Hodes ousted six-term Rep. Charlie Bass – on his second try – in the 2nd District; Shea-Porter unseated Rep. Jeb Bradley, who had represented the 1st District for two terms.

This year, we see no reason for change. Both have demonstrated a genuine commitment to constituent service and represented the state well in their first two years in office.

So today we endorse the re-election bids of Hodes and Shea-Porter as the state's two representatives to the U.S. House of Representatives.

1st District

In 2006, we endorsed the more experienced Bradley over the newcomer Shea-Porter, in part because we had some reservations about whether she was ready for job.

This year, we have no such reservations in endorsing her re-election bid in the 1st District, which encompasses our local towns of Bedford, Londonderry and Merrimack.

The daughter of a World War II veteran, Shea-Porter has established herself as a tireless advocate of the state's veterans. Earlier this year, she introduced a bill that would restore the VA Medical Center in Manchester to full-service status or permit veterans to get "comparable services" at medical centers closer to home.

When she ran two years ago, there were some who wrote her off as a single-issue, anti-war candidate.

Today, she has demonstrated that she has much more to offer and deserves serious consideration for re-election to the House of Representatives.