New Hampshire GOP House candidates debate restoring trust in Congress

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Most of the Republican candidates hoping to challenge the Democratic incumbent in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District say they would rise above partisan bickering if they make it to Washington, but one says arguing is part of the job.

“It’s an adversarial process, just like in court,” attorney and Manchester Alderman Joseph Kelly Levasseur said Thursday. “There’d be a lot less fighting if the Democrats just listened to our common sense and did what the Republicans asked.”

Levasseur and four others competing in Tuesday’s GOP primary faced each other in a debate at New England College, where a panelist cited a poll in which nearly 90% of Americans said they believe Republicans and Democrats are more interested in fighting each other than solving problems. Aside from Levasseur, they said they would work to regain voters’ trust by staying positive and cooperating with colleagues.

Common understanding comes through trust and open communication, said Hollie Noveletsky, a business owner, nurse and former U.S. Army reservist.

“It’s also important to find like-minded people in Congress, not the ones that are standing in front of the camera asking for five minutes of fame, but the ones who are rolling up their sleeves every day and doing the hard work,” she said.

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Business executive and Army veteran Chris Bright agreed, saying uniting the country is a top priority. Career politicians have eroded the public’s trust, he said.

“I was taught at West Point that you wear your rank not for personal gain but to advance mission of people,” he said. “So it’s about putting the needs of the country first. In the Arrmy, we call that selfless service.”

Congress gets nothing done because it’s full of extremists, said businessman Walter McFarlane.

“We need some moderates to help bridge the aisle,” he said. “It doesn’t mean we abandon the ideals we hold dear, but it does mean that we reach across the aisle.”

Former executive councilor and state Sen. Russell Prescott said he has attracted broad support, including from independent voters and Libertarians, in part due to his positive attitude.

“Two years ago in a debate, I said, ‘If we could just along, we could accomplish a lot,’” he said, decrying the negative infighting he recalled from his campaign for the same seat two years ago.

Prescott was one of 10 candidates who sought the GOP nomination in 2002. The winner was Karoline Leavitt, who lost to Democrat Chris Pappas, who has held the seat since 2018 and faces no significant challenge in his upcoming primary.

Max Abramson and Andy Martin also will be on the Republican ballot.