Colin Van Ostern
Colin Van Ostern (Democratic Party) was a member of the New Hampshire Executive Council, representing District 2.
Ostern (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent New Hampshire's 2nd Congressional District. He lost in the Democratic primary on September 10, 2024.
Biography
Colin Van Ostern earned his bachelor's degree in international relations and political science from the George Washington University and a master of business administration in general management from Dartmouth College. During his university years, he worked as a senior political advisor for several politicians including U.S. Congresswoman Ann McLane Kuster (D). He also operated a small business consulting firm from 2004 to 2007.
From 2006 until 2007, he also served as the associate director of public relations for the Tuck School of Business at Darmouth College, his alma mater. He has also worked as a brand manager for Stonyfield Farm, an organic yogurt company, and as a senior advisor for the College for America at Southern New Hampshire University. He was elected to the five-member New Hampshire Executive Council in 2012 and re-elected in 2014. Van Ostern represented District 2 on the New Hampshire Executive Council from 2013 to 2017.
Van Ostern lives in Concord, New Hampshire, with his wife, Kristyn, and two sons, Peter and Patrick.[1][2]
Elections
2024
See also: New Hampshire's 2nd Congressional District election, 2024
New Hampshire's 2nd Congressional District election, 2024 (September 10 Democratic primary)
New Hampshire's 2nd Congressional District election, 2024 (September 10 Republican primary)
General election
General election for U.S. House New Hampshire District 2
Maggie Goodlander defeated Lily Williams in the general election for U.S. House New Hampshire District 2 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Maggie Goodlander (D) | 52.9 | 211,641 |
![]() | Lily Williams (R) ![]() | 47.0 | 187,810 | |
Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 367 |
Total votes: 399,818 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Sterling Sykes (Independent)
- Ryan Donnelly (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House New Hampshire District 2
Maggie Goodlander defeated Colin Van Ostern in the Democratic primary for U.S. House New Hampshire District 2 on September 10, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Maggie Goodlander | 63.7 | 42,960 |
![]() | Colin Van Ostern | 36.1 | 24,342 | |
Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 160 |
Total votes: 67,462 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- John Neenos (D)
- Annie Kuster (D)
- Becky Whitley (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House New Hampshire District 2
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House New Hampshire District 2 on September 10, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Lily Williams ![]() | 35.6 | 22,040 |
Vikram Mansharamani | 26.7 | 16,565 | ||
![]() | Bill Hamlen ![]() | 15.9 | 9,860 | |
![]() | Paul Wagner | 3.8 | 2,329 | |
![]() | Casey Crane | 3.3 | 2,046 | |
![]() | Randall Clark ![]() | 3.0 | 1,866 | |
William Harvey | 2.8 | 1,743 | ||
![]() | Jay Mercer | 2.5 | 1,573 | |
Jason Riddle ![]() | 1.4 | 869 | ||
![]() | Robert D'Arcy | 1.2 | 714 | |
Michael Callis | 1.0 | 632 | ||
![]() | Tom Alciere ![]() | 1.0 | 623 | |
Gerard Beloin | 0.9 | 552 | ||
Other/Write-in votes | 0.9 | 533 |
Total votes: 61,945 | ||||
![]() | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Mark Kilbane (R)
- Hillary Seeger (R)
- Robin Ng (R)
Endorsements
Ostern received the following endorsements.
- U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster (D)
2016
Van Ostern filed to run as a Democratic candidate for Governor of New Hampshire in 2016.[2] He competed with former Portsmouth mayor Steve Marchand, former Deputy Secretary of State Mark Connolly, author Derek Dextraze, and radio host Ian Freeman in the September 13 Democratic primary election. He competed with Executive Councilor Chris Sununu, who won the Republican nomination, Libertarian Sean Goward, and independents Bill Fortune and Jilletta Jarvis in the November 8 general election.
Chris Sununu defeated Colin Van Ostern and Max Abramson in the New Hampshire governor election.
New Hampshire Governor, 2016 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Republican | ![]() |
49% | 354,040 | |
Democratic | Colin Van Ostern | 46.7% | 337,589 | |
Libertarian | Max Abramson | 4.3% | 31,243 | |
Total Votes | 722,872 | |||
Source: The New York Times |
Colin Van Ostern defeated Steve Marchand, Mark Connolly , Ian Freeman and Derek Dextraze in the New Hampshire Democratic primary for governor.
New Hampshire Democratic primary for governor, 2016 | ||
---|---|---|
Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
![]() |
51.99% | 37,694 |
Steve Marchand | 25.29% | 18,338 |
Mark Connolly | 20.47% | 14,839 |
Ian Freeman | 1.47% | 1,069 |
Derek Dextraze | 0.77% | 557 |
Total Votes (300 of 300 precincts reporting) | 72,497 | |
Source: AP |
Endorsements
Ostern received the following endorsements.
- U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster (D)
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Colin Van Ostern did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2016
Van Ostern's campaign website included the following positions:
- On education: "Colin will work with educators and state and local school boards to lift the restriction that is preventing more school districts from launching PACE pilot programs. This would reduce our reliance on standardized tests while maintaining appropriate learning standards for kids at every grade. ... Fully funding universal full-day kindergarten will improve our schools while also helping more working parents fully participate in the workforce. ... New Hampshire cannot afford to refuse fast-growing school districts a proportional increase in state funding for their students, as has happened in recent years. Additionally, the state should consider how to reinstitute a more sustainable building aid program to support local building construction projects that are in clear need. ... Colin will work with employers and lawmakers to bring more support and clear accountability measures to our public higher education institutions to ensure that funds are used to help more young people graduate and get good-paying jobs ... ."[3]
- On energy and the environment: "Van Ostern is a strong advocate for clean energy, and he’ll increase investment in solar and renewable energy. He believes solar energy projects are critical for boosting our clean tech economy, limiting energy costs, protecting our environment, and creating thousands of jobs. ... Colin has not supported previous and current versions of the Northern Pass transmission line project over concerns that some of the remaining overland transmission towers would negatively impact New Hampshire’s tourism economy."[4]
- On healthcare: "To support a healthier and stronger workforce and New Hampshire population, Colin will work with legislators to make the healthcare coverage recently extended to nearly 50,000 citizens permanent. ... Colin will support healthcare payment and delivery reforms to ensure that insurers and providers are paid for keeping people well, not just paid when they are sick or injured ... [and] will stop any efforts to restrict New Hampshire women’s right to choose their own health care decisions without political interference. ... As Governor, Colin will fight against monopolization of insurance and health care delivery, and will boost efforts to use price transparency to bring down medical costs."[5]
- On gun control: "As a gun owner and hunter, Colin knows that comprehensive background checks and other common-sense gun violence prevention measures can keep New Hampshire a safe place to live while protecting the rights of responsible, law abiding gun owners."[5]
- On medical marijuana: "Colin will work with legislators to ensure that the state’s recently-implemented medical cannabis program doesn’t restrict medically-sound usage for chronic pain conditions that are safely treated by the drug. He will support legislation that would allow New Hampshire to join every other New England state in decriminalization ... ."[5]
Campaign finance summary
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See also
2024 Elections
External links
Candidate U.S. House New Hampshire District 2 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Colin Van Ostern," accessed August 28, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Colin Van Ostern, "Meet Colin," accessed AUgust 28, 2016
- ↑ Colin Van Ostern, "Strengthening Our Schools & Making College Affordable," accessed August 28, 2016
- ↑ Colin Van Ostern, "Protecting Our Environment & Natural Resources," accessed August 28, 2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Colin Van Ostern, "Building a Healthy Future: Expanding Access to Affordable Healthcare & Keeping Communities Safe," accessed August 28, 2016