Charles W. Morse (born October 11, 1960) is an American politician who served as president of the New Hampshire Senate and was acting governor of New Hampshire in 2017.[1] Morse represented New Hampshire's 22nd State Senate district from 2010 to 2022, having previously held the same office from 2002 to 2006.
Chuck Morse | |
|---|---|
| Acting Governor of New Hampshire | |
| In office January 3, 2017 – January 5, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Maggie Hassan |
| Succeeded by | Chris Sununu |
| President of the New Hampshire Senate | |
| In office December 2, 2020 – December 7, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Donna Soucy |
| Succeeded by | Jeb Bradley |
| In office September 3, 2013 – December 5, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Peter Bragdon |
| Succeeded by | Donna Soucy |
| Minority Leader of the New Hampshire Senate | |
| In office December 5, 2018 – December 2, 2020 | |
| Deputy | Jeb Bradley |
| Preceded by | Donna Soucy (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Donna Soucy |
| Member of the New Hampshire Senate from the 22nd district | |
| In office December 1, 2010 – December 7, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Michael Downing |
| Succeeded by | Daryl Abbas |
| In office December 4, 2002 – December 6, 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Arthur Klemm |
| Succeeded by | Michael Downing |
| Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from the 28th Rockingham district | |
| In office December 2, 1998 – December 4, 2002 | |
| Preceded by | Arthur Klemm |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 11, 1960 Salem, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Susan |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Plymouth State University (BS) |
In 2022, Morse was a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate in New Hampshire, placing second in the primary behind Donald Bolduc.[2][3] He also ran for governor in 2024, but lost to former New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte.
Biography
editMorse lives with his wife, Susan, and their daughter in Salem, New Hampshire. Morse received his bachelor's degree in business from Plymouth State University.[4][5] He is the owner of Freshwater Farms, a landscaping business and garden center in southern New Hampshire.[6]
Political career
editState legislature
editMorse served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives from 1998 through 2002.[7][8][9] He served in the New Hampshire Senate from 2002 through 2006 and led the Senate Finance Committee.[10] He ran for the Executive Council of New Hampshire in 2006, but lost the election to state Senator Beverly Hollingworth.[11] He returned to the New Hampshire Senate in 2010[10] by being elected in the 22nd district that fall. He was chosen as the president of the Senate, succeeding Peter Bragdon, in 2013.[12][13] Morse served on the Finance Committee and was responsible for crafting the state budget.
Morse was re-elected to his Senate seat in 2018, but the Republicans were in the minority by a margin of 14–10 in 2019–2020. The ten newly elected Republican members of the state senate chose Morse as their caucus leader shortly after the election. His successor as president was Democratic state senator Donna Soucy.
Morse was re-elected to his Senate seat in 2020 and the Republicans regained the majority by a margin of 14–10. The 14 newly elected Republican members of the state senate chose Morse as their candidate for senate president shortly after the election.[14]
In 2017, Morse served as acting governor of New Hampshire for two days, from when Maggie Hassan resigned as governor in order to join the United States Senate on January 3, 2017,[1] until Chris Sununu's inauguration on January 5. Morse was ceremonially introduced as governor before the legislature and State Senator Sharon Carson briefly assumed the role of Senate President during legislative proceedings. Morse's short stint as governor largely consisted of ceremonial activities in the governor's chamber, including signing proclamations and taking photos with members from his home district.[1]
U.S. Senate campaign
editIn 2022, Morse announced he would not seek re-election to the New Hampshire Senate and would instead seek the Republican nomination for United States Senate in the 2022 United States Senate election in New Hampshire.[2] It had been widely anticipated that Morse would seek a full term as Governor of New Hampshire in the 2022 election, however incumbent Republican Chris Sununu opted to seek reelection, causing Morse to shift course toward a U.S. Senate run.
Morse placed second in the primary, narrowly behind Donald Bolduc, and conceded the day after the primary.[3]
Following his defeat, Morse was named New Hampshire state chair of U.S. Term Limits.[15]
Gubernatorial campaign
editAfter Sununu announced that he would not run for reelection in 2024, Morse announced that he would run for the Republican nomination.[16]
Political positions
editEconomic
editAs a state senator, Morse has opposed a broad-based state sales or income tax, has advanced legislation aimed at reducing property taxes, and has focused on eliminating other state taxes, particularly the interest and dividends tax, which the newest state budget will phase out.[17]
Immigration
editAs a candidate for U.S. Senate, Morse has highlighted border security as a priority if elected, suggesting current U.S. policy related to border security is responsible for the presence of drugs, including fentanyl, in the state.[17]
Abortion
editMorse helped pass New Hampshire's 24-week late-term abortion ban and has opposed Roe v. Wade, advocating for states to determine abortion laws.[18]
References
edit- ^ a b c Ronayne, Kathleen (January 4, 2017). "Chuck Morse is in charge as N.H. governor, but only for 2 days". Concord Monitor. Archived from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
- ^ a b DiStaso, John (January 9, 2022). "Morse decides to run for US Senate, to file paperwork this week, formal launch later in month". WMUR. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
- ^ a b Caroline Vakil, Jared Gans (September 14, 2022). "Chuck Morse concedes to far-right candidate Bolduc in New Hampshire Senate primary to face Hassan". The Hill. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
- ^ "Chuck Morse". National Governors Association. January 3, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
- ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
- ^ DiStaso, John (January 9, 2022). "Chuck Morse Decides to Run for US Senate". WMUR. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
- ^ "Our Campaigns – NH State Senate 22 Race – Nov 05, 2002".
- ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
- ^ "The New Hampshire State Senate". gencourt.state.nh.us. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
- ^ a b "Downing runs for sheriff, Morse for NH Senate". The Eagle-Tribune. May 27, 2010. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
- ^ "Our Campaigns – NH Executive Council – District 3 Race – Nov 07, 2006".
- ^ Michael Brindley (August 27, 2013). "Senate Republicans Back Salem's Chuck Morse For President". NHPR. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
- ^ Ben Leubsdorf (August 27, 2013). "Sen. Chuck Morse set to become N.H. Senate president as GOP caucus unites behind him". Concord Monitor. Archived from the original on November 2, 2014. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
- ^ Joe Sweeney (November 5, 2020). "SENATE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS NOMINATES CHUCK MORSE AS SENATE PRESIDENT". New Hampshire GOP. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
- ^ Velasco, Donna (May 23, 2023). "Former State Senate President Chuck Morse Tapped As New Hampshire State Chair for U.S. Term Limits – U.S. Term Limits". Retrieved May 29, 2023.
- ^ "Chuck Morse announces he will run for governor; Kelly Ayotte teases 'big news in the coming days'". July 19, 2023.
- ^ a b Spencer, Ryan (March 6, 2022). "Stumping in Keene, Republican Chuck Morse makes case for US Senate". Keene Sentinel. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
- ^ Brooks, Anthony (April 14, 2022). "After Supreme Court leak, abortion takes center stage on the campaign trail in N.H." New Hampshire Public Radio. Retrieved June 14, 2022.