Candidates want to come to New Hampshire because politics is our state sport.
So says Neil Levesque, director of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics (NHIOP) at St. Anselm College.
The impact of New Hampshire’s unique place in American politics goes far beyond the state’s civic life. It impacts the Granite State’s economy and culture as well.
In this episode of Up to Speed, Levesque and NHJournal Managing Editor Michael Graham dive into why New Hampshire’s First-in-the-Nation presidential primary status matters, the state’s unique civic engagement, and NHIOP’s impact on national politics.
From hosting presidential candidates to fostering local civic programs like Politics and Eggs, learn how NHIOP shapes political discourse. Levesque shares anecdotes about figures like Donald Trump and Jeb Bush, and discusses the future of New Hampshire’s primary. In just 29 minutes, get up to speed on the Granite State’s political influence.
It’s all here in this episode of “Up To Speed,” sponsored by Legislative Solutions.
A few highlights:
How long has the New Hampshire Institute of Politics been at St. Anselm College?
LEVESQUE: Three days before September 11, 2001, U.S. Sen. Judd Gregg cut a ribbon here, creating the New Hampshire Institute of Politics. He was instrumental in the creation of (the NHIOP). As a result, we have a 20,000-square-foot facility devoted to civics. And if you take the context of the fact that three days before September 11 — those were attacks on our democracy — this is really important to our history.
How did Neil Levesque become part of the NHIOP?
Well, everyone in my family is a dentist. So I picked politics. They think I’m from outer space.
I was mentored by (former GOP Gov.) Hugh Gregg, who is Judd Gregg’s father. Hugh Gregg was a larger-than-life figure in New Hampshire. He really taught me politics. I worked for a long time on the congressional side of things.
In this business, people always come from either the right or the left. I do, but I’ve become the head of this nonpartisan institute. I always get asked by foreign visitors, ‘How do you not support one side or the other?’
The truth is, it’s like if you go to a boxing match. It’s not good if you know that the ref is biased towards one side or the other. Here, you need someone who is going to facilitate a good argument. We work very hard to bring in all sides.
Is there something different about New Hampshire voters, in your opinion?
There is absolutely a difference. I think that they engage in politics much more than any other state in the nation. Our voting numbers and our turnout numbers indicate that.
And on an engagement level, as far as civics goes, they’re not overwhelmed by the fact that, OK, here’s a U.S. senator standing in front of you and you’re asking them a question. Part of the reason is, if you live in a state like California with 54 electoral votes, you will never, ever meet your U.S. senator.
Meanwhile, more than half of the state of New Hampshire believes that Sen. Jeanne Shaheen should be on their Christmas card list.
It’s the fact that we have 400 legislators who make $100 a year — a lot of people, by the way, believe they’re overpaid — and they live down the street from you. You know who they are. And you feel like you’re pissed off about something or happy about something, you can go talk to them.
That matters, too. So, I think there are a lot of things in this recipe, but there is no doubt that the people of New Hampshire take politics seriously.
