rooted in peace, national security, and a steadfast commitment to human rights. That’s how we build a more just world and reclaim our place as a respected global leader.”
Her opponent is multiple-time officeholder Chris Pappas, who announced his run for Senate in April, after Sen. Jeanne Shaheen announced her retirement from office in March.
If elected Manzur will be the first woman senator in the history of America to hold a Ph.D in science, and the second senator ever to have a doctorate in science (the first was Harrison Schmitt of New Mexico). Before deciding to step into politics Manzur spent a lot of her time volunteering for progressive organizations such as Open Democracy, New Hampshire Peace Action, and is a big proponent of ranked choice voting.
In an interview with Ink Link Tuesday, Manzur spoke with a reporter on her background, what motivated her to step into politics, and everything that she stands for.
1.Tell us a bit about yourself, your connection to New Hampshire, and your background as a scientist?
My name is Karishma Manzur. I live in Exeter, New Hampshire. I live here with my husband and my two children. I have a 19-year-old daughter who’s off to college, and I have a 16-year-old son who is a high school student.
I have a Ph.D in molecular biology and biochemistry. I’ve worked on various disease processes, most of which have to do with neurology, because my bachelor’s degree was in neuroscience. I worked a long time ago on Alzheimer’s disease but in the last few years, I was specifically focusing on epilepsy and depression.
I have absolutely loved my job all my life. I knew I wanted to be a scientist. Actually, my mom saved one of my essays from when I was a first grade student, and I was asked, “What do you want to be,” in class. And I had written, “I want to be a scientist” when I grow up.
I love everything about being a scientist; it is just so gratifying. It is work where you’re going to make a difference in someone’s life.
2. What encouraged you to step into politics?
Big money in politics. Lawmakers are not listening to their constituents.
In some of the Senate races, even a small state like NH generated $44 million in the 2022 senate election. Where is all this money coming from? We are a state of 1.4 million people, and not every one of us is paying $44. That’s not where the $44 million is coming from. It’s coming from out of state, it’s coming from special interest groups, and it’s coming from dark money, where you cannot even know who the donors are.
It is not enough just to vote for a Democrat, but you have to vote for the right Democrat, somebody who supports Medicare for all, who is against big money in politics, who is going to listen to their constituents, who is actually going to meet their constituents and not have a separation between their constituents and themselves.
So, I wanted to see somebody who is approachable, accessible.
3. What distinguishes your campaign from other candidates and other campaigns?
We have an extremely strong platform, and we have been very open and transparent about it.
But if you wanted to ask me, I would say big money out of politics is a big issue, so we need to overturn Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. (a landmark decision that allows corporations to fund political campaigns).
We have to basically stop this revolving door between Congress members and the lobbyists, because there is no barrier. When politicians leave Congress, they become lobbyists. And many lobbyists become candidates, who become Congressmembers. It is absolutely wrong and undemocratic. So this is one very big issue.
The second biggest difference would be Medicare for all.
That is the only piece of legislation that’s going to allow universal health coverage for all Americans. And it will be cheaper than our current system. In the richest country in the world, about 50,000 Americans die each year from lack of health insurance, or under insurance.
4. What do you think is the biggest issue affecting Americans, particularly Granite Staters right now?
As far as the economic issues are concerned, the housing crisis is a huge problem, childcare crisis is a huge problem, and health care prices are a huge problem. People just don’t earn livable wages anymore—so many seniors I’ve spoken to, they’re 76 or 77-years-old, and they cannot retire.
They’re still working because even with Medicare support and social security payments—some of them at least have some pension—it is still not enough for many seniors to retire.
I’ve also talked to many people in their 20s, who cannot move out of their family’s house. If they want to live there by choice, that’s great. If they want to move out by choice, that should also be possible. But many of them have jobs and yet cannot afford the $2,000 to $3,000 per month rent. They don’t understand what this whole American dream was about, because they’re not feeling it.
If a 25-year-old is afraid to turn 26 in this country [since they will lose family healthcare], there’s something really wrong with that.
5. At a time when dissidents of Israel and the ongoing crisis in Gaza are coming under scrutiny, what informs your stance on the conflict, especially as you run for office?
I’m pro-humanity, and I am a peace advocate. I care about human lives. My entire career has been helping people live and thrive, especially since I believe scientists are public servants.
I don’t want anyone to die at home or abroad. Life is precious. We should all support everyone to survive their natural lives.
6. Is there a politician you admire, or who do you think has been the best politician in your lifetime?
Can it not be a politician? I am learning a lot about Secretary Frances Perkins these days.
She was the labor secretary under FDR. She was an amazing human being. She saw what was going on with workers in America, how poorly they were treated in the 1920s and 30s.
She was the first female secretary ever in the United States, so that’s by itself, shows you how powerful that is. On top of it, she was the person who basically said, we need to cap the number of hours people work, we need to have a minimum wage, we need to have unemployment insurance, and that we need to protect workers’ rights.
She was amazing. I want to be Frances Perkins when I grow up (Manzur said with a giggle).
7. You’re someone who has an academic/science background, but why do you believe you have the experience to represent the interests of Granite Staters in Washington?
Just talking from a professional perspective, scientists and engineers are problem solvers. They are pragmatists.
We always look at an issue and say, “Is this a problem?” Then we go to the next phase, and figure out what is causing the problem. Then we go to the next phase and look at potential solutions to the problem. Then we try to implement strategies.
And then we say, “did the problem get solved?” That’s exactly what I did in my clinical research, and we need that in Congress.
8. What’s your favorite thing about the Granite State?
I love the mountains.
The other day, I was driving to Keene, but I took a different route, and I was on a street that was quite windy, and it was just so beautiful. It was covered on all sides by the trees and the mountains. I live on the seacoast, and I love the ocean. I love Rye beach; I love Hampton beach.
But being in the mountains surrounded by trees is just amazing. I am also a gardener.
9. In one sentence: What will your top legislative priorities be as a Senator from New Hampshire?
Medicare for all, housing for all, and free tuition for free, meaning free community colleges and trade schools.
10. What is the last TV show you binged, or a great book you read recently?
I am reading a book called “Poverty, by America.” It’s fantastic. It was written several years ago.
Editor’s note: This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.
Manchester Ink Link articel can be found here.