Melanie Ann Levesque (/ləˈveɪk/ lə-VAYK;[1] born May 20, 1957)[2] is an American politician from the state of New Hampshire. A Democrat, Levesque represented the 12th district in the New Hampshire Senate from 2018 until 2020; she was the first African American to serve in that body.[3] Levesque was chair of the Senate Election Law & Municipal Affairs committee, and served on the Judiciary and Transportation committees. Levesque previously served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives from 2006 to 2010 and 2012 to 2014.[4] In 2021, Levesque was a senior advisor for the New Hampshire Democratic Party.[5] In 2022, Levesque announced her run for the New Hampshire Secretary of State.[6]
Melanie Levesque | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New Hampshire Senate from the 12th district | |
| In office December 5, 2018 – December 2, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Kevin Avard |
| Succeeded by | Kevin Avard |
| Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from the Hillsborough 26th district | |
| In office December 2012 – December 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Multi-member district |
| Succeeded by | Multi-member district |
| Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from the Hillsborough 5th district | |
| In office December 2006 – December 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Multi-member district |
| Succeeded by | Multi-member district |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Melanie Ann Levesque May 20, 1957 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Great Bay Community College (AA) Daniel Webster College (BS) Southern New Hampshire University (MBA) |
| Website | Campaign website |
Education and career
editLevesque was born in the Boston neighborhood of Roxbury. She earned an A.A. from New Hampshire Vocational-Technical College, a B.S. from Daniel Webster College, and an M.B.A. from Southern New Hampshire University. She is the president of TCS of America Enterprises LLC, a telecommunications service provider based in Brookline.[4]
New Hampshire House of Representatives
editLevesque was elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 2006 for Hillsborough's 5th district, a four-member district. She served two terms before being defeated for re-election in 2010.[7] Levesque was Assistant Majority Floor Leader between 2008 and 2010.
She served on both the House Election Law and the Science Technology and Energy committees, where she earned a reputation for working across political lines in order to enact legislation that improved the lives of the families she represented. In 2009 Levesque Sponsored and passed a bill to create a Statewide Emergency Notification System for NH.[8]
In 2012, Levesque successfully ran for Hillsborough's 26th district, serving once again as Assistant Majority Floor Leader before being defeated for a second term in 2014. She ran and lost once again for the same district in 2016.[7]
New Hampshire Senate
editIn 2018, Levesque announced she would run for the 12th district in the New Hampshire Senate against Republican incumbent Kevin Avard.[9] After defeating Tom Falter in the primary election, Levesque defeated Avard in the general election 50.3% to 49.7%, a margin of 169 votes. Levesque's victory was one of five seats Democrats flipped to regain the majority in the Senate.
Levesque was the Senate's first African American member.[3] She was chair of the Election Law and Municipal Affairs Committee, and a member of the Judiciary Committee and the Transportation Committee.[2]
In 2020, Levesque was defeated by Kevin Avard in a rematch of their 2018 contest.[10] Levesque was defeated again by Kevin Avard in 2022.
Personal life
editLevesque lives in Brookline, New Hampshire with her husband Scott, with whom she has one child.[2]
References
edit- ^ "Melanie Levesque for NH Senate". YouTube. October 20, 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
- ^ a b c "Melanie Ann Levesque's Biography". VoteSmart. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
- ^ a b Ashley Saari (7 November 2018). "Levesque first African American member of the NH State Senate". Monadnock Ledger-Transcript. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
- ^ a b "Senator Melanie Levesque (D-Brookline)". New Hampshire State Senate. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
- ^ "With some big names out, potential Republican candidates eyed for Senate run". November 18, 2021.
- ^ "Former New Hampshire state senator announces run for secretary of state". November 18, 2022.
- ^ a b "Melanie Levesque". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
- ^ "Senator Melanie Levesque". Capitol Website. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
- ^ "27 Democrats File For The New Hampshire State Senate". NH Labor News. 15 June 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
- ^ "New Hampshire State Senate 2020 general election results". WMUR 9. Retrieved 11 December 2020.