Progressive State Rep. Paige Beauchemin Challenges Maggie Goodlander in NH-02 Democratic Primary
CONCORD, N.H. — A progressive New Hampshire state representative filed papers Tuesday to challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Maggie Goodlander in the Democratic primary for the state’s 2nd Congressional District, setting up an intraparty contest over the direction of the party ahead of September’s vote.
Paige Beauchemin, who currently serves in the state legislature, submitted her candidacy at the Secretary of State’s Office, framing her campaign around working-class representation in a Congress she argues has largely left ordinary Americans behind.
“Only 2% of Congress are working people,” Beauchemin said. “If we want things to change, we’re the ones that are going to do it.”
A Progressive Challenge From the Left
Beauchemin’s candidacy draws a clear ideological line against Goodlander, who won the seat in 2024. Her campaign is explicitly targeting Goodlander’s record on immigration enforcement and foreign policy fundraising.
Central to Beauchemin’s critique is Goodlander’s vote in favor of the Laken Riley Act, a law that mandates detention of undocumented immigrants and has been widely criticized by civil liberties advocates for stripping due process protections. Goodlander was one of approximately 46 House Democrats who crossed the aisle to support the measure.
“The Laken Riley Act required detention of immigrants and took away due process,” Beauchemin said, adding that Goodlander “takes lots of Israel-aligned donations” — a reference to growing progressive frustration over Democratic members’ ties to pro-Israel donor networks amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.
Working-Class Representation as a Central Theme
Beauchemin is positioning herself as a distinctly working-class candidate in a race where economic identity may prove as decisive as policy positions. The contrast she is drawing is not merely ideological — it is structural, pointing to a Congress dominated by lawyers, executives, and the wealthy.
She expressed confidence that direct voter contact would drive her campaign forward. “When you get me in front of people, my authenticity comes through so strongly,” she said.
What’s at Stake
NH-02 has historically been competitive, making the Democratic primary outcome consequential for November. A primary challenge from the left forces Goodlander to defend votes — like her support for the Laken Riley Act — that progressive and base Democratic voters have found deeply troubling.
The September primary will test whether New Hampshire Democrats are prepared to reward incumbency and institutional backing, or whether they are ready to send a candidate to Washington who reflects the progressive and working-class wing of the party.