On Sunday, progressive candidates for upcoming Democratic primaries gathered at the Rebel River Fest at the Suncook River Campground to urge people to tune in and get out the vote.
With progressive candidates gaining national attention in party primaries this summer, candidates across New Hampshire are hoping to capture some of that momentum before the state’s primary on Sept. 8.
In between live music acts, speeches were given by Karishma Manzur, who is running for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate against Congressman Chris Pappas, as well as congressional candidates Carleigh Beriont in the 1st Congressional District and Paige Beauchemin in the 2nd Congressional District.
The overarching theme from both candidates and voters at this event was that they wanted to keep money out of politics.
“If we keep electing the people who are benefiting from money in politics, they’re not going to get money out of politics,” said Beauchemin, who is challenging incumbent Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander for the Democratic nomination in the 2nd Congressional District.
Manzur spoke to the disappearing middle class and the common sense issues of the “people’s movement,” as well as the struggles of getting “big money” out of politics.
“I’m a scientist. I’m a progressive Democrat, and I’m a peace activist,” Manzur said. “It’s sad that we have to say progressive Democrat, because our Democratic Party has been taken over by these corporate Democrats that have lost to Donald Trump twice.”
There were also several mentions of “Medicare for All” and cries to stop “funding illegal wars.”
Christina and Jennifer Devlin of Merrimack were at the event. They have a disabled daughter with Down Syndrome who recently lost her health insurance.
“On paper, she’s technically disabled from the day she’s born, but according to our government, she doesn’t earn the right to get healthcare coverage, which is really difficult for us,” said Christina Devlin.
Jennifer Devlin said she has never voted in an election before, and does not consider herself to be a political person. But hearing what progressive candidates have to say when it comes to issues like healthcare coverage and the way the federal government treats people during immigration enforcement is changing her mind.
“To come to an event like this and hear some of the things that they had to say, to me, has opened my eyes humongously,” Devlin said. “Now I want to go out and I want to vote right away. And I never have.”
Devlin said she would definitely vote for Karishma Manzur in the U.S. Senate race. Angela Corey of Belmont has been following Manzur’s campaign closely and admires how it is “people-centered.”
“I think it’s really exciting to go back to people-focused messages, where it’s not just everyday people being subjected to politics,” Corey said. “People are involved, be that they’re donating their time, their money, their energy or ideas.”
Corey likes to see the progressive momentum in recent primary races across the country. Candidates referred to recent primary wins for progressives in Michigan and Florida as inspiration for what’s to come.
All three candidates addressed the political divisions within and across party lines at the moment. Beriont encouraged an inclusive message in her speech.
“This campaign is for everybody who has been told by our political or economic system that they don’t matter because we absolutely do,” Beriont said. “There is a place for all of us, and there is a time for us, and that time is now.”
