New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan is backing Executive Councilor Chris Pappas in the crowded 1st Congressional District race.
It’s pretty early for a big endorsement like this -- the primary election isn’t until September. But Hassan, a Democrat, told a crowd of people inside Water Street Books in Exeter that people keep asking her who she’s voting for and she decided it’s best to tell them now.
There are eight Democrats trying to fill the seat left open by retiring Rep. Carol Shea Porter. Hassan said while she knows many of the candidates, she worked closely with Pappas while she was governor. Pappas has represented towns like Manchester, Bedford and Londonderry on the Executive Council since 2013.
“I would often find myself looking over at Chris when I thought a point needed to be made, or I wanted to get some insight on a question somebody had just had. Chris always asks the right questions,” she said.
Pappas is also co-owner of the Puritan Backroom restaurant in Manchester. He said he’s known Hassan for about 16 years and “is honored to call her a friend.”
All eight of the Democrats running for the 1st Congressional District are expected to appear at a speed-dating style forum in Rochester Thursday night.
