Democratic congressional candidate Maggie Goodlander of Nashua and Colin Van Ostern of Concord engaged in an issues-based forum on the Good Morning New Hampshire program with Jack Heath.
Here, Goodlander greeted former Democratic National Committeeman Terry Shumaker of Concord while signing up to run.
Second Congressional District Democratic candidate Colin Van Ostern of Concord and Maggie Goodlander of Nashua took part in a 90-minute radio forum Wednesday.
Here, Van Ostern formally signed up recently with family and friends at his side.
Democratic congressional candidate Maggie Goodlander of Nashua and Colin Van Ostern of Concord engaged in an issues-based forum on the Good Morning New Hampshire program with Jack Heath.
Here, Goodlander greeted former Democratic National Committeeman Terry Shumaker of Concord while signing up to run.
CONCORD — The two Democrats seeking the 2nd Congressional District seat battled over the sources of financial support for their present and past campaigns during a radio forum Wednesday.
On issue after issue, from the war in Gaza and illegal immigration to energy, term limits for judges and congressmen and Social Security, former Justice Department lawyer Maggie Goodlander of Nashua and Executive Councilor Colin Van Ostern offered similar comments and proposed solutions.
Near the close of the 90-minute forum on “Good Morning New Hampshire with Jack Heath”, Van Ostern brought up Goodlander’s out-of-state fundraising.
“The vast majority of money I have raised is from the people of New Hampshire,” Van Ostern began.
“She has taken four times as much money from Washington, D.C., as from everyone in this district combined.”
Goodlander said she is pleased that her past associates from the Justice Department, the Biden administration and congressional staff are financially backing her bid to replace six-term U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster, who is retiring at the end of this year.
“I am the only candidate in this race who has never taken money from a corporate PAC. I am proud of that.”
According to analysis of their campaign reports, Goodlander has received just under $78,000 — or 5% — of her donations from those who reside in the 2nd District.
Van Ostern was referring to the $330,000 that’s come to Goodlander from the Washington metropolitan area, Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.
Goodlander raised about 12% of her $1.6 million inside New Hampshire. More than 46% of the $1 million coming to Van Ostern has been from within the 2nd District.
Both candidates have sworn off taking corporate PAC money, but The Boston Globe reported last month Van Ostern received a $1,000 check from a Boston-based LLC that was listed as a corporation.
The Van Ostern campaign said it has refunded that donation.
In his 2016 race for governor, Van Ostern received about $50,000 in legal donations from corporations.
The total was much less than the corporate cash given to Republican Chris Sununu, who narrowly won that election.
Before moving to New Hampshire two decades ago, Van Ostern worked as a congressional aide, but he said voters here are looking for someone with long ties to New Hampshire.
“I don’t think the problem in Washington is there is not enough Washington experience in it. The problem is there are not enough people who know who they are fighting for,” Van Ostern said.
Second Congressional District Democratic candidate Colin Van Ostern of Concord and Maggie Goodlander of Nashua took part in a 90-minute radio forum Wednesday.
Here, Van Ostern formally signed up recently with family and friends at his side.
Goodlander said she would be the better representative because she has worked in all three branches of the federal government.
“The people’s House is a crazy place. We need people who are workhorses, not show horses, and people who can get things done,” Goodlander said. “I have been doing that my entire life.”
Goodlander a different ‘MTG’
Goodlander contrasted her style with another politician with the initials “MTG” — Georgia U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
“She has a lot to say, she gets a lot of attention, but she is not actually part of the process of getting things done,” said Goodlander, whose middle name is Tamposi.
When moderator Heath asked whether liberal U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a similar polarizing force, Goodlander said she could work with anyone.
On illegal immigration, both support efforts to better secure the southern border, but they stressed Congress needs to pass comprehensive immigration reform.
“Both parties have dropped the ball too long on this. Washington has been broken for decades on this; it drives me crazy,” Van Ostern said.
Goodlander spoke out against the “humanitarian crisis” that has led to the ill treatment and death of Palestinians, as did Van Ostern. She said attacks against Jews are on the rise here.
“There has been a massive spike in reported incidents of antisemitic crimes right here in New Hampshire,” Goodlander said.
“We have seen it in Franklin, we have seen it all over the Second Congressional District.”
Both would vote to eliminate the Trump tax cuts, raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans and corporations.
“The Trump tax cuts are a disaster; they have to be repealed. We have to find a way to raise revenue,” Goodlander said.
Van Ostern agreed with President Joe Biden, who has called for raising taxes on families making more than $400,000 a year.
“For the very wealthiest to start paying their fair share does make sense,” Van Ostern said.
The winner of the primary will face off against the winner of the GOP race, which has 13 candidates on the ballot.
