Former Trump aide eyeing New Hampshire congressional bid

A former Trump White House aide is mulling a congressional run in New Hampshire.

Karoline Leavitt, who served as an assistant press secretary in the Trump administration and most recently worked as a top press staffer for Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), is considering entering what could be a crowded GOP field for the state’s 1st Congressional District.

“New Hampshire is my home. I moved to Washington to serve President Trump and the American people, not to become a swamp creature,” Leavitt tweeted. “It has always been my intention to move back, and I’ve heard from many Granite Staters who are looking for a young, conservative fighter.”

Leavitt told WMUR in New Hampshire that she doesn’t have a definitive timetable for when she might decide to enter the race, but that she’s speaking with voters while she’s back living in her home state.

Leavitt, 23, recently left Stefanik’s office to return to New Hampshire. She joined Stefanik’s staff in January and left shortly after the congresswoman was elevated to House GOP leadership.

New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District is represented by Chris Pappas (D). Pappas has represented the district since 2019, and he won reelection in 2020, narrowly defeating Trump-backed candidate Matt Mowers.

The congressional district is expected to be redrawn by the GOP-led legislature ahead of the 2022 midterms, and it’s unclear if Pappas will seek reelection once the redistricting is complete. WMUR reported multiple prospective GOP candidates, including Mowers, are considering a run for the House seat.