Turning Point Action hits the ground in New Hampshire for a key Senate race

By Katherine Koretski, CNN

(CNN) — One year after Charlie Kirk’s assassination, the organization he founded for young conservatives is building out its political operation in a purple state that has often evaded Republicans’ grasp at the federal level.

New Hampshire appears to have become a centerpiece of Turning Point Action’s midterm work, according to online posts from its activists and political observers in the Granite State.

One Turning Point field representative posted photos earlier this month of a training she held on “navigating NH’s absentee ballot process.” Another posted that she was loading 300 signs for Republican Senate nominee John E. Sununu in her car.

“Socialism doesn’t work!” wrote Linda McGrath, a New Hampshire state representative, in a post in front of her car trunk. “And it’s not too late to join the Turning Point Action team in New Hampshire!”

Sununu, a moderate ex-senator running against Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas, is in some ways an unconventional candidate for the group, which is perhaps best known for its strong alliances with the Trump White House and Vice President JD Vance. But the groundwork that’s being laid here, as Republicans look to flip the seat and hold onto their 53-47 majority in the Senate, could carry beyond this year’s midterms.

Several Turning Point staffers in New Hampshire declined to discuss their work, with one telling CNN, “I am not available or interested.” Sununu’s campaign also did not respond to requests for comment. But Tyler Bowyer, the chief operating officer for Turning Point Action, told CNN earlier this year that the organization would devote significant resources to the state.

“We’re putting the biggest ground force that’s ever been put on the ground in New Hampshire for Republicans,” he said in July. “We’ve already got dozens and dozens of full-time people on the ground there, so that’s huge. New Hampshire turnout-wise is like the size of a medium-sized to large-sized city. So, I like our chances.”

According to the organization’s website, New Hampshire is part of Turning Point’s Chase the Ballot initiative, including “Commit 100,” which will “help chase voters in person.” Turning Point is also advertising “super chase” events which focus on helping low-propensity voters cast their ballots.

The group is relying on local activists to help fuel its outreach, former New Hampshire Republican Party Chair Chris Ager said.

“I went to one of their trainings and I looked at the crowd and I was like, ‘I know a lot of these people,” Ager said. “They’re hiring activists who know the state and have been on the ground. I was so impressed that they’re hiring people who know the state.”

Turning Point’s presence could make a difference for Sununu, who hails from a well-known political dynasty in the state, with his father and brother having served as governor, said Michael Biundo, a GOP strategist in New Hampshire who worked on Trump’s 2016 campaign.

“I think quality door-knocking with a person, talking to a voter about what they believe, what they’re feeling … that can do nothing but help, and would be very helpful in what’s going to be, I think, a very tight race,” Biundo said.

Erika Kirk, who took over her husband’s organization following his death, has already endorsed Vance if he were to run as Trump’s successor in 2028. Vance and other GOP hopefuls could potentially benefit from the organization it is already building on the ground.

“If you’ve got a lot of ground activity going on, and it’s something that can be utilized in the future, I think that’s a good thing,” Neil Levesque, director of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics said. “That being said, if they create a hell of a database going into 2028, that’s going to be very valuable for that organization.”

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