Primary Source: Donors active in Twin States

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren picked up a liberal endorsement this week, winning the backing of the Working Families Party, which in 2016 had supported U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders’, I-Vt., presidential campaign.

“We’re proud to endorse Elizabeth Warren and her fight for an America for the many, not the powerful and privileged few,” the Brooklyn-based grassroots group, which is active in several states, said on its web page. “We’re committed to organizing nationwide to help her win and to make sure that the issues that matter to working families remain at the center of this primary campaign.”

There’s a bit of a lull in New Hampshire campaign visits after the state Democratic Party convention earlier this month.

Among Democrats, fundraising totals from the end of June show that South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg; Sanders; and Warren enjoyed strong showings in collecting campaign cash in New Hampshire.

Buttigieg raked in $85,239 in the Granite State, including $5,000 from filmmaker Ken Burns, of Walpole, N.H., $2,800 from Lyme Timber founder David Roby, and a like amount from Tillman Gerngross, an entrepreneur and professor at Dartmouth’s Thayer School of Engineering.

Sanders took in $67,874 through June from New Hampshire residents, according to the Federal Election Commission results, while Warren reported $56,286 in such donations. Former Vice President Joe Biden reported $40,986 in donations from the state, while U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., brought in $33,532.

Across the Connecticut River in Vermont, Sanders took in $117,104 from his home state, including $2,000 from renewable energy developer David Blittersdorf and $500 from Green Mountain Power CEO Mary Powell.

Warren reported $36,400 in Vermont donations, including $515 from Jennifer Langhus, a music teacher from Norwich.

Buttigieg took in $27,845 from the Green Mountain State, including $1,000 from former Windsor County State’s Attorney Robert Sand, now a professor at Vermont Law School.

Among the other notable Buttigieg donations was the $2,800 from Norwich resident Jane Stetson and another $2,800 from her husband, Bill.

The Stetsons were early and enthusiastic supporters of Barack Obama in 2008, and they also donated $2,800 apiece earlier this year to Biden’s campaign. Jane Stetson served as national finance chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee for a good chunk of the Obama-Biden administration.

Biden reported a total haul of $14,307 from Vermont during the quarter that ended June 30.

The biggest fundraiser in New Hampshire for the cycle was President Donald Trump, who reported $125,319 in donations from the state. Not surprisingly, given Vermont’s antipathy towards him, Trump didn’t fare as well in the Green Mountain State, taking in $20,946.

Among the donors was Jeffrey Steinkamp, a retiree from Rochester, Vt., who is a regular and reliable GOP donor and has given the Trump campaign $1,575.

Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski this week tweeted out a website raising money for his possible Republican bid to unseat U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and highlighted his support from the president.

“I think Corey would be ‘fantastic,’ ” the fundraising appeal says, attributing the quote to Trump.

Democrats, needless to say, have a different opinion about Lewandowski, who lives in Windham, N.H.

The American Bridge 21st Century Super Pac on Wednesday unveiled an ad running on social media in New Hampshire, mimicking a movie trailer and suggesting Lewandowski is beholden to Trump and “big tobacco,” among other entities.

Before working for Trump’s campaign, Lewandowski was the state director of Americans for Prosperity-New Hampshire, the advocacy group funded in part by the Koch brothers.

■ Former state Rep. Steve Negron, R-Nashua, recently announced a “senior leadership team” for his second bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H.

The team includes former House Speaker Donna Sytek, R-Salem, and Plainfield Republican Virginia Drye.

■ Upper Valley Democrats are sponsoring a forum titled “Women and Political Participation: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities” on Monday evening at the Upper Valley Senior Center in downtown Lebanon.

Speakers include Jennifer Frizzell, director of policy at New Hampshire Women’s Foundation, with panelists including Jenn Alford-Teaster, a Sutton Democrat considering a second run for a Newport-area New Hampshire Senate seat, and state Rep. Linda Tanner, D-Sunapee.

■ State Sen. Martha Hennessey, D-Hanover, not only endorsed U.S. Sen. Cory Booker for president last week, she’s also squarely on board backing Senate Majority Leader Dan Feltes, D-Concord, in his run for governor.

John P. Gregg can be reached at jgregg@vnews.com.