New Hampshire House Democrats have selected Renny Cushing of Hampton to lead their 187-member caucus for the next two years.
Cushing won election to his 8th term earlier this month and is chairman of the House Criminal Justice Committee. He’s been a well-known progressive since leading protests against the Seabrook nuclear power plant in the 1970s. And he's worked to abolish the state's death penalty.
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Cushing edged current Democratic Majority Leader Doug Ley in a virtual meeting of House Democrats on Thursday.
Republicans, who picked up a House majority in this month's elections, will select their leader Friday.
Merrimack Representative Dick Hinch, who now serves as minority leader, is expected to retain leadership of the GOP caucus and become the next House Speaker when the legislature reconvenes.