Politics & Government

Former Army General From NH Launches U.S. Senate Bid

Don Bolduc, a New Hampshire native who served in Afghanistan, is hoping to win the GOP nod to challenge U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen in 2020.

Don Bolduc, a former brigadier general in the U.S. Army, launched a bid for Senate in New Hampshire on June 24, 2019.
Don Bolduc, a former brigadier general in the U.S. Army, launched a bid for Senate in New Hampshire on June 24, 2019. (Tony Schinella | Patch)

CONCORD, NH — A former brigadier general of the U.S. Army who grew up in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire launched a U.S. Senate bid for the Republican nomination to challenge two-term incumbent Democrat Jeanne Shaheen. Don Bolduc, who served in the military for nearly four decades, as a commander in Afghanistan and Africa, while winning numerous awards for valor and service, announced his Senate bid at the VFW Post 1631 in Concord in front of dozens of supporters.

The candidate — who was born and raised in Laconia but now lives in Stratham — said he has spent many months seeking the counsel of his wife — "my mentor" — other family members, friends, and the citizens of New Hampshire about a potential Senate race, in an effort to bridge the divide between two warring political factions in the country who were getting nothing done.

One of the biggest problems facing the United States, Bolduc said, was the people's lack of trust in their leaders. Trust, he stated, had eroded to the level of contempt. Political battles and winning the next election were more important than working for the interests of the citizens.

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"We can't solve problems, as a nation, if we are divided," he said. "And please know, we are divided. And that division threatens everything – from the economy to national security – and if unchecked, it will threaten the futures of our children and our country. We need to change this and we will change this."

Bolduc was light on specific policy proposals but said he would work to solve some of the nation's biggest problems. He said most of that focus should be on the local level – with power and resources filtered down from the power-base of the District of Columbia to local communities.
"Ineffective representation has led to the centralization of power in Washington, D.C., and that has not worked at all," he said.

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The solutions to problems like health care, violence, and drugs were at the local level.
Bolduc said he would follow the Constitution as it was written, and focus on the core values codified in it, which was about preserving the basic rights of the people. Bolduc added that he would self-select to step down if he was unable to do the job.

Politicians and the "1 percenters" couldn't be more disconnected to the citizens of the state and nation, Bolduc added. He wondered how politicians could go down to Washington and become millionaires – while not working toward the best interests of the people. He added that 1 percent of the nation's residents who served in the military were the true 1 percenters.

"The truth hurts and sometimes, it needs to be said," he said. "This is not what serving the greater good looks like. It will not change unless we change. We need to get back to the basics. We must get this right."

While he said he respected the incumbent, for her many years in the political arena, Shaheen "has been part of the failed leadership in Congress and it's time for a change."

Bolduc said he had lived in some of the most difficult conditions in life whether it was growing up in New Hampshire, working on the family farm, or serving overseas in war zones. He said he was prepared to be attacked for being politically inexperienced – even though he actually did have experience.

"If you don't think my job in the military wasn't political, you're sadly mistaken," he quipped. "Others will attack me. They'll spend millions to find out every which way to come at me … fine … because that means their backs are up against the wall. When they start doing that, I'm going to smile ... that little crooked smile that all Bolducs have. That expression that says, 'We've got you now, right where we want you.'"

Got a news tip? Send it to Tony Schinella at tony.schinella@patch.com. View more videos at https://www.youtube.com/user/tonyschinella. And don't forget to follow the New Hampshire Patch Politics Twitter account @NHPatchPolitics for all our political coverage.


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