Heather Deiner

Heather Deiner earned a high school diploma from St. James School. She earned a bachelor's degree from Elon University in 2019. Her career experience includes working as an administrative assistant.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I have always been a passionate and avid leftist, but it took moving to Manchester, NH to have my complaining online materialize into local direct action. After hiding in my house for the first year, I broke out of my new move shell by joining last years 'No Kings' protest, and haven't stopped since! This past year I embraced my community through mutual aid, local organizing, cat fostering, poll working, canvassing, and running for local office. The more I did, the more obvious it became that working class people already knew what our communities need, we just needed more of us stepping up to do the work.

I joined the DSA this year because I wanted to be part of a movement that is actually serious about bringing power to the working class, and I am proud to call myself a Democratic Socialist. As the largest Socialist Organization in the history of the United State, I believe a movement by workers, for workers, can bring necessary compassion and change to Concord, and in turn, the citizens of New Hampshire.

I’m running because I know that with a working class coalition, New Hampshire can be a place where all Granite Staters can afford a secure roof over their heads, a quality public education, full coverage healthcare, and be left with enough time and stability to give back to their own communities. None of these things should feel like luxuries and it will be up to all of us to create a reality in which these are basic rights.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Address The Housing Crisis - More affordable and publicly built housing for our friends and neighbors.

NH is 41st in housing affordability, 7th highest in average rent, and needs 23,500 units just to currently stabilize the housing supply. Only 15% of homeowners and 4% of renters can afford to move into a home that fits their needs.

We need to provide more affordable and publicly built, housing, of all shapes and sizes, by removing permitting barriers for ADU's, developing inclusionary zoning ordinances, allowing housing to be built and sold on smaller plots of land, incentivizing the conversion of commercial building to affordable residential properties, and supporting local unions with subsidized high-wage jobs for city built housing.Fund Our Public Schools - Protect and promote public education for students of all levels.

New Hampshire is 35th in State Funding Per Student, providing an average cost of only $7,321 per student while Granite State homeowners cover an average cost of $16,373 per student, 48% higher than the state. The state of New Hampshire continuously fails to fulfill its constitutional obligation to adequately fund education for every child, no matter their zip code. Education Freedom Accounts further drain public taxpayer dollars from public education to private and religious schools.

We need NH to fulfill its constitutional obligation to adequately fund education for every child, repeal the voucher program, and fight for more funding in classrooms.Care When People Need It - Make healthcare, mental health care, and recovery easier to access. and affordable

4.7 % of NH residents remain uninsured while 70% have been burdened by the cost of healthcare this year. 69% of Granite Staters delayed or went without healthcare for over 12 months. In 2022 and 2023, nearly three out of four New Hampshire adults who needed substance use treatment did not get it.

We need to protect Medicaid expansion and the healthcare coverage working families rely on, invest in mental health care, addiction treatment, recovery services, and harm reduction, support reproductive health care and protect access to care, and lower cost barriers so people can get primary care, behavior care, and treatment.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Employment: I care about creating a living wage, expanding paid family and medical leave, funding universal childcare and pre-K, creating safer workplaces, supporting the right to organize, and passing a 32-hour work week with no loss in pay or benefits.

Democracy: I care about creating same-day voter registration, clear voting rules, voter education, fair districts, public accountability, and making state government easier to understand, contact, and follow.

Civil Rights: I care about supporting reproductive freedom, LGBTQ rights, gender-affirming care, immigrant rights, disability rights, and equal protection under the law.

All of my passion around public policy lies in what change we can bring to the working class of NH.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Southern New Hampshire DSA, Progressive Voter Network, Rights & Democracy, American Federation of Teachers - New Hampshire, Run For Something