Paul Hodes

Paul Hodes
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Hampshire's 2nd district
In office
January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2011
Preceded by Charles Bass
Succeeded by Charles Bass
Personal details
Born Paul William Hodes
March 21, 1951
New York, New York
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Peggo Horstmann Hodes
Residence Concord, New Hampshire
Alma mater Boston College Law School (J.D.)
Dartmouth College (A.B.)
Occupation Attorney
Religion Judaism[1]
Website U.S. Representative Paul Hodes

Paul William Hodes[2] (born March 21, 1951) is an attorney, musician, and the former U.S. Representative for New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district, serving from 2007 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He 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 left Congress in January 2011 and was replaced by Charles Bass. In 2011, Hodes was named as a board member of the Public Advisory Board of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College.[3] Hodes has joined the boards of ADL, New England and the NJDC (National Jewish Democratic Council). Since 2011, Hodes has served as President of the Economic Innovation Institute, a political advocacy organization.

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.[4] 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.[5] 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 .[5] 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 an award-winning children's musician with whom Hodes has recorded and performed as "Paul & Peggo."[6] The couple won the 1996 Parent's Choice Honors Award for their album "Patchwork Quilt" and performed at the White House.[7]

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.[8] 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

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.[9]

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

In a rematch held on November 7, 2006, Hodes defeated Bass 53% to 46%.[10]

2008 U.S. House campaign

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 Senate seat held by outgoing Senator Judd Gregg, who did not seek re-election. Hodes was defeated by Republican nominee Kelly Ayotte, the former New Hampshire Attorney General. Libertarian Ken Blevens and Independent Chris Booth were also on the ballot.

Electoral history

Year Office Election Subject Party Votes % Opponent Party Votes % Opponent Party Votes %
2004 Congress, District 2 General Paul Hodes Democratic 125,280 38.17 Charles Bass Republican 191,188 58.25 Richard Kahn Libertarian 11,311 3.45
2006 Congress, District 2 General Paul Hodes Democratic 108,634 52.71 Charles Bass Republican 94,012 45.61 Ken Blevens Libertarian 3,305 1.60
2008 Congress, District 2 General Paul Hodes Democratic 188,332 56.4 Jennifer Horn Republican 138,223 41.4 Chester LaPointe Libertarian 7,121 2.1
2010 U.S. Senate General Paul Hodes Democratic 166,538 36.7 Kelly Ayotte Republican 272,703 60.1 Chris Booth Independent 9,285 2.1

Personal life

Hodes and his wife Peggo live in Concord, New Hampshire. They have two children, Max and Ariana.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Harris, Ben. Hodes: Obama’s Jewish booster in N.H. Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 8 January 2008.
  2. ↑ "Paul William Hodes (D)". The Washington Post.
  3. ↑ http://www.anselm.edu/News/Former-US-Congressman-Paul-Hodes-Joins-NHIOP-Public-Advisory-Board.htm
  4. ↑ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/reps/hodes.htm
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Chelsea Conaboy (December 28, 2006). "For some, the Hodes name might evoke 'ballot' before 'ballad,' but the couple is an enduring musical force]". The Concord Monitor (NH). Retrieved June 4, 2010.
  6. ↑ Shawn Macomber (January 12, 2003). "Homegrown Harmony: For Peggo & Paul, music is part of the package". Foster's Sunday Citizen..
  7. ↑ "Singers Invited to the White House". Boston Globe. December 5, 1996.
  8. ↑ Paul Hodes Project VoteSmart
  9. ↑ Glenn Thrush and John Bresnahan (February 26, 2010). "Dems call for Charlie Rangel's gavel". Politico.
  10. ↑ Anne Saunders (November 8, 2006). "Hodes unseats Bass in New Hampshire's second congressional district". Associated Press.
  11. ↑ "Paul W. Hodes". National Endowment For The Arts. Retrieved December 18, 2013.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Paul Hodes.


United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Charles Bass		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district
2007–2011 		Succeeded by
Charles Bass
Party political offices
Preceded by
Doris Haddock		 Democratic nominee for United States Senator from New Hampshire
(Class 3)
2010 		Succeeded by
current