FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 14, 2020
Contact: Ally Livingston, alivingston@jeanneshaheen.org

Concord, N.H. – Senator Jeanne Shaheen redoubled her call for limiting special interest spending and blocking foreign meddling in New Hampshire’s election, joined by bipartisan leaders including former Ambassador Jim Smith, former Republican State Senator Rick Russman, Democratic State Senator Melanie Levesque, and Dan Weeks. Last week, Senator Shaheen’s Republican opponent, Corky Messner, refused to sign her Clean Elections Agreement, opening the door to influence from foreign adversaries and dark money that could drown out Granite State voices.

“New Hampshire voters deserve leaders focused on making a difference for them, and clean campaigns focused on the urgent issues affecting them,” said Senator Jeanne Shaheen. “Running a clean campaign means standing strong and opposing endless attack ads paid for by dark money groups, illegal attempts to suppress the vote, and foreign interference from our enemies. This is about standing up for our democracy, for the people of New Hampshire, and making sure their voice is heard in this election.”

“Right now, countries including Russia, China, Iran and other enemies of the United States are targeting American political campaigns, trying to create chaos and boost their preferred candidates,” said former Ambassador Jim Smith. “This is about protecting our nation. Not partisanship or personal preference. I am proud to see Senator Shaheen is continuing to stand tough against our enemies. Every person running for office should be able to clearly reject foreign assistance, dark money and tactics that damage our democracy at its core.

“Free and fair elections are essential for a functioning democracy, but maintaining our democracy takes work, and right now it’s under attack,” said former Republican State Senator Rick Russman. “I’m a Republican, but I’m joining together with Senator Shaheen and this bipartisan group because standing up for clean elections shouldn’t be a partisan issue. Senator Shaheen’s Republican opponent should join her in signing the Clean Elections Agreement because as Republicans, we must ensure the people’s voice is heard loud and clear.”

“The right to vote is the foundation of American democracy, yet across the country and even right here in our state, it’s under threat,” said Democratic State Senator Melanie Levesque. “For decades, illegal campaign tactics like mailers with false voting information have been used in New Hampshire. Protecting the voters’ voices and guaranteeing that all who want to participate have the opportunity to do so should be a priority for us all, Democrats and Republicans alike. I commend Senator Shaheen for standing up for New Hampshire voters and calling for a clean campaign.”

“Thanks to Citizens United, corporate special interests and dark money groups dump hundreds of millions of dollars into our elections with the goal of manipulating voters to advance their own agenda,” said Dan Weeks. “In a strong democracy, politicians are held accountable by the people, not by big corporations and super PACs. Senator Shaheen knows that when special interests flood the airwaves, it drowns out the voices of real voters. The Clean Elections Agreement would help us to stop big money in New Hampshire by discouraging outside spending in our elections this fall.”

The first woman in U.S. history to be elected both Governor and U.S. Senator, Jeanne Shaheen has led bipartisan efforts to hold our enemies accountable for foreign interference in our elections. Shaheen has cosponsored a constitutional amendment to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United that allowed dark money to flood our elections, and has consistently spoken about protecting the right to vote. If signed by both parties, Shaheen’s Clean Elections Agreement would require the candidates to denounce and report foreign assistance of any kind, to disavow illegal campaign tactics intended to suppress the vote, and to discourage super PAC spending with a pledge to donate 50 percent of the cost of any outside advertising to a charity agreed upon by both campaigns.

Social-distancing and masks were required at Shaheen’s Concord campaign event to ensure the health and safety of attendees and the media.

For more information, please visit www.JeanneShaheen.org. For photos of the event and the audio recording, email press@jeanneshaheen.org.

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