Republican U.S. Senate candidates in New Hampshire said they could, if elected, support a bill codifying same-sex marriage at the federal level.
DEMOCRATS COURT REPUBLICANS ON SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BILL WITH RELIGIOUS LIBERTY PROTECTIONS
Senate Democrats are attempting to pass same-sex marriage protections with the Respect for Marriage Act. But in order to do so, they need to secure 10 Republican votes to clear the upper chamber’s filibuster threshold. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has vowed a vote on the legislation in the coming weeks, but just a handful of Republicans have offered their support so far.
At a Thursday-evening Granite State debate ahead of the state’s primary contest on Sept. 13, the candidates were asked if they could support the measure.
State Senate President Chuck Morse, who was endorsed earlier Thursday by Gov. Chris Sununu, and businessman Vikram Mansharamani both said “yes.”
Former Londonderry town manager Kevin Smith said he would support the bill with appropriate religious liberty protections.
Retired Army Brig. Gen. Don Bolduc, the front-runner in the contest, spoke supportively of same-sex couples he commanded during his career but argued New Hampshire has “figured this out” and said, “They’re trying to politicize something that’s not a problem.”
Libertarian Bruce Fenton said he supports the right of people to marry anyone they want but that the government should be “entirely out of the marriage business.”
Senate Democrats have argued the bill is necessary in the wake of a June Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, citing a concurring opinion by Justice Clarence Thomas that appeared to welcome legal challenges to other rulings by the court, including contraception and same-sex marriage.
Among the Senate Republicans who have stated their opposition to the bill, most have argued there is no serious effort underway to strip same-sex couples of federal protections, while others have sought to enhance religious liberty protections in the legislation. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Rob Portman (R-OH) are Republican sponsors of the bill, while a third Republican, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), has indicated he would support the legislation. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), who supports same-sex marriage more broadly, is also seen as a likely “yes” vote.
The Respect for Marriage Act passed in the House with 47 Republican votes in July.
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The winner of the GOP nomination in New Hampshire will go on to run against Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) in November.
