Walter Havenstein
Walter Havenstein was a Republican candidate for Governor of New Hampshire in the 2014 elections.[1] He won the Republican primary on September 9, and took on Gov. Maggie Hassan (D) in the general election. Walter Havenstein lost the general election on November 4, 2014.
Biography
Havenstein served in the United States Marine Corps and Marine Reserves from 1971 until his retirement in 1999. He previously served as the chief executive officer of BAE Systems, Inc. and Science Applications International Corporation.[2]
Education
- Bachelor's degree, aerospace engineering, United States Naval Academy[2]
Elections
2014
Havenstein was a candidate for election to the office of Governor of New Hampshire. Havenstein won the Republican nomination in the primary on September 9, 2014.[1] The general election took place on November 4, 2014.
Results
Primary election
| Governor of New Hampshire, Republican Primary, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
 Walter Havenstein |
55.7% | 62,766 | ||
| Andrew Hemingway | 37.3% | 42,005 | ||
| Daniel Greene | 4.8% | 5,362 | ||
| Jonathan Smolin | 2.3% | 2,620 | ||
| Total Votes | 112,753 | |||
| Election results via New Hampshire Secretary of State. | ||||
General election
| Governor of New Hampshire, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Maggie Hassan Incumbent |
52.5% | 254,659 | |
| Republican | Walter Havenstein | 47.3% | 229,596 | |
| Nonpartisan | Scattering | 0.2% | 907 | |
| Total Votes | 485,162 | |||
| Election results via New Hampshire Secretary of State | ||||
Debates
August 12 Republican debate
Republican candidates Walter Havenstein, Andrew Hemingway and Jonathan Smolin debated economic policy and casino gambling at Franklin Pierce University. Havenstein argued for a reduced tax on business profits and budget cuts that he claimed would produce 25,000 jobs by 2017. Hemingway proposed a flat income tax rate, a decreased corporate tax rate and reducing regulations to strengthen businesses. Smolin suggested that the state could reduce or eliminate college tuition to keep young workers in New Hampshire.[3]
The three primary opponents disagreed on the prospect of casino gambling in the state. Havenstein argued against casinos on the grounds that they wouldn't significantly improve the economy. Hemingway was more amenable to casinos, suggesting that current groups that run charity gambling operations could oversee new casinos. Smolin voiced support for a small number of casinos to provide a boost to New Hampshire's economy.[3]
All three candidates found consensus in their opposition to the Affordable Care Act and support for school choice in New Hampshire public schools.[3]
Polls
General election
| General election - Major party candidates and "other" category | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Maggie Hassan | Walter Havenstein | Other | Undecided | Margin of error | Sample size | |||||||||||||
| New England College October 24, 2014 | 47.2% | 46.9% | 2.2% | 3.7% | +/-2.91 | 1,132 | |||||||||||||
| New York Times/CBS News/YouGov October 16-23, 2014 | 47% | 38% | 1% | 13% | +/-4 | 1,042 | |||||||||||||
| American Research Group Inc. October 19-22, 2014 | 53% | 43% | 0% | 4% | +/-4 | 600 | |||||||||||||
| CNN/ORC October 18-21, 2014 | 51% | 45% | 0% | 4% | +/-3 | 1,023 | |||||||||||||
| New England College October 9, 2014 | 48.7% | 43.5% | 2.7% | 5.1% | +/-2.98 | 1,081 | |||||||||||||
| New England College October 3, 2014 | 51.4% | 41.3% | 3% | 4.4% | +/-2.73 | 1,286 | |||||||||||||
| University of New Hampshire September 29-October 5, 2014 | 46% | 36% | 2% | 16% | +/-3.8 | 532 | |||||||||||||
| New England College September 19-20, 2014 | 52% | 39.6% | 3.8% | 4.6% | +/-2.54 | 1,494 | |||||||||||||
| AVERAGES | 49.54% | 41.66% | 1.84% | 6.85% | +/-3.25 | 1,023.75 | |||||||||||||
| Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org. | |||||||||||||||||||
| General election - Hassan v. Havenstein | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Maggie Hassan | Walter Havenstein | Undecided | Margin of error | Sample size | ||||||||||||||
| American Research Group October 27-29, 2014 | 48% | 46% | 6% | +/-4 | 600 | ||||||||||||||
| WMUR October 22-26, 2014 | 52% | 37% | 11% | +/-4.2 | 555 | ||||||||||||||
| American Research Group, Inc. September 27-29, 2014 | 55% | 40% | 5% | +/-4 | 600 | ||||||||||||||
| American Research Group, Inc. September 12-15, 2014 | 48% | 40% | 12% | +/-4.2 | 544 | ||||||||||||||
| Rasmussen Reports September 10-11, 2014 | 51% | 40% | 9% | +/-4 | 750 | ||||||||||||||
| AVERAGES | 50.8% | 40.6% | 8.6% | +/-4.08 | 609.8 | ||||||||||||||
| Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org. | |||||||||||||||||||
Primary election and hypothetical match-ups
| Hypothetical Match-up Poll Hassan vs. Republican candidates | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Maggie Hassan | Daniel Greene | Walt Havenstein | Andrew Hemingway | Jonathan Smolin | Max Abramson | Undecided | Margin of error | Sample size | ||||||||||
| Suffolk University June 14-18, 2014 | 52% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 15% | 3% | 31% | +/-- | 800 | ||||||||||
| Suffolk University June 14-18, 2014 | 51% | 0% | 0% | 17% | 0% | 3% | 29% | +/-- | 800 | ||||||||||
| Suffolk University June 14-18, 2014 | 51% | 0% | 19% | 0% | 0% | 3% | 28% | +/-- | 800 | ||||||||||
| Suffolk University June 14-18, 2014 | 53% | 13% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3% | 30% | +/-- | 800 | ||||||||||
| AVERAGES | 51.75% | 3.25% | 4.75% | 4.25% | 3.75% | 3% | 29.5% | +/-0 | 800 | ||||||||||
| Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org. | |||||||||||||||||||
Due to the nature of the match-up poll. A value of 0 was given to candidates not included in that round.
| Republican gubernatorial primary | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Daniel Greene | Walt Havenstein | Andrew Hemingway | Jonathan Smolin | Undecided | Refused | Margin of error | Sample size | |||||||||||
| Suffolk University June 14-18, 2014 | 4% | 13% | 7% | 2% | 72% | 3% | +/-- | 419 | |||||||||||
| Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org. | |||||||||||||||||||
Campaign themes
2014
Havenstein's campaign website listed the following themes for the 2014 race:
| “ |
When our elected officials walk up the State House steps, we expect them to put aside the partisan attitude of campaign season. Walking up the State House steps means that they have accepted a responsibility to use their best judgment on behalf of the entire state. As Governor, Walt Havenstein will restore integrity to New Hampshire’s campaign finance laws, close the Hassan Loophole allowing unlimited PAC contributions, and bring the light of open government back into the Governor’s Office. Walt Havenstein proposes a simple but sweeping reform to New Hampshire’s ethics laws: The State House Steps. 1) Independent Campaign Finance Review under the Secretary of State’s Office The Attorney Office makes no attempt to check campaign finance reports to ensure that candidates, political committees, and political parties are complying with state law. We rely on the two parties to police each other. By giving the Secretary of State’s Office, long recognized for its independence and impartiality, the authority to review and certify the campaign finance reports it collects, we can ensure that every campaign is playing by the same rules. Despite his membership on the 2012 Hassan fundraising committee, Attorney General Foster says he “probably will” recuse himself from investigating that campaign’s questionable fundraising practices. New Hampshire deserves impartial enforcement of our campaign finance laws. 2) Close Hassan Loophole Political Committees should be held to the same contribution limits as individuals. Candidate committees should not be allowed to accept more than the established limits from any source. PACs should not be allowed to contribute unlimited funds to candidates before they file for office, who then transfer those unlimited funds to their campaigns after they file. 3) Real penalties for campaign finance violations. The Secretary of State’s Office should impose fines on campaigns that accept illegal contributions, in addition to having them return those contributions. Repeated or excessive violations should be referred to the Attorney General’s Office for criminal prosecution. Maggie Hassan has had to return $33,000 in illegal campaign contributions, but faces no penalty for these serious violations. In fact, she has been allowed to keep thousands more in contributions from union PACs that have failed to comply with New Hampshire law. 4) Quarterly fundraising reports for elected officials, PACs, and political parties Incumbents should not be able to raise campaign cash for 18 of their 24 months in office without reporting who’s giving them money. Members of Congress must file quarterly reports of their fundraising, and New Hampshire officials who raise or spend more than $500 should be forced to do the same. 5) Ensure that the Governor’s Office is subject to the Right To Know Law Maggie Hassan claims that the Governor’s Office is completely exempt from New Hampshire’s Right To Know Law. This stretches a narrow exemption for providing confidential advice to the Governor to outrageous lengths, and should be reversed. The people of New Hampshire have as much Right To Know about the Governor’s Office as they do any state or local government agency. As Governor, Walt Havenstein will bring his office under the Right To Know Law. 6) Prohibit elected officials and staff from campaigning or fundraising on state property Not only did Maggie Hassan film her campaign’s television commercial in the Governor’s Office; she used her taxpayer-funded staff to assist her. She thinks there is nothing wrong in using state employees to run her re-election campaign out of the State House. As Governor, Walt Havenstein will prohibit campaigning or fundraising by state employees on state property. Political campaigns should stop at the State House steps. 7) 48-hour disclosure rule for all state contracts Maggie Hassan recently pushed the Executive Council to approve a $292 million contract just two hours after presenting it. Not only did the Council approve a contract it hadn’t read, but the people of New Hampshire never had a chance to see it before the vote. As Governor, Walt Havenstein will post all proposed contracts at least 48 hours prior to asking the Council for its approval. Hassan’s failure to notify the Council and the public of such an important contract shows her inability to manage New Hampshire’s finances. [4] |
” |
| —Walter Havenstein's campaign website, (2014) | ||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Havenstein and his wife, Judy, have one adult son and two grandchildren.[2]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Walter + Havenstein + New Hampshire + Governor"
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 New Hampshire Union Leader, Walter Havenstein's Granite Status: GOP 'excited' about business leader's potential run for governor, February 15, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Havenstein for Governor, "About Walt," accessed August 4, 2014
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Concord Monitor, "GOP’s governor hopefuls square off in N.H. debate," August 13, 2014
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Havenstein for Governor, "The State House Steps," August 17, 2014
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