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.
Between live music acts, Karishma Manzur, who is running for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate against Congressman Chris Pappas, gave speeches, along with 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 about the disappearing middle class and the common-sense issues of the “people’s movement,” as well as the struggle to get “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, N.H., 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 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.”
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