Republicans Launch NH-01 Race With Résumés, Not Trump Talk

By Leonard Robinson, NH Journal

Three of the Republicans aiming for a shot at New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District filed their candidacy paperwork Wednesday, the first day of the state’s filing period. And rather than focus on ideology, all three highlighted their resumes as the reason they deserve to represent the Republican Party in November’s elections.

Bedford GOP activist Melissa Bailey was the first to file Wednesday morning, followed by state Rep. Brian Cole (R-Manchester) and Seacoast businessman Anthony DiLorenzo. The fourth announced candidate, business owner Hollie Noveletsky, is scheduled to file her candidacy next week.

All three discussed affordability and the political dysfunction in Washington, D.C. Interestingly, none mentioned the man currently in charge in the nation’s capital: President Donald Trump.

In fact, when a reporter asked DiLorenzo if he is the MAGA candidate in the race, the first-time candidate stumbled over his answer.

“I wouldn’t put labels on me. I certainly support most of the, actually all of the — well, a large percentage — of the president on the issues,” DiLorenzo said. “What I mean by that is peace through strength, lower taxes, smaller government, domestic energy production. So if you call that MAGA, sure.”

DiLorenzo was more comfortable talking about his business career. He turned Key Auto Center in Somersworth into a network of car dealerships and collision centers.

“I started with $7,000. I have no college education, just hard work, determination, and a lot of great employees helping me to achieve an objective,” DiLorenzo said. “Now we have 40 businesses in 10 states with over 1,000 employees. That’s what I’m able to do in the private sector, and I will work just as hard in D.C. for New Hampshire.”

Republican Melissa Bailey speaks with reporters after filing her candidacy in the NH01 GOP primary.

Bailey, who began her filing with a State House prayer, did not mention Trump in her statement, either. Instead, she targeted the state’s all-Democrat delegation and its performance.

“For nearly a decade, we’ve sent Democrats to Washington, and what have they delivered for Granite Staters? More federal overreach and infringing on our core values of freedom and individual rights,” Bailey said. “They want boys in our girls’ spaces, to strip away our Second Amendment rights, a wide-open border, high taxes, and they have a complete disregard for law and order.

“As a mom, I looked in the faces of my own children and knew I couldn’t sit on the sidelines.”

Cole said his experience as a legislator makes him the right Republican for this race.

Rep. Brian Cole (R-Manchester) signs the paperwork to become a candidate in the NH-01 GOP primary.

“I’m the only elected official in the race, so I have the experience,” Cole said. “When you first get up here to Concord, it takes a year to get your feet underneath you. There is a crapload of information shoved down your throat in order to learn how to function up here. So, on Day One, I’m going to be able to go down to Congress and hit the ground running.”

Cole is also notably the sole Manchester resident in the race from either party. Two of the district’s most recent members of Congress—Rep. Chris Pappas and Rep. Frank Guinta—were both from the Queen City.

Will resumes be enough for Republicans to break Democrats’ lock on the state’s federal elections?

Democrats have won the seat by at least five points in each of the past four cycles. The last Republican to win the seat was Guinta, who won in 2014 with 52 percent of the vote after losing the seat in 2012.

Granite State GOP insiders say it will be tough for their party to win a midterm election with Trump in the White House.

Meanwhile, Democrats have a large field of candidates, including U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s daughter, Stefany Shaheen; Obama administration official Maura Sullivan; state Rep. Heath Howard (D-Strafford); and Airbnb executive Christian Urrutia, among others.

DiLorenzo insisted that his business experience makes him the most qualified candidate.

“I’ve brought results for 35 years, and I am more qualified than anybody in this race to bring home results for the people in New Hampshire. I am at least 10 times more qualified than anybody else running,” DiLorenzo said.

The filing period ends Friday, June 12.

This story was originally published by the NH Journal, an online news publication dedicated to providing fair, unbiased reporting on, and analysis of, political news of interest to New Hampshire. For more stories from the NH Journal, visit NHJournal.com.