SD-18

State Sen. Betsi DeVries (D-Manchester) has won re-election in state senate district 18.

DeVries defeated challenger Doug Kruse (R-Manchester) in one of the most closely watched state senate races in the state.

GOFFSTOWN--In their second debate, state Sen. Ted Gatsas (R-Manchester) said that his opponent Bob Backus (D-Manchester) wants to "kill the American dream."

Gatsas made the comment after Backus criticized deregulation of Wall Street in a debate sponsored by the Manchester Mayor's Youth Advisory Council.

GOFFSTOWN--Both candidates in the state Senate District 18 race agreed that spending and the state budget are the most important issues facing the state.

Doug Kruse (R-Manchester) and state Sen. Betsi DeVries (D-Manchester) participated in their only debate, which was sponsored by Manchester's Mayor's Youth Advisory Council.

Candidates running for the three state senate districts held three separate debates on Manchester Community Access Media (MCAM).

In state senate district 16 Bob Backus (D-Manchester) debated state Sen. Ted Gatsas (R-Manchester), while in district 20 state Sen. Lou D'Allesandro (D-Manchester) faced-off against Jason Sakellar (R-Manchester), but in district 18 Doug Kruse (R-Manchester) was alone, since state Sen. Betsi DeVries (D-Manchester) decided not to participate in their debate.

State Sen. Betsi DeVries (D-Manchester) campaigning in Manchester: Photo Credit: PolitickerNH.com

MANCHESTER--On this brisk fall morning state Sen. Betsi DeVries campaigned door-to-door for her re-election campaign.

The Manchester Democrat, also a member of the Board of Aldermen, was also pulling double-duty has she listened to complaints from constituency. DeVries reminded voters she met about a public comment hearing for a proposed recycling center and mentioned the state's home heating assistance program. One voter even handed her a list of concerns.

DeVries is running for re-election against Manchester school board member Doug Kruse in senate district 18.

Doug Kruse waiting to hear from a voter in Manchester: Photo Credit: PolitickerNH.comMANCHESTER--Knocking on doors on a Saturday morning might be a nerve-wracking experience for some politicians, but for Doug Kruse it was just another day on the campaign trail.

Kruse, a Manchester school board member, is running for the state senate against incumbent state Sen. Betsi DeVries (D-Manchester) in Senate District 18.

"I feel very encouraged about this race," Kruse told PolitickerNH.com as he campaigned in Manchester's Westwood neighborhood.

State senate candidate Doug Kruse (R-Manchester): Photo credit: PolitickerNH.comState Senate candidate Doug Kruse (R-Manchester) launched with his campaign Wednesday with the theme that "it's time to choose Kruse."

Kruse, an employee of Spectrum Marketing, is running against state Sen. Betsi DeVries (D-Manchester) for the district 18 seat.

The Manchester school board member said he is running to lower government spending in Concord.

Manchester school board member Doug Kruse (R-Manchester) has announced the co-chairs of his state Senate campaign.

Mayor Frank Guinta (R-Manchester), Executive Councilor Ray Wieczorek (R-Manchester) and at-large school board member Debra Gagnon-Langton (D-Manchester) will help lead Kruse's campaign.

State Senate candidate Doug Kruse (R-Manchester) will officially launch his campaign on August 6th with a fundraiser.

The kick-off event and fundraiser with take place at Manchester's The Belmont Hall & Restaurant on Grove Street.

State Senate candidate Doug Kruse (R-Manchester) has begun laying the cornerstones of his campaign.

Kruse has announced members of his finance committee and has hired Kristy Roney to manage his campaign. Roney was Mitt Romney's field director during the New Hampshire primary.