NH House candidate in Dover area who faced police investigation drops out of race

DOVER — Andrew Kennedy, one of four Democrats on the primary ballot for three seats representing Madbury, Lee, and Dover Ward 4 in the New Hampshire House, has decided to suspend his campaign.

Kennedy, a former state representative from Manchester under the name Andrew Bouldin, has been the subject of news stories by NH Journal, a right-wing media outlet, regarding an investigation into him by the Manchester Police Department in 2023. A police report was obtained by Foster's Daily Democrat and Seacoastonline. Kennedy was never charged.

Kennedy denied wrongdoing and said he decided to permanently suspend his campaign to focus on his family.

“My wife and I have been practically living in Mass General Hospital since July 25th where we have a new premature baby in the NICU that we are focused on, and I do not wish to drag them through this political gauntlet,” he said. Kennedy said he took his wife’s name upon getting remarried.

Despite exiting the race, Kennedy's name will still appear on the ballot Tuesday, Sept. 10, in Dover Ward 4, Lee and Madbury.

Three incumbent Democrats on ballot

Kennedy's departure leaves the three candidates uncontested in the Democratic primary for Strafford County District 11. They are incumbent representatives Erik Johnson, Thomas Southworth, and Janet Wall. Johnson is running for his second term in the House, Southworth his sixth, and Wall her 20th.

Republicans Joe Bazo, Denis Grenier and Bill Taylor are unopposed in the primary. The three Democrats will be expected to win election in November in the heavily blue district.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH House candidate in Dover area who faced investigation exits race