ABOUT MANCHESTER DEMOCRATS

Manchester is the largest city in New Hampshire with a population of 110,000 people, and has a rich and storied history. The city was founded in 1846, and was quickly established as an industrial powerhouse, churning out thousands of miles of cloth every week and becoming the largest textile producer in the world by the late 19th century. Waves of immigrants from Canada, Ireland, Greece, Poland and other areas of Europe flooded the city in search of employment in the textile mills until the early 1900s, when economic and natural disasters precipitated their collapse. Since that time, the city and its workers have struggled to revitalize Manchester's economy, infrastructure, and neighborhoods. Today a once depressed mill town is thriving with new business and industry, public and private investment in infrastructure, and dozens of cultural and entertainment venues for its citizens. Manchester has been recast by its citizens as the economic and cultural center of New Hampshire.

Manchester has long been the heart of the Democratic Party in New Hampshire. Throughout the 20th Century, Manchester was home to many of the successful state and federal Democratic politicians including Gov. John King, Sen. John Durkin, and Congressman Norm D'Amours.

By the mid-1990s, however, Republicans had made inroads in the city, holding the office of mayor and a majority on the Aldermanic Board. But like the fortunes of the city itself, the Democratic Party in Manchester has been experiencing a renaissance. In 1999, Mayor Bob Baines defeated ten year incumbent Ray Wieczorek, a conservative Republican, and ushered in an era of Democratic dominance on the Aldermanic and School Boards. In city elections since 2001, Democrats continued to build steam in city, and now hold five citywide positions, eleven out of fourteen spots on the Aldermanic Board, as well as a healthy majority on the School Board.

Manchester has become the keystone of any Democrat's political fortunes in New Hampshire. Jeanne Shaheen was successful here during her three runs for governor, but lost Manchester in her unsuccessful Senate bid in 2002. Al Gore won Manchester narrowly in 2000, but a bigger vote would have given him New Hampshire's four electoral votes and the presidency. Bill Clinton's wins in Manchester in 1992 and 1996 propelled him to statewide wins, and similarly Hillary Clinton won the First in the Nation primary after winning Manchester in 2008. The roadmap to victory runs right through the Queen City.

Manchester is also home to numerous former State Democratic Party chairs. State Chair Ray Buckley iserved for a number of years as Manchester City Democrats chair before stepping down to be the State Party chair. Several of his predecessors also call Manchester home, including Kathy Sullivan, Joe Keefe, George Bruno, Chris Spirou, Romeo Dorval, and Bill Craig. Other Manchester Democrats have been known for their longevity of service. Dan Healy served Manchester as a state representative for 52 years until 1998. Bill Cashin was the Dean of the Aldermanic Board, serving 32 years and stepping down in 2001. Kathy Sullivan was the longest serving State Democratic Party Chair before stepping down in 2007.

The rise of the Democratic Party to majority status is due in large part to the success of the party locally in the Queen City.  In 2008, President Obama, Governor Lynch, Senator Shaheen, and Congresswoman Shea-Porter all romped to victory in Manchester.  Democrats captured two out of three state Senate seats here in the 2006 and 2008 elections, giving the party the chamber's majority.  And the Democrats have won 80% of the state representative seats in the past two elections, and now hold 28 out of the 35 members that Manchester sends to the legislature. 

By registration numbers, the party has also increased its advantage over the Republicans since 2002, when the two parties were roughly split.  Democrats now enjoy a registration edge in all twelve wards for the first time in history. In 2002, Republicans actually had the edge in five of twelve wards. Since then, however, Democrats have gained 6,558 voters. Republicans have sunk fast and are now third behind Democrats and undeclareds in eleven of twelve wards. There are now 25,044 Manchester Democrats, 19,195 Republicans, and 24,035 undeclared voters.