Advertisement After contested race, Bill Shaheen elected to third term as NH Democratic National Committeeman Senate President Donna Soucy wins uncontested bid for Democratic National Committeewoman, succeeding Kathy Sullivan Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Longtime Democratic Party leader Bill Shaheen fended off a challenge from rising star activist Carlos Cardona on Saturday to win a third term as Democratic National Committeeman from New Hampshire.>> Download the free WMUR appThe result of several days of balloting by members of the Democratic State Committee was announced by party officials a few hours after the voting ended at 12 p.m. The party opted for ballots instead of a traditional voting at an in-person meeting due to social distancing guidelines amid the COVID-19 pandemic.In the same balloting, state Senate President Donna Soucy was uncontested in her bid for Democratic National Committeewoman, succeeding former state Democratic chair Kathy Sullivan, who did not seek a fourth term as a DNC member.Party officials did not release the vote tallies, although officials said the remote “turnout” was a record, as more than 88 percent of the state committee’s 265 members cast ballots.Shaheen told WMUR he was “thankful” to members. Cardona posted his comment on Twitter.Soucy said, “I am honored to have been elected DNC woman. I have some big shoes to fill but look forward to working with the New Hampshire delegation to preserve our first-in-the-nation primary."Among several roles, the state’s representatives on the national committees on either side of the political aisle are charged with working to protect the first-in-the-nation status of the New Hampshire presidential primary as the national parties construct their delegate selection calendars for the 2024 election cycles.Shaheen’s third term, and Soucy’s first term, will begin at the close of the Democratic National Convention in August.Shaheen, Soucy – and challenger Cardona – all pledged to protect the primary against a concerted effort by some forces on the DNC to take away the primary’s leadoff role in the next calendar.State law mandates that the New Hampshire primary is first in the nation, seven days ahead of any similar election, every four years. But if the state ignores the calendars set by the political parties, the parties could choose not to recognize the results and not to award delegates. They can also threaten candidates with the possibility of withholding delegates if they campaign in states that hold contests not approved by the national parties. For an in-depth look at today’s DNC election, read WMUR’s detailed preview, published earlier this week.Also on Saturday, the party wrapped up the process of selecting delegates to this year’s convention, which may be held remotely – that has not yet been finally decided.Sens. Bernie Sanders and Amy Klobuchar, and former Mayor Pete Buttigieg, earned convention delegates based on their showings in the Feb. 11 primary, even though all of them later dropped out of the race. The presumptive nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, earned no New Hampshire delegates because he failed to reach the required 15 percent threshold in the primary.But since all of the delegates are pledged, but not “bound,” they are free to change their allegiance during the convention and it is possible that the New Hampshire delegation will end up casting all of its votes for Biden. That remains to be seen, however.New Hampshire Democrats will have 24 pledged delegates participating in the convention, as well as nine automatic “superdelegates,” who are the four members of the state’s congressional delegation and other top party officials.Sixteen of the 24 pledged delegates were awarded immediately after the primary, based on the number of votes they received in candidate caucuses held in each congressional district ahead of primary election day.At that time, Sanders received six; Buttigieg, six; Klobuchar, four.Those 16 delegates today chose the eight additional pledged delegates.Sanders and Buttigieg received three more, and Klobuchar received two more.After the Saturday voting, the NHDP posted the names of its finalized delegation to the convention. They can be seen here. NHDP Chair Raymond Buckley, in an email to the state committee members, congratulated the DNC candidates and delegates and applauded the 88 percent voting participation rate. He wrote:"A few minutes ago the votes were counted for the Democratic National Committee positions with a record turnout of 88% of the members voting. Once again NH Democrats are seeing a surge of participation at the polls and in our party. "Congratulations to Senate President Donna Soucy on her election to the Democratic National Committeewoman and to Bill Shaheen on his reelection as the Democratic National Committeeman. Their terms will begin at the conclusion of the 2020 Democratic National Convention and last through 2024."Many thanks to Laconia City Democratic Chair Carlos Cardona for running a great campaign. We look forward to him leading the successful effort in Laconia and all of Belknap County!"I also want to express my sincere and deep appreciation to Kathy Sullivan for her 21 years of brilliant leadership on the Democratic National Committee. She has become a true legend in our state and nationally. Once we can all get together we should throw her an appreciation party."Thank you everyone for voting. On to victory in November!"