The Issues

Protect The Right to Vote

The right to vote is at the core of our democracy. All US citizens over the age of 18 should have the legal right to vote in the place where they are domiciled. However, in New Hampshire, the republican party continues to spread misinformation alleging widespread voter fraud. In fact there has been almost none and yet they keep pushing for more and more restrictive voting laws, including many that disenfranchise our members of the military who are stationed overseas. Loren pledges to protect the right to vote and to push for repeal of the laws that imposed unnecessary and excessive burdens on New Hampshire voters.

Safeguard Reproductive Choice

Loren believes that the only two people who should be involved in deciding whether or not someone carries an egg from fertilization to birth are the pregnant person and their medical practitioner (in the case of a 10 year old like the one in Indiana, a guardian would also be an appropriate member of the conversation). The choice of whether or not to have a child is strictly personal. Loren also believes that defunding organizations like Planned Parenthood and the Lovering Health Center creates an added burden for people seeking preventive care for cancer, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, and contraceptive care. As an elected official, Loren will work to have funding restored to these organizations to to codify the Right to Choose into law.

Demand Smart Gun Control

The United States has a serious gun problem. We need laws in place for universal background checks for all gun transfers of any kind; red flag laws to remove access to guns from people indicating they are likely to be violent; a minimum 48 hour waiting period to buy a gun or a large quantity of ammunition for an existing weapon (during which time a renewed background and mental health check should take place)--Almost two-thirds of gun deaths in the U.S. are due to suicide (and about 93% of NH gun deaths) largely because of the lethal nature of firearms. Data show that 90% of suicide attempts involving a discharged firearm lead to death; in contrast, only 2% of drug-related suicide attempts lead to death. In states with such waiting periods, there are 51% fewer gun-related suicides, and 27% fewer suicides; a ban on semi- automatic weapons like the federal law which expired in 2004 and which, even in re-enacted by the US government, would not be enforced in New Hampshire because of HB 1178 which Governor Sununu signed; a ban on guns on any school property; and mandatory training and licensing for concealed and open carry weapons. Loren vows to work for smart gun control and for a repeal of HB 1178 and similar laws.

Provide Access to Medical and Mental Health

Loren believes that everyone should have access to high quality medical and mental health care. This includes provisions for dental and vision care as mouths and eyes are certainly part of our bodies and preventive care saves millions of dollars. Programs like Medicare for all or Universal Health Care allow people to get what they need without bankrupting themselves and their families. Also, for many years, there has been a stigma about getting mental health care, but studies have proven that anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges also have an impact on one's physical health. By destigmatizing these issues and providing appropriate care, we can ultimately reduce costs, live healthier lives, and support a better world for everyone.

Defend Public Education

Public education has been under attack from the Republican party and especially right wing religious extremists and members of the free state movement. As we saw in Croydon this year, they are working to defund education and push for public education funds to be re-routed to parochial and home school parents with no oversight or regulation and with no requirements that facts be taught. Additionally, irrational fears have led to laws like HB544 which attacks teachers and seeks to make it illegal to teach that there is more than one way to view the world. The current Commissioner of Education for New Hampshire has stated his opposition to public education and should be removed and banned from holding such an office. His appointment is yet another move by extremists to push a religious agenda. Loren was a public school teacher, believes passionately in educational equity, and will fight for Diversity, Justice, Equity, and Inclusion in schools and will defend teachers and their right to teach a variety of content across the curriculum.

Champion the Voices of the Under-Represented and Marginalized

The extremists in the New Hampshire government are intent upon denying the rights of:

Women LGBTQIA+ people Black, Indigenous, AAPI, Hispanic, and other nonwhite people Non-Christians

Loren is an activist for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and will take strong action to protect the rights of people to live their true existence and to defend individuals from attach from misogyny, homophobia, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, etc. To be a true democracy, Loren believes all non-hateful voices should be welcome at the table and all should work together to right the wrongs of the past and work for a better future.

Save the Environment

The Earth is our home. We must do whatever it takes to restore and protect it.