The filing period for New Hampshire’s presidential primary begins on Wednesday. That means nearly every major presidential hopeful is expected visit the state over the next few weeks.
State law allows candidates to submit their paperwork and $1000 filing fee by mail. But most file in person at the office of longtime Secretary of State Bill Gardner.
Both Gardner and the candidates usually say a few words; some hopefuls even use the occasion to make news. In filing for the presidential primary in 2011, Republican Mitt Romney came to the statehouse with his newest high-profile supporter: former New Hampshire governor and White House Chief of Staff John H. Sununu.
Noting that this was his second White House bid, Romney told Gardner, “I’m happy to put my name on this paper, hoping that this time it’ll take.”
After filing, candidates often take questions from reporters and then head outside to rally supporters, as then-Illinois U.S. Senator Barack Obama did in 2007.
"We filed our papers," Obama told the crowd. "Now we've got to get to work.
Among those set to file at the statehouse this week: Republicans Marco Rubio, John Kasich, Carly Fiorina and Chris Christie, and Democrats Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley.
The filing period will stay open until November 20.
