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Chuck Morse

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This article is about the New Hampshire politician. For the journalist, see Chuck Morse (journalist). For the anarchist, see Chuck W. Morse.
Chuck Morse
President of the New Hampshire Senate
In office
December 2, 2020 – December 7, 2022
Preceded byDonna Soucy
Succeeded byJeb Bradley
In office
September 3, 2013 – December 5, 2018
Preceded byPeter Bragdon
Succeeded byDonna Soucy
Minority Leader of the New Hampshire Senate
In office
December 5, 2018 – December 2, 2020
DeputyJeb Bradley
Preceded byDonna Soucy (acting)
Succeeded byDonna Soucy
Acting Governor of New Hampshire
In office
January 3, 2017 – January 5, 2017
Preceded byMaggie Hassan
Succeeded byChris Sununu
Member of the New Hampshire Senate
from the 22nd district
In office
December 1, 2010 – December 7, 2022
Preceded byMichael Downing
Succeeded byDaryl Abbas
In office
December 4, 2002 – December 6, 2006
Preceded byArthur Klemm
Succeeded byMichael Downing
Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
from the 28th Rockingham district
In office
December 2, 1998 – December 4, 2002
Preceded byArthur Klemm
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
Personal details
Born (1960-10-11) October 11, 1960 (age 64)
Salem, New Hampshire, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseSusan
Children1
EducationPlymouth State University (BS)

Charles W. Morse (born October 11, 1960) is an American politician who served as president of the New Hampshire Senate and was once acting governor of New Hampshire.[1] Morse has represented New Hampshire's 22nd State Senate district since 2010, having previously held the same office from 2002-2006.

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]

Biography

Morse 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

State legislature

Morse 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]

Governor of New Hampshire

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, 2017.

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

Main article: 2022 United States Senate election in New Hampshire

In 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]

Political positions

Economic

As 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.[15]

Immigration

As 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.[15]

Environment

As a state senator, Morse has referenced his landscaping and gardening business as influencing his understanding of environmental issues. Morse has voted against protection for wetlands, solar energy and net-metering due to his opposition to government regulation.[16]

Abortion

In 2017, Morse voted for SB66 which authorized murder charges for an individual who causes the death of a fetus.[17] Morse 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] He has consistently voted against measures creating buffer zones around abortion clinics.[17]

References

  1. ^ a b c Ronayne, Kathleen (January 4, 2017). "Chuck Morse is in charge as N.H. governor, but only for 2 days". Concord Monitor. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ a b Caroline Vakil, Jared Gans (2022-09-14). "Chuck Morse concedes to far-right candidate Bolduc in New Hampshire Senate primary to face Hassan". The Hill. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
  4. ^ "Chuck Morse". National Governors Association. Retrieved 2022-05-29.
  5. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
  6. ^ DiStaso, John (2022-01-09). "Chuck Morse Decides to Run for US Senate". WMUR. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  7. ^ "Our Campaigns - NH State Senate 22 Race - Nov 05, 2002".
  8. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2022-01-29.
  9. ^ "The New Hampshire State Senate". gencourt.state.nh.us. Retrieved 2022-01-29.
  10. ^ a b "Downing runs for sheriff, Morse for NH Senate". The Eagle-Tribune. May 27, 2010. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
  11. ^ "Our Campaigns - NH Executive Council - District 3 Race - Nov 07, 2006".
  12. ^ Michael Brindley (August 27, 2013). "Senate Republicans Back Salem's Chuck Morse For President". NHPR. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ Joe Sweeney (November 5, 2020). "SENATE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS NOMINATES CHUCK MORSE AS SENATE PRESIDENT". New Hampshire GOP. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  15. ^ a b Spencer, Ryan (2022-03-06). "Stumping in Keene, Republican Chuck Morse makes case for US Senate". Keene Sentinel. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
  16. ^ Kaufman, Alexander (2022-02-01). "GOP Senate Hopeful: My Landscaping Means 'I Do More For Climate Change Than Anyone'". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  17. ^ a b "Chuck Morse's Voting Records on Issue: Abortion". Vote Smart. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
  18. ^ Brooks, Anthony (2022-04-14). "After Supreme Court leak, abortion takes center stage on the campaign trail in N.H." New Hampshire Public Radio. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
New Hampshire House of Representatives
Preceded by
Arthur Klemm
 Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
from the 28th Rockingham district
1998–2002 		Constituency abolished
New Hampshire Senate
Preceded by
Arthur Klemm
 Member of the New Hampshire Senate
from the 22nd district
2002–2006 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the New Hampshire Senate
from the 22nd district
2010–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by Minority Leader of the New Hampshire Senate
2018–2020 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by President of the New Hampshire Senate
2013–2018 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Acting Governor of New Hampshire
2017 		Succeeded by
Preceded by President of the New Hampshire Senate
2020–present 		Incumbent
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