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2 days ago | 
nhjournal.com | Michael Graham
After days of heated debate and intraparty elbow throwing, Gov. Kelly Ayotte and Senate President Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry) reached a deal on the state budget Wednesday afternoon that is expected to pass both chambers on Thursday. “I am pleased we were able to reach a compromise that delivers a fiscally responsible and balanced budget for all of New Hampshire,” Ayotte said in a statement.
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2 days ago | 
nhjournal.com | Michael Graham
At the ceremonial signing of SB 295 – the landmark law expanding Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs) in New Hampshire – the atmosphere was celebratory. Smiles, handshakes, and applause marked the occasion. But amidst the joy, a quiet moment in the crowd revealed a deeper truth. As Renee Austin stood with her son Xander – a child with learning needs who uses a wheelchair – two critics of the bill confronted her without provocation.
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3 days ago | 
nhjournal.com | Michael Graham
“Chris Pappas wants a better title? I want a better America.”And with that, Scott Brown launched his long-anticipated 2026 U.S. Senate race, hoping to face off against U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas. Brown officially announced his candidacy Wednesday morning with the release of a video filled with images of his military service, his previous political successes and — perhaps most significant — plenty of images of President Donald Trump.
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3 days ago | 
nhjournal.com | Michael Graham
Businessman and military veteran Chris Bright is the first Republican to announce his candidacy in New Hampshire’s open First Congressional District race. “Congress is full of people who point fingers, push blame, seek power and chase headlines,” Bright said in a statement. “That doesn’t fix the border, balance the budget, or rebuild our economy.
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3 days ago | 
nhjournal.com | Michael Graham
New Hampshire Senate President Sharon Carson accused fellow Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte of fiscal irresponsibility and political arrogance in the debate over the budget and Group II pension benefits. “I tried to talk with her and she sat there, looked me right in the eye and said, ‘I will not negotiate. I will not compromise.’ That’s not the New Hampshire way.
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4 days ago | 
nhjournal.com | Michael Graham
“She won. Why is she still fighting?”That was the reaction from one GOP House member after Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s appearance on the Jack Heath radio show Monday morning, where she once again pounded away at the budget passed by her fellow Republicans. Her top issue remains the Committee of Conference’s attempt to undo a generous pension package Ayotte supports for 1,500 or so Group II state employees. “I think it’s important for your listeners to understand this,” Ayotte said.
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4 days ago | 
nhjournal.com | Michael Graham
Granite State Republicans cheered the news, first delivered by Donald Trump Monday night, that Iran and Israel had agreed to a ceasefire brokered by the Republican president. Local Democrats, who’ve assiduously avoided taking a public position on the decision to launch U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear weapon, maintained radio silence as the news shocked the world.
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5 days ago | 
nhjournal.com | Michael Graham
The members of New Hampshire’s all-Democrat congressional delegation have thus far refused to say if they support or oppose the Trump administration’s bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities on Saturday. But they all say that President Trump should have come to Congress to get authorization for the attack. “I have always remained steadfast in my conviction that this Iranian regime can never get a nuclear weapon,” U.S. Rep. Maggie Goodlander posted on Twitter/X.
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5 days ago | 
nhjournal.com | Michael Graham
Gov. Kelly Ayotte made an unscheduled call into the Jack Heath radio show Friday to blast House and Senate legislators for their “backroom deal” on the budget, a sign of her frustration with the legislation and determination to fight it. Ayotte called into the show after an appearance by former state Senate President Jeb Bradley (R-Wolfeboro), who crafted the 2011 retirement reforms Ayotte wants to undo on behalf of police, firefighters, and other first responders.
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1 week ago | 
nhjournal.com | Michael Graham
Deal or no deal? New Hampshire House and Senate budget writers adopted a compromise amendment Wednesday to increase pensions for the 1,550 “Group II” active first responders who were hired before the legislature made cost-cutting reforms to the New Hampshire Retirement System in 2011. The $120 million package would boost their eventual benefits, but put a cap on the practice of “spiking” pensions in the last few years on the job. Gov.
