Want to Meet Potential Presidential Candidates? Head to Manchester, NH
Join supporters, members of the press and candidates as they travel to the region during primary season.
Grabbing coffee. Going for a walk. Getting lunch. For most people, everyday activities won’t lead to crossing paths with a potential presidential candidate, but for residents of Manchester, NH, the odds are pretty good.
As the largest city in the state that holds the nation’s first primary, Manchester welcomes a broad group of presidential hopefuls every election cycle. And with them come supporters and members of the press, looking to cover the democratic process.
“Residents in Manchester know you could be walking down the street, eating at a restaurant or shopping at a store, and you just might run into a presidential candidate,” Mayor Joyce Craig says. “This is one of the many things that make our city unique and a wonderful place to live, work and play.”
How candidates perform in New Hampshire often makes or breaks campaigns. So, it’s critical to participate in rallies, town halls, book signings and other events to meet voters. Candidates visit local schools, small businesses and the historic Millyard, a key site for the innovative bio-fabrication industry.
“Manchester is often at the center of political campaigns during primary season,” says Jeff Barraclough, executive director of the Manchester Historic Association. “The months leading up to the New Hampshire presidential primary provide the first major test of a candidate as he or she takes time to meet with voters and make the case why they are the best candidate for their party.”
Manchester, NH, is Critical to the Presidential Election
A perk of Manchester playing such a large role during primary season is traveling to and from the city is a cinch. It’s situated right off Interstate 93. The nearby Manchester-Boston Regional Airport regularly earns accolades, including the Readers’ Favorite Domestic Airport designation in 2023 by Travel + Leisure, and continues adding airlines. But the city’s outsize political role predates these amenities.
According to the New Hampshire Historical Society, the Granite State selected delegates during its first-ever primary in 1916. (Primaries were still a new concept at the time.) In 1920, New Hampshire held its primary earlier in the year than any other state and has kept that status as “first in the nation” ever since. In 1948, the state legislature updated the primary law so residents could vote directly for presidential candidates.
New Hampshire’s important role played out for the first time in the 1952 elections. In the Democratic race, Sen. Estes Kefauver defeated the Democratic incumbent, President Harry Truman, sinking his reelection prospects. The 1952 election’s eventual winner, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, claimed victory in the Republican primary after supporters added his name to the ballot before he officially ran.
According to Barraclough, New Hampshire has sealed many other candidates’ fates, with the city being a key decider.
“Manchester’s large Roman Catholic population helped propel John F. Kennedy to victory in the 1960 Democratic primary in New Hampshire,” he says. “Following his victory in New Hampshire, Kennedy continued to campaign for president in the state and held his final campaign address in Manchester at Victory Park on Nov. 7, the night before the election.”
Lyndon B. Johnson’s reelection bid fizzled out after a poor performance in New Hampshire in 1968. And Jimmy Carter’s campaign skyrocketed after an impressive showing in the state in 1976.
No matter the candidates or the unique issues dominating the election cycle, Manchester residents relish the ability to be on “the front lines,” Barraclough adds.
“We have the opportunity to meet candidates in a small setting, ask them questions and hear directly from them how they plan to address major issues facing our country,” he says. “The experiences of New Hampshire residents – and Manchester residents, specifically – make us very informed voters to help shape the future direction of the country.”
Election Hot Spots in Manchester, NH
Curious where in Manchester you should visit during primary season? Restaurants known to draw crowds of candidates, media and supporters include Chez Vachon, the Red Arrow Diner and the Puritan Backroom.
For book signings, Bookery Manchester has been a staple for wide-ranging candidates, according to owner Liz Hitchcock. While Bookery doesn’t actively seek these in-store cameos, the store welcomes the opportunity to be involved in the primary.
“We’re lucky enough to live in a community where everyone really cares about their civic duty. While we don’t do events, per se, a lot of events come to us. We’ve been able to host many different primary candidates in our space and also many different politicians in general,” Hitchcock says. “We’re not a specific Republican or Democrat location. We try to remain very bipartisan and hope that everyone can come and have civil, civic discourse within our walls, discussing the things that are important to them.”
In 2020, the city hosted multiple First in the Nation events, including a trolley tour, a scavenger hunt and a trivia night with live music at the Rex Theatre. Hitchcock believes this mix of rich history, a vibrant arts scene, along with technology and economic development, shows why New Hampshire should continue to hold the nation’s first primary election.
“We continue to change in ways that are best for our community and for the citizens of Manchester,” she says. “Manchester is just an amazing place to live because it’s always transforming itself.”
Craig sees the city’s role in the primaries as an opportunity to show how government can better serve constituents. This goes beyond creating opportunities for residents to speak with politicians, from forums with presidential candidates to community office hours at the mayor’s office. It also includes increasing accessibility through initiatives like offering free bus fares to polling places on election day.
“We always want to be more accessible so everyone can take part in our political process,” she says. “It’s always an exciting time to be politically engaged and to have the ability to send a message to the entire nation about the importance – and energy – around our electoral process.”
This article was sponsored by the Manchester Economic Development Office.