RNC member may seek Gregg's Senate seat

Portsmouth businessman Sean Mahoney told UnionLeader.com today he is “taking the next step in exploring” a candidacy for the state’s open U.S. Senate seat.

Mahoney, 43, is one of New Hampshire’s three representatives on the Republican National Committee and is the publisher of Business New Hampshire magazine. He has been the producer of the annual Made in New Hampshire Buy It-Try It Expo.

Mahoney is also a Portsmouth native who has long been active in state GOP politics -- including a stint as party finance chair -- but has never held elective office. He said that for the past several months, he has been quietly considering running for the seat being vacated next year by Republican Sen. Judd Gregg.

“Within the past several weeks, I have had conversations with a number of serious campaign professionals who are New Hampshire-based,” Mahoney told UnionLeader.com, naming veteran consultant David Carney of Hancock-based Norway Hill Associates.

Carney confirmed, “Yes, we have spoken and discussed his options. Sean would be a formidable candidate were he to enter the race. Mahoney’s background, experience and his values would track nicely with the expectations voters have for their next US Senator.

“With the field in flux and other serious candidates exploring their options,” Carney said, “one thing is clear: New Hampshire has a number of top tier candidates who may yet seek the open U.S. Senate seat.”

http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=RNC+member+may+seek+Gregg%27s+Senate+seat&articleId=18dd4429-cfa9-4903-9a0e-45803132e116