Webber, running as a Democrat, challenges Lang for Senate seat

Kurt Webber has lived a life of service, and he’s looking to continue that service as he runs to represent the Lakes Region in New Hampshire’s 2nd Senate District.

This is Webber’s first time running for Senate, after completing two campaigns for a Statehouse seat in 2022, and 2024. In 2022, Webber ran as an independent. This time, he's running as a Democrat, and identifies as a moderate.

He will face incumbent Sen. Tim Lang (R-Sanbornton), who has held the District 2 seat since 2016. Lang is running unopposed in Republican primary on Tuesday, Sept. 8, and will face Webber in the General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

“If I'm elected, I'm going to represent all of the voters in District 2 — not just the Democrats, not just the independents — everybody,” he Webber. “I think Tim Lang is like many of the current incumbents, they are party first.”

Who is Webber?

Webber grew up in Florida, in the 1970s, in a middle-class family, and is a third generation graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, from which both of his sons have also graduated. He later earned his master's degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University.

Webber went on to serve 23 years in the U.S. Army, serving in Infantry and Special Forces (Green Beret) units. After 9/11, he volunteered to return to active duty, and served in Iraq, in 2005. After his service, he co-founded Camp Resilience locally, which has held over 150 free therapy retreats for active military members, veterans, first responders, and their loved ones dealing with depression or PTSD. He is also a founder and president of the Lakes Region Veterans Coalition, which aims to reduce veteran deaths by suicide, and connect veterans in need with one another.

After moving to Gilford, 25 years ago, Webber dedicated time to serving his community. He was a professor at Lakes Region Community College, and the New Hampshire Technical Institute, for 16 years, served on the Gilford School Board for nine years. He's been an active member of the Gilford Rotary since 2002, served on the Gunstock Ski Patrol for two decades, and coached Gilford High School Football for seven years. Webber, an Eagle Scout himself, now serves as an adult Scout leader, as well as the NH state coordinator for West Point admissions.

“I truly believe in the ideals of honor and integrity that I learned at home, I learned as a Boy Scout, I learned at West Point, and in the Army. That is something that has been important all my life.”

Why he’s running

Webber swore an oath, at West Point, to defend and support the Constitution, and still feels “duty bound” to defend current attacks on “an absolutely brilliant document.” He said watching the current administration's consistent attacks on the law is deeply personal to him, and one of the main reasons he sought to run again.

“It really bothers me that not only is there all this corruption and dishonesty, but it's tolerated, and people aren't speaking out against it. It actually keeps me up at night.”

Webber is running a campaign with an emphasis on compromise and integrity in legislation, which he thinks is severely lacking. He referred to himself as a “true believer” in the Constitution.

“The heart of it is compromise. And to me, that is what’s needed to make democracy work.”

Lack of affordable housing, a significant issue across the country and the state, is also heavy on Webber’s mind.

Webber said the assessment on his own home, in Gilford, has almost doubled since 2020.

“Where are the starter homes? When starter homes are half a million dollars, the stereotypical American dream is out of reach.”

Webber also said one of his top issues is making housing affordable, so employees of local businesses can actually afford to live where they work.

The Granite State does not have sales or income tax, so the state is heavily reliant on property taxes to fund public education, which overburdens homeowners and intensifies the housing crisis. Webber said we have to find other “sources of revenue, so that we can reduce property taxes and still support education and essential services.” He said there are a number of things to be done, and they all come back to compromise.

He said his opponent, Lang, has supported legislation that hurt public education, and believes he “toes the party line too much,” and is not working to represent everybody in the district.

Webber thinks property taxes can be reduced without implementing sales and income tax, simply through bipartisan compromise.

Campaigning

Webber said across his three campaigns, his reasons for running have not changed, but his concerns for the country have increased since the 2024 election.

He said his favorite part of the campaign journey is speaking with voters about their concerns. Some politicians use canvassing apps to target and persuade specific voters, but Webber makes a point of knocking on every door, in keeping with his intent to represent everyone.

He said on the 2024 campaign trail, as a Democratic nominee, he was having conversations with residents who had Donald Trump signs in their yard. Webber thinks being a veteran helps him to bridge the ever-present party divide.

Now, with the primary just around the corner, Webber is finalizing designs for yard signs and printing rack cards, ready to head out next week and engage with voters.

“I plan to go out, and start going around in the local communities, talking to people and finding out what their concerns are. And telling them about where I'm coming from, and what's important to me.”

The Golden Middle

“I talk the talk, and I walk the walk,” he Webber. He thinks more of a focus is needed on protecting the climate and environment, to keep the Lakes Region a great place to live and visit. At his home, he has solar panels on his roof, and drives an electric truck.

“I’m concerned about the planet, what we’re leaving for our kids,” Webber said, noting some parts of the world have already become unlivable due to climate change. The Lakes Region relies heavily on tourism, making it important for the economy to protect and care for the environment.

To do so, Webber thinks it's all in the compromise. His oldest son, who studied Buddhism, told Webber about the concept of the “golden middle” or the “middle way.” It entails avoiding extremes, and Webber thinks it's a good way to look at things across the board, including politically.

“That’s not going to make the zealots on either side happy,” Webber said. “But, I think that’s going to make the majority of our population happy, when we have a functional democracy that’s not being gridlocked, because of implacable folks on both sides.”

If Webber is elected, he'll be in one of 24 seats in the state Senate. He would make it his priority during his first month in office to truly get to know the 23 other senators, and build relationships, regardless of party affiliation, to get things done.

Through his years in the Army, time spent volunteering, and in service to his community, Webber found that change comes from one-on-one conversations, and this will be his approach.

“I always found you got more done outside of meeting rooms, talking to people and trying to come to common ground,” Webber said. “Once you get into the formal meeting, people start digging their heels in.”

Throughout the rest of his campaign, and his potential term, Webber plans to work through state issues with integrity, honor, and compromise.

“It sounds corny, but it's really what I believe in, and who I am.”