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WEBVTT PROGRESSIVE AGENDA STATEWIDE. EXECUTIVE COUNCILOR ANDRU VOLINSKY IS LAYING THE GROUNDWORK TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR. IN AN EMAIL TO ACTIVISTS OBTAINED BY NEWSNINE, VOLINSKY WRITES, I AM LIKELY TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR IN NEW HAMPSHIRE IN 2020. IT IS A PATH THAT I HAVE BEEN ON FOR SOME TIME AND THINGS ARE FALLING INTO PLACE. THE COUNCILOR, WHO DECLINED TO COMMENT, WAS A VERY CLOSE SUPPORTER OF BERNIE SANDERS IN 2016, AND IS AMONG THE MOST VOCAL PROGRESSIVES HOLDING ELECTED OFFICE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. HE’S KNOWN FOR HIS WORK ON EDUCATION FUNDING LAWSUITS IN THE 1990’S AND ON THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HE’S GAINED A REPUTATION FOR PROSECUTORIAL QUESTIONING OF GOVENOR CHRIS SUNUNU’S APPOINTEES. >> ARE YOU ASKING ME TO DIFFER? >> YES. >> I DECLINED TO DEFER. >> VOLINSKY HAS ALSO DRAWN SCRUTINY FOR UNDERTAKING HIS OWN INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGATIONS OF BOOTLEGGING AT STATE LIQUOR STORES ULTIMATELY UNCOVERING, ACCORDING TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE, NOTHING ILLEGAL. BUT HE’S SHOWN A KNACK FOR TURNING CONSERVATIVE CRITICISM OF HIS AGENDA INTO A PLATFORM OF ITS OWN. >> YOU NEED TO BELIEVE IN THINGS, AND YOU NEED TO CLEARLY STATE WHAT IT IS YOU BELIEVE IN. >> THOSE BELIEFS WILL BE FRONT AND CENTER IN A STATEWIDE RACE. >> CAN HE FIX THE SCHOOL FUNDING ISSUE AS GOVERNOR WITHOUT PROPOSING AN INCOME TAX OR A SALES TAX? >> TOP REPUBLICANS THINK VOLINSKY IS GETTING WAY AHEAD OF HIMSELF. >> I THINK THIS SETS A NEW RECORD, LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AFTER A GOVERNOR’S BEEN INAUGURATED AND MOST OF NEW HAMPSHIRE IS TIRED OF ELECTIONS, THAT SOMEBODY’S ALREADY CONTEMPLATING A RACE FOR GOVERNOR >> ASKED TO COMMENT ON A POSSIBLE MATCH-UP WITH VOLINSKY GOVERNOR CHRIS SUNUNU SAID I , DON’T THINK ANYBODY CARES.

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Executive Councilor Andru Volinsky, one of the leading progressive voices in the New Hampshire Democratic Party, is telling activists he is “likely” to run for governor in 2020. In an email obtained by WMUR, Volinsky calls on close friends to help him begin the process of organizing. “I am fairly likely to run for Governor in NH in 2020. It is a path that I have been on for some time and things are falling into place,” Volinsky writes. In a nod to the fact that the potential 2020 field of Democrats seeking the corner office at the New Hampshire Statehouse could be crowded, Volinsky tells his friends that the time is now to begin raising money. “The need to raise funds right now is particularly acute,” Volinksy writes. Volinsky, who declined to comment on the email, has represented New Hampshire’s 2nd District on the Executive Council since 2017 and is just beginning his second term. He was a top supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders in the 2016 New Hampshire primary.Top Republicans said they think Volinsky is getting ahead of himself."I think this sets a new record," said Steve Duprey, Republican National Committee member. "Less than two weeks after a governor's been inaugurated and most of New Hampshire is tired of elections, that somebody's already contemplating a race for governor."Asked to comment on a possible matchup with Volinsky, Gov. Chris Sununu said, "I don't think anybody cares."