After holding this seat for over a decade, moderate Democratic Rep. Annie Kuster is calling it quits. The 67-year-old congresswoman announced Wednesday morning that she wouldn’t run for reelection, saying that she’d always planned to retire before she turned 70 (unlike many of her older colleagues).
Kuster was known for leading bipartisan efforts to support survivors of sexual violence and increase access to mental health care. And as chair of the New Democrat Coalition, she’s worked closely with many of the more centrist Democrats who represent competitive districts.
Her retirement could make this seat more vulnerable — but that largely depends on the caliber of the eventual Republican nominee.
Democrats have recruited Colin Van Ostern, a former member of the New Hampshire Executive Council who ran against Sununu in the 2016 gubernatorial race. Van Ostern, who managed Kuster’s first campaign, announced his campaign to succeed her today. Van Ostern is a familiar face who begins as a clear Democratic frontrunner: a former aide to Sen. Jeanne Shaheen who has worked as marketing executive for Stonyfield Farm yogurt and as a
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