Politics ain’t beanbag, and Executive Councilor Janet Stevens (R-Rye) is no stranger to tough campaign messaging.
But when signs suddenly appeared around the two-term Republican’s house highlighting the word ‘Die’ and sending voters to a Democrat-funded website featuring her name, even she was taken aback.
“The signs began to populate the district last Friday,” Stevens told NHJournal. “On Monday things got a little too close to home. In light of recent events there is no room for incendiary language within the sphere of political communication/elections.”
After winning a 55 to 45 percent victory over former state Sen. Jon Morgan (D-Brentwood) on Tuesday, Stevens posted a photo of the signs on her social media feed. “Chairman Buckley, don’t forget to pick up your trash,” she added.
According to the disclosure messaging, the signs were paid for by the state Democratic Party and its chairman, Ray Buckley.
Buckley and the state Democratic Party declined to respond to questions about their involvement.
The website labels Stevens an “extremist” who “would confirm judges that are hell-bent on controlling women.”
Stevens and other Republicans who spoke to NHJournal noted the 2024 election cycle has been marked by violence, including two attempts to assassinate Republican nominee Donald Trump. And Democrats from Vice President Kamala Harris to New Hampshire’s Buckley have called Trump a “fascist” and smeared his supporters as threats to democracy, language that could incite violence.
There is also a benign view of the sign: It could be an attempt to say Stevens wants to remove Granite Staters’ ability to “live free.” But it’s ambiguous at best and appears to be intentionally provocative.
The signs have certainly provoked outrage.
Chris Ager, chair of the New Hampshire GOP, did have a comment: “Not cool,” he told NHJournal. “Sick.”
On Twitter, state Sen. Regina Birdsell (R-Hampstead) offered her own take: “Yikes!”
