Paul Hodes

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Paul Hodes

|image = Paul Hodes official 110th Congress photo.jpg

|state = New Hampshire

|district = {{ushr|NH|2|2nd}}

|term_start = January 3, 2007

|term_end = January 3, 2011

|predecessor = Charlie Bass

|successor = Charlie Bass

|birth_name = Paul William Hodes

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|3|21}}

|birth_place = New York City, U.S.

|death_date =

|death_place =

|party = Democratic

|spouse = Peggo Horstmann

|children = 2

|education = Dartmouth College (BA)
Boston College (JD)

|signature = Paul Hodes signature.png

}}

Paul William Hodes{{cite news |url=http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008/elections/nh/house/875/paul-william-hodes/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |title=Paul William Hodes (D) |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120713193443/http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008/elections/nh/house/875/paul-william-hodes/ |archivedate=2012-07-13 }} (born March 21, 1951) is an American lawyer, musician, and former U.S. representative for {{ushr|NH|2}}, serving from 2007 to 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party, and was New Hampshire's first Jewish representative.

Hodes was an unsuccessful candidate for the Senate seat being vacated by Judd Gregg in 2010, losing to former New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte. He was succeeded in the House of Representatives by Charles Bass.

After leaving Congress, Hodes was named as a board member of the Public Advisory Board of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College.{{cite web |url=http://www.anselm.edu/News/Former-US-Congressman-Paul-Hodes-Joins-NHIOP-Public-Advisory-Board.htm |title=Former U.S. Congressman Paul Hodes Joins NHIOP Public Advisory Board : Saint Anselm College |accessdate=2011-05-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161208045335/http://www.anselm.edu/News/Former-US-Congressman-Paul-Hodes-Joins-NHIOP-Public-Advisory-Board.htm |archivedate=2016-12-08 }} Hodes served on the boards of ADL, New England and the NJDC (National Jewish Democratic Council). In 2012, Hodes was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the US Senate to a position on the National Council on the Arts. He has subsequently worked as a green energy consultant with Shanti Energy, LLC and became Of Counsel at the law firm of Shaheen & Gordon, P.A. He also hosts radio programs on WKXL.

Early life, education and career

Hodes was born in New York City in 1951, the son of Florence R. (née Rosenberg) and Robert Bernard Hodes. His ancestors were Jewish immigrants from Russia, Poland, and Austria.{{cite web |url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/reps/hodes.htm |title=Hodes |website=freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com |access-date=3 February 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120630211308/http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/reps/hodes.htm |archive-date=30 June 2012 |url-status=dead}} Hodes graduated from The Collegiate School in 1968 and from Dartmouth College in 1972. At Dartmouth, Hodes majored in French and Theater. In the fall of 1971, Hodes spent a semester studying theater at the National Theater Institute at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, CT.{{cite news |author=Chelsea Conaboy |url=http://www.concordmonitor.com/print/83049 |title=For some, the Hodes name might evoke 'ballot' before 'ballad,' but the couple is an enduring musical force] |work=The Concord Monitor (NH) |date=December 28, 2006 |accessdate=June 4, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407200222/http://www.concordmonitor.com/print/83049 |archivedate=April 7, 2014 }} In 1978, Hodes graduated from Boston College Law School.

Arts and entertainment career

Hodes began playing guitar at age 15. Throughout his adult life, he has been both a performer and active member of the arts and entertainment communities. After graduating from Dartmouth College, Hodes spent three years acting, writing, and working on radio shows. While in law school, he acted in the Boston Arts Group . In the 1990s, Hodes was instrumental in the creation of the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord, and previously served on the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts. In 2012, President Obama appointed Hodes to the National Council for the Arts which advises the chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. In addition to re-invigorating his performing career, Hodes now manages musical acts including Hawk & Dove, Black Cosmic and Larksong trio through Big Round Music, LLC.

Hodes's wife Peggo is a children's musician with whom Hodes has recorded and performed as "Paul & Peggo."{{cite news |author=Shawn Macomber |url=http://premium1.fosters.com/2003/news/jan_03/jan_12/news/art_0112.asp |title=Homegrown Harmony: For Peggo & Paul, music is part of the package |work=Foster's Sunday Citizen. |date=January 12, 2003 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711021344/http://premium1.fosters.com/2003/news/jan_03/jan_12/news/art_0112.asp |archivedate=July 11, 2011 }} The couple won the 1996 Parent's Choice Honors Award for their album "Patchwork Quilt" and performed at the White House.{{Cite news |title=Singers Invited to the White House |work=Boston Globe |date=December 5, 1996}}

Law career

Hodes worked as an attorney with the New Hampshire Department of Justice from 1978 until 1980. He was an Assistant Attorney General from 1980 until 1982, when he left to serve as a special prosecutor. From 1983 until 1996 he was in private practice.[http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=42473 Paul Hodes] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123045427/http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=42473 |date=November 23, 2010 }} Project VoteSmart He is now of Counsel to the firm of Shaheen & Gordon, P.A. in Concord, New Hampshire.

U.S. House of Representatives

=Committee assignments=

=Other membership and leadership positions=

American-Canadian Inter-Parliamentary Working Group
President of the freshman class of 2006
Board Member, Capitol Center for the Arts, 1990–1996, 2002–present
Board Member, New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, 1998–present
Board Member, New Hampshire Children's Alliance, 1998–2000
Board Chair, Capitol Center for the Arts, 1990–1996

Political positions

In September 2008, Hodes voted against the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, also known as "the financial bailout bill", which enacted the Troubled Asset Relief Program ("TARP").

He voted for the American Clean Energy and Security Act (commonly referred to as "cap and trade"), as well as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Hodes was one of the first Democrats to demand that Representative Charlie Rangel surrender his Ways and Means chairmanship in the wake of the Ethics Committee finding that he violated House rules.{{cite news |author=Glenn Thrush and John Bresnahan |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0210/33594.html |title=Dems call for Charlie Rangel's gavel |work=Politico |date=February 26, 2010}}

Political campaigns

=2004 U.S. House campaign=

Hodes ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat for United States House of Representatives in 2004 against incumbent Charles Bass in New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district.

=2006 U.S. House campaign=

{{See also|2006 United States House of Representatives elections in New Hampshire#District 2}}

In a rematch held on November 7, 2006, Hodes defeated Bass 53% to 46%.{{cite news |author=Anne Saunders |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2006/NH/2006-11-07-house_x.htm |title=Hodes unseats Bass in New Hampshire's second congressional district |agency=Associated Press |date=November 8, 2006}}

=2008 U.S. House campaign=

{{See also|2008 United States House of Representatives elections in New Hampshire#District 2}}

In 2008, Hodes was re-elected winning with approximately 56% of the vote.

Hodes endorsed Barack Obama in the 2008 New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary.

=2010 U.S. Senate campaign=

Hodes was chosen as the Democratic nominee for the United States Senate seat held by outgoing Republican senator Judd Gregg, who did not seek re-election. Hodes was defeated by Republican nominee Kelly Ayotte, the former New Hampshire Attorney General. by a vote of 273,218 (60%) to 167,545 (37%).

=2020 New Hampshire Senate campaign=

Hodes ran as a Democrat for the New Hampshire Senate from the 15th district, but lost in the primary to Becky Whitley.

Post-electoral career

On February 16, 2019, Hodes joined the presidential campaign of Democratic candidate Marianne Williamson as a senior campaign advisor and New Hampshire state director.{{cite tweet|last=DiStaso|first=John|user=jdistaso|number=1096799674902724609|title=JUST IN to @WMUR9 - Democratic presidential candidate @marwilliamson lands top NH campaign advisor - Former US Rep. @PaulHodes signs on as Senior Campaign Advisor & NH State Director. They have a busy #fitn schedule on tap. #nhpolitics #WMUR|date=February 16, 2019|accessdate=March 1, 2019}}

Electoral history

!Year

!Office

!Election

!Subject

!Party

!Votes

!Opponent

!Party

!Votes

!Opponent

!Party

!Votes

|2004

|Congress, District 2

|General

|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Paul Hodes

|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic

|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|125,280

|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|38.17

|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Charles Bass

|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican

|{{Party shading/Republican}}|191,188

|{{Party shading/Republican}}|58.25

|{{Party shading/Libertarian}}|Richard Kahn

|{{Party shading/Libertarian}}|Libertarian

|{{Party shading/Libertarian}}|11,311

|{{Party shading/Libertarian}}|3.45

|2006

|Congress, District 2

|General

|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Paul Hodes

|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic

|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|108,634

|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|52.71

|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Charles Bass

|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican

|{{Party shading/Republican}}|94,012

|{{Party shading/Republican}}|45.61

|{{Party shading/Libertarian}}|Ken Blevens

|{{Party shading/Libertarian}}|Libertarian

|{{Party shading/Libertarian}}|3,305

|{{Party shading/Libertarian}}|1.60

|2008

|Congress, District 2

|General

|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Paul Hodes

|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic

|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|188,332

|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|56.4

|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Jennifer Horn

|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican

|{{Party shading/Republican}}|138,223

|{{Party shading/Republican}}|41.4

|{{Party shading/Libertarian}}|Chester LaPointe

|{{Party shading/Libertarian}}|Libertarian

|{{Party shading/Libertarian}}|7,121

|{{Party shading/Libertarian}}|2.1

|2010

|U.S. Senate

|General

|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Paul Hodes

|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|Democratic

|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|166,538

|{{Party shading/Democratic}}|36.7

|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Kelly Ayotte

|{{Party shading/Republican}}|Republican

|{{Party shading/Republican}}|272,703

|{{Party shading/Republican}}|60.1

|{{Party shading/Independent}}|Chris Booth

|{{Party shading/Independent}}|Independent

|{{Party shading/Independent}}|9,285

|{{Party shading/Independent}}|2.1

Personal life

Hodes and his wife Peggo live in Concord, New Hampshire. They have two children, Max and Ariana.{{cite web|url= http://arts.gov/about/national-council-arts/paul-w-hodes|title= Paul W. Hodes|publisher= National Endowment For The Arts|accessdate= December 18, 2013}}

References

External links

{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100127092939/http://www.paulhodesforsenate.com/ Paul Hodes for US Senate]}} official campaign site
{{CongLinks | congbio=h001043 | votesmart=42473 | fec=H4NH02175 | congress= }}
[http://www.dartmouth.edu/~dvp/browse.html Oral history interview] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202010025/https://www.dartmouth.edu/~dvp/browse.html |date=2021-02-02 }} through the [http://www.dartmouth.edu/~dvp/index.html Dartmouth Vietnam Project] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220003252/http://www.dartmouth.edu/~dvp/index.html |date=2020-02-20 }}
{{C-SPAN|1018918}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district|years=2007–2011}}

{{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from New Hampshire
(Class 3)|years=2010}}

{{s-ttl|title=Order of precedence of the United States
{{small|as Former US Representative}}|years=}}

{{USCongRep-start|congresses= 110th–111th United States Congresses |state=New Hampshire}}

Category:1951 births

Category:20th-century American lawyers

Category:21st-century American Jews

Category:21st-century American lawyers

Category:21st-century New Hampshire politicians

Category:American children's musicians

Category:American political consultants

Category:American people of Austrian-Jewish descent