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0000017a-15d9-d736-a57f-17ff8d390000Race: U.S SenateParty: RepublicanPolitical Experience: 2010-2012 - U.S Senate from Massachusetts2004-2010 – Massachusetts State Senate1998-2004 – Massachusetts House of RepresentativesPersonal: Married; lives in RyeEducation: Bachelor’s, Tufts University; J.D., Boston College Law SchoolCampaign WebsiteIssuesBrown says one of the main reasons he is seeking the seat held by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is the need to repeal the Affordable Care Act and encourage states to craft their own legislative solutions.A supporter of “Romneycare,” the Massachusetts health care program that includes many of the same components of the ACA, Brown voted to repeal so-called Obamacare in 2010. Yet he acknowledges that benefits offered by the ACA, such as requiring coverage for pre-existing conditions, are important enough to be part of a New Hampshire plan.“We need to repeal Obamacare and we need to put in place something that works for us…. There’s no reason why we can’t do it and also respecting our rights and freedoms and also doing it more competitively.”In late July, Brown began running television ads blaming Shaheen and President Obama for the “immigration crisis on our hands.” He criticized Shaheen for supporting immigration reforms that include a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants already living in the U.S., which Brown characterizes as “amnesty.”Brown told NHPR’s Brady Carlson that the U.S. needs to “secure our border once and for all.” But he supports allowing foreign students with visas to obtain green cards instead of automatically returning to their country of origin, and he says some workers ought to be allowed to remain in the U.S. if there is a need.“I look at it in different pillars. The first pillar is if we have kids who are here from out of country and they’re going to school, they should get a diploma and the ability to stay here and live and work if they want. That’s a no brainer.If we have people who need seasonal help because we have a service industry in our state, tourism, etc., and there’s needs to be filled, we should allow that to happen…. If you’re looking at executives and other engineers, doctors, etc., and there’s a need and we can’t fill that need in order to keep our businesses vibrant and in our state, we should allow that to happen, no problem.”Brown supports an "all of the above" energy plan that includes federal tax subsidies to encourage the development of solar, geothermal and nuclear energy technologies. A one-time supporter of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a cap-and-trade program for New England states, Brown now opposes cap and trade or a "national energy tax," saying it would increase costs to consumers.

Shaheen Tops Brown For U.S. Senate

The polls had predicted this race would be tight, and for a time last night, even after media outlets had declared Jeanne Shaheen the winner, Scott Brown briefly held a slim lead. But by nights end, it was Shaheen and her backers savoring a win in a contest party leaders here and in Washington wanted dearly.

“Tonight, tonight, the people of NH chose to put NH first.” 

From the moment Scott Brown moved to NH he signaled an interest in returning to the Senate from the state where he’d long owned a vacation house and lived as a small child, Shaheen and Democrats derided him Brown as an opportunist. Brown and his allies, meanwhile, cast Shaheen, a former Senate colleague, who has now won statewide election in NH 5 of 6 tries, as little more than a toady to President Obama.

Voters were bombarded with these messages for weeks. All told, more than $46 million was poured into this race, the most expensive in state history.

Credit Allegra Boverman for NHPR
Scott Brown concedes to incumbent Jeanne Shaheen

In his concession speech , Scott Brown said the voters had spoken, and he’s got the picture.

“You’ve got no business in politics unless you respect the judgement of the people. You’ve got to take it either way. I accept the decision of the voters and I have already offered my sincerest congratulations and good wishes to Senator Shaheen."

Brown shot to national attention when he won the Massachusetts Senate seat left vacant by the death of Ted Kennedy.

In 2012 he lost to Elizabeth Warren. Last night Brown called himself lucky to live in NH.

He also said he was glad republicans elsewhere achieved something he was fighting for, to flip the US Senate to GOP control.

“And regardless of what happened here tonight, here is one thing that did come true Harry Reid is minority leader."

Jeanne Shaheen, for her part, listed priorities  -- a energy policy based on efficiency and limiting fossil fuels, a higher minimum wage, equal pay for equal work and abortion rights – that are unlikely to be shared by the senate’s new GOP majority. But she also promised to seek for common ground.

"I will work with anyone in the senate, democrat, republican independent, to get things done to help NH’s working families and small businesses."

Scott Brown’s future remains a work in progress, and likely the subject of continued speculation.

Prior to getting into this race, Brown indicated to voters in Iowa that he hadn’t ruled out a future presidential run. 

 Last night Brown indicated ambitions a bit more modest.

“I’m going to go have a beer and go get some rest and hit the gym tomorrow and play the guitar and spend some time with the family."

Ambitions well within his grasp.

Josh has worked at NHPR since 2000.
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