Election of the Senate President

Written by Andrew Horn of Amherst, NH.

The House lacking action, I press play on the video.

“—the Senate to order. All rise please,” says Tammy Wright, Clerk of the Senate. It’s 10:09 am. “The Senate will be attentive to our Chaplain, Rev. Mark Warren, for the prayer.”

“I see new faces and old friends,” the Chaplain begins. “I've had the privilege of serving as a chaplain for the last four years. One of your chaplains. And I just want to let you know before the session starts, I make myself available to you. … I'm here to serve you guys. But let's pray. Lord, … as they begin this new session, we ask for your wisdom and guidance in their decisions, your strength to sustain them, your peace to steady their hearts. May they approach their work with humility, integrity, and a deep sense of responsibility for those that they represent. Lord, we hold to the promise of your word that if anybody lacks wisdom, let them ask you who generously gives it to them without reproach, and it will be given to them. ... Amen.”

As the body pledges allegiance to the flag, two young boys poke their heads up from the Clerk’s station, otherwise vacant until the President of the Senate is elected. The boys look around, curious and bored. One of them mouths something while the other grasps and lets go of the railing.

Organization Day is highly ceremonial, so family is often allowed on the floor.

In the Senate, they have a second camera, directed at the Senators’ desks. I see the Senators faces as each responds “here” to the call of the roll. It takes less than a minute.

“So we have 24 present,” says the Clerk. “I just got to hold on just a minute to see if the governor’s ready to come down. Grant just went. So let's just recess for a second.”

White text appears over the frame: “The Session will resume shortly.” The camera tilts up. In the center of the frame is a chandelier with 24 bulbs and the arched tops of two paintings depicting the lives of remembered early Granite Staters.

“Can you have Steve shut the door?” says the Clerk. “At this time on the first Wednesday in December and the year of our Lord 2024 being the day prescribed by the Constitution for the Legislature of New Hampshire to assemble. And the Honorable Christopher T. Sununu, the governor of the state of New Hampshire, will be accompanied by the Honorable Executive Council. They'll come into the Senate chamber and will subscribe your oath of office, witness the signing of your oath by each individual Senator, and verify that they're duly qualified as Senators, agreeable to the provision of the Constitution. So if you open up your blue folder on your desk, you'll find your oath is there. And after you take the oath, you sign it. And then make sure someone up front here gets your oath so we can deliver it to the Secretary of State's office, or we'll collect it. Now we have to wait for the governor.”

The Clerk looks off to the right. She looks expectantly, pursing her lips for a moment. Shifts her weight and looks to the left. Then back to the right. She rests her hands on the dais, folded, looking forward. And the camera tilts up again, telling me the Session will resume shortly.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the Honorable Executive Council,” says the Sergeant-at-Arms.

Applause.

One of the Executive Councilors struggles up the stairs, and the Clerk pats him on the back when he gets to the top.

“I recognize the Sergeant-at-Arms,” says the Clerk. She compresses her lips, turns the page on the binder on the dais. She taps it once with one hand, then again with both, satisfied.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the Honorable Governor Christopher T. Sununu,” says the Sergeant-at-Arms.

Applause.

The Clerk takes her place at the Clerk’s station, placing her phone on the desk.

“Good to go,” says Mr. Sununu. “Do I have the floor? I don't want to step on your toes.”

“You’re good,” says the Clerk.

“I'm good to go,” says Mr. Sununu.

The body laughs.

“Okay. Hey, well, good morning. Great to see everybody here. … We emphasize this in New Hampshire more than any other state in the country. It really is a love of service. Last time I checked, you're not doing it for the money.”

The body laughs.

“You're not doing it for the paycheck. Just a love of community, and that in itself creates such a wonderful checks and balance in a community-driven process, unlike anywhere else, really that you find in the world. It's really awesome. Okay, with that, would you all please raise your right hand? I'll raise mine too.”

Loose chuckles from the body.

“Preparing for the high-fives after?”

More loose chuckles.

“So just please repeat after me. I, state your name.”

They complete the oath of office, and then Mr. Sununu shakes each of the Senator’s hands.

“Members, take their seats,” the Clerk says, gently. Her purple glasses sitting at the tip of her nose. “We're now at the time for the election of the senate president and at this time nominations for the president are in order. So, I recognize Sen. Birdsell for nomination.”

“Thank you, Madam Clerk, and, wel-, a warm welcome to everyone,” begins Sen. Birdsell (R). “I proudly stand here today to nominate my friend and colleague, uh, Sharon Carson, as Senate President. … She epitomizes what I believe to be the characteristics of a great Senate President: it’s honesty, integrity, and leadership. You don't have to wonder what's on her mind—she will most certainly be honest with you and let you know. She also always knows what to do in tough situations and has always been able to work in a bipartisan manner. … So, I ask that we cast one vote as a body for Sharon Carson from New Hampshire as Senate President. Thank you.”

On the right frame, one young boy sits in a Senator’s lap. Behind him, a woman sits with a baby in her lap. Behind the Senators, there sit a line of family members on upholstered couches and high back chairs. In the corner sit two teenage girls who look bored.

“I recognize Sen. Abbas for a second,” says the Clerk.

“Thank you,” says Sen. Abbas (R). “I second the nomination of Sen. Sharon Carson, my friend from District 14. I just want to say I got to know Sen. Carson when I was a member of the House, sitting on the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, and I was always impressed with her leadership skills. … I am honored to second her nomination for Senate President. Thank you.”

“Next I recognize Sen. Perkins Kwoka for nomination,” says the Clerk.

“Thank you, Madam Clerk,” says Sen. Perkins Kwoka (D). “I rise to also second the nomination of Sen. Carson as President. In a time of deeply divided politics, it is up to each of us to remember that good, resilient government—government that empowers individuals in their own lives—is bipartisan. Getting the people's work done should be guided first by solutions that work, and the fabled ‘reaching across the aisle’ is simply about getting to know each other as people, as citizens, and as neighbors. The campaign is behind us, and now begins the season of governing, because in the end, we and our voters agree on more than we disagree about. .... I hope you will all join me in casting one vote for Sen. Carson as Senate President.”

Sen. Carson is a Republican, which makes sense since Republicans have a 2-1 majority in the Senate this term; however, Sen. Perkins Kwoka is a Democrat nominating Republican Sen. Carson to lead the Senate. The Democrats didn’t put anyone up to oppose Sen. Carson in the vote for Senate President.

“Hearing no further nominations. The vote is all in favor say ‘aye.’ All opposed ‘no.’ The ayes have it. Sen. Sharon Carson is elected the president. I would ask Sen. Birdsell to escort Sen. Sharon Carson, President of the Senate,” says the Clerk.

The Clerk and the President hug. The President says, “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.” The Clerk taps a paper in the open binder on the dais and takes her station, left of the President.

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Part Seven Coming Soon…