If there’s a plan for the GOP establishment to clear the NH-01 primary field for Seacoast businessman Anthony DiLorenzo, so far it’s not working — on either the candidates or their supporters.
The same is true for Democrats counting on Stefany Shaheen’s family name to lock up their party’s nomination without a serious contest.
News that DiLorenzo, an auto dealership owner and developer, is likely to get into the primary has been widely known in Granite State political circles. And yet this week, the Associated Builders and Contractors NH/VT Chapter (ABC) endorsed businesswoman Hollie Noveletsky.
“Hollie Noveletsky embodies the values that make New Hampshire strong — hard work, integrity, and a commitment to community,” said Josh Reap, CEO of ABC NH/VT. “She’s the fighter we need in Congress to stand up for our industry and the Granite State’s interests.”
This comes on the heels of Noveletsky getting the endorsement of Maggie’s List, a federal political action committee dedicated to electing conservative women to Congress. Noveletsky finished second in the 2024 primary.
Another sign DiLorenzo is unlikely to get a free ride to the nomination came when Speaker of the House Sherm Packard endorsed Rep. Brian Cole (R-Manchester) in the NH-01 race on Monday. Cole followed up by announcing Thursday that he raised more than $253,000 in the quarter that ended Sept. 30.
“These strong fundraising results and endorsements show that people are ready for new leadership that is committed to lowering costs, strengthening our economy, securing our borders, and making government work for the people again,” Cole said.
Bedford Republican Melissa Bailey is also in the race but has not released any fundraising numbers.
And former New Hampshire Federation of Republican Women President Elizabeth Girard filed with the Federal Election Commission in August but has not been heard from since. An email to her campaign regarding her finances did not receive a response.
Chris Bright, who ran in 2024 and was the first announced GOP candidate this cycle, dropped out of the race a week ago and plans to back DiLorenzo, assuming he becomes a candidate.
Money has been a major challenge for New Hampshire Republicans running for Congress. With the exception of Karoline Leavitt in 2022, every GOP nominee has been significantly outspent in congressional general elections. That’s one reason some Republican insiders are excited about a DiLorenzo candidacy. They believe he can leverage his ability to self-fund into more support from the national GOP.
But Democrats running in the NH-01 primary don’t show any signs of struggling for campaign funds.
In the second quarter, Stefany Shaheen reported more than $525,000 — the sort of number expected from the daughter of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who’s retiring in 2026.
But the younger Shaheen was outpaced by Marine veteran and Obama administration official Maura Sullivan, who raised more than $750,000 in the same quarter. Sullivan lost the nomination to Chris Pappas in 2018.
Neither Shaheen nor Sullivan has announced their third-quarter numbers, but there is already another fundraising surprise in this primary. First-time candidate Christian Urrutia reports raising $400,000 from nearly 10,000 contributions. It’s a result that raised eyebrows in Granite State Democratic circles.
“It’s impressive,” one campaign veteran told NHJournal on background. “Let’s see if he can keep it up.”
Urrutia is an unapologetic progressive who works as an attorney and “proudly serves as an officer in the New Hampshire Army National Guard.” He embraces Medicare for All, taxpayer-funded political campaigns, and free two-year college and trade school.
His campaign spokesperson told NHJournal, “The more than $400,000 raised by this campaign in its first quarter includes roughly $340,000 in grassroots donations from nearly 10,000 people who want a leader to fight for change and put people first.”
Urrutia’s progressive politics have earned him the support of former Executive Councilor Andru Volinsky, who’s serving as his campaign chair.
“In his very first quarter, Christian is within striking distance of candidates with every advantage of establishment backing,” Volinsky said in a statement. “This is the power of ideas over entitlement.”
Meanwhile, the Union Leader’s Kevin Landrigan reports that another primary candidate, Democrat Carleigh Beriont of Hampton, has raised “a respectable $230,000.”
Nonprofit director Sarah Chadzynski and state Rep. Heath Howard (D-Strafford) are also seeking the Democratic nomination.
