Progressive Manzur To Challenge Pappas in Dem Senate Primary
NH Journal
Calling herself the “candidate for the U.S. Senate who follows the facts for the people of New Hampshire,” science writer and progressive activist Karishma Manzur, Ph.D. will officially launch her campaign on Wednesday in Manchester.
Manzur is the first Democrat to mount a primary challenge to presumed frontrunner U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH01).
“I am proud to announce my support for Karishma Manzur as she kicks off her campaign for the U.S. Senate, representing ALL the people of New Hampshire, not just the well‑connected and powerful!” wrote state Rep. Tony Caplan (D–Henniker)
Manzur, who lives in Exeter, is best known for her op-eds opposing U.S. support for Israel and defending the pro-Palestinian protests at the University of New Hampshire. She’s part of the New Hampshire Coalition for a Just Peace in the Middle East.
Pappas, on the other hand, has broken with his fellow Granite State Democrats like Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and voted in support of pro-Israel policies. He opposed efforts backed by Shaheen to block arms sales to Israel, and he’s denounced the “From the River to the Sea” rhetoric at UNH protests as a “a rallying cry for the destruction of the state of Israel.”
Two Republicans are currently running in the U.S. Senate primary — former ambassador Scott Brown and state Sen. Dan Innis. However, nonpartisan political organizations like Cook Political Report say the seat leans Democrat, and Republicans quietly acknowledged Pappas would be a difficult candidate to beat in a state that hasn’t voted for a Republican U.S. Senate candidate since 2010.
And early fundraising is solid for Pappas. As of June 30, he has raised approximately $2.47 million, with $2.02 million cash on hand.
However, Granite State Democrats acknowledge off the record that establishment candidate Pappas is not a natural fit with the party’s angry, anti-Trump base. That disconnect could create an opportunity for a progressive firebrand to surprise Pappas in a primary.
“Don’t know a lot about her,” one veteran of Democratic primaries in New Hampshire told NHJournal. “Is she Arnie Arnesen or Carol Shea-Porter?”
State Rep. Suraj Budathoki (D-Manchester) is on board.
“She will not take a dime from corporate lobbyists, dark money, because she knows the rot in our politics starts with the money that buys it. Her loyalty is – and will always be – to the people,” he posted on Facebook, adding, “She believes ‘Medicare for All’ is not only the solution, but a moral responsibility.”
While Manzur doesn’t have the establishment credentials of a longtime political insider like Pappas, she’s not entirely an outsider. She serves on the state Democratic Party Rules Committee.
New Hampshire GOP state party chair Jim MacEachern reacted to the news.
“New Hampshire liberals are smelling blood in the water after the failed anointment of Chris Pappas as their hand-picked nominee. Despite Ray Buckley and Washington D.C. Democrats’ best efforts, Pappas is being rejected by his own base.”