Hosmer for Governor?

LACONIA — State Senator Andrew Hosmer (D-Lacona) yesterday confirmed that he has held conversations and given thought to running for governor should incumbent Maggie Hassan choose not to seek a third term and instead challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte.

"Everything starts with the governor," Hosmer said, "and nobody knows what her intentions are."

The Democratic National Committee, eager to regain control of the Senate, targeted Ayotte, last year, but finds itself without a candidate. Hassan, who polls suggest would be a competitive candidate, is mired in a stalemate over the 2016-2017 budget with the Republican-led Legislature, which has stayed her decision while the electoral calendar has continued to run.

Hosmer, who is serving his second term in the Senate where he sits on the Finance Committee, said that when he was originally approached his initial reaction was to dismiss the notion, but added that after several meetings, "I was inclined to consider it, but remained undecided at best. My first priority is the budget," he continued. "I'm happy to be in the conversation, but my focus is on the budget."

According to the Concord Monitor, Colin van Ostern of Concord, a veteran of Democratic campaigns and administrations who is currently serving his first term on the Executive Council, and Mark Connolly of New Castle, former director of the Bureau of Securities Regulation, have also been mentioned as possible gubernatorial candidates should Hassan run for the Senate.

Although no Republican has formally announced as a candidate of governor, Chris Sununu of Newfields, who is serving his second term on the Executive Council, said in the spring that he would transfer day-to-operations at the Waterville Valley Resort, where he is chief executive officer and general manager, to others in order to weigh a gubernatorial campaign.