Editor’s note: Maggie Hassan won her race by a margin of 9.2%. To see how Blue Tent's recommended candidates performed this cycle, read our full 2022 midterms rundown.
New Hampshire Senator Maggie Hassan was supposed to be the top target for the GOP heading into 2022. The former governor had squeaked by incumbent Kelly Ayotte in the 2016 election, winning by around 1,000 votes. In 2022, with Republicans likely to rebound, she was on thin ice. But several top Republican potential candidates decided not to run, including Ayotte, Gov. Chris Sununu, and former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown. Hassan is still a target, but without a strong opponent, she has more of a chance to win reelection than the other high-profile Democratic incumbents. As a senator, Hassan hasn’t been progressive on all issues, opposing a minimum wage increase for one thing, but is seen as good on climate change and has earned the endorsement of the political arm of the League of Conservation Voters.
Below, we explore three key questions that small and medium donors should answer before supporting candidates. (See how we evaluate candidates.)
Is This Race Important?
You probably won’t hear as much about New Hampshire as you will about Wisconsin, Arizona and Georgia, but this is going to be one of the closest races in the country. In the Senate, every vote counts the same, and Democrats are deeply invested in holding onto this seat.
Can Hassan Win?
New Hampshire is consistently rated as a little bit bluer than other Senate swing states, with Sabato’s Crystal Ball and the Cook Political Report rating it “leans Democratic” and FiveThirtyEight rating the state as “even” between Democratic and Republican voters. Joe Biden won here in 2020 by more than seven points. But Sununu, who served one term in the Senate that ended in 2009, proves that Republicans can win statewide here. If Sununu ran, Hassan would be in trouble; though she could still lose, Democrats are breathing a little bit easier at the moment.
Does Hassan Need the Money?
No, no no. She's raised $36 million to her opponent's $1.6 million. Blue Tent currently rates Hassan as a low priority for small and medium donors. (Read about how we recommend candidates.)