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Jonah Orion Wheeler
Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from Hillsborough District 33
Assumed office
December 7, 2022
Serving with Peter Leishman
Preceded byIvy Vann (redistricting)
Personal details
Born
Jonah Wheeler

(2003-03-01) March 1, 2003 (age 21)
Peterborough, New Hampshire, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationConVal Regional High School
ProfessionPolitician, advocate

Jonah Orion Wheeler[1] (born March 1, 2003) is an American politician and activist currently serving as a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, representing Hillsborough County District 33, which encompasses Peterborough and Sharon, for the Democratic Party.

Wheeler assumed office on December 7, 2022.[2][3] Having been sworn in when he was 19 years old, he was among the youngest state legislators in the United States.[4]

Early life and education

Wheeler was born on March 1, 2003, in Peterborough, New Hampshire. Wheeler graduated from ConVal Regional High School in 2021.[5]

Political career

Prior to political office, Wheeler had worked on the Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign and interned for the progressive group Rights & Democracy.[6] On June 20, 2020, Wheeler was a speaker at a George Floyd rally in Petersborough, New Hampshire.[6]

Wheeler was then appointed as an alternate on the Zoning Board of Adjustments in Peterborough, New Hampshire, a position he would hold until 2025.[7] On November 8, 2022, Wheeler was elected to the New Hampshire House of Representative, having received more votes than the two incumbent Democrat Representatives Peter Leishman and Ivy Vann, consequently unseating Vann, who had served in the House since 2014.[8] He assumed office on December 7, 2022.

On December 20, 2023, Wheeler endorsed Marianne Williamson in the 2024 Democratic Party presidential primaries.[9] On January 6, 2024, Wheeler was selected as a New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district primary delegate for the Marianne Williamson 2024 presidential campaign.[10]

Electoral history

2022 Hillsborough 33rd New Hampshire House of Representatives Election, Democratic primary[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jonah Wheeler 817 34.9
Democratic Peter Leishman (incumbent) 777 33.2
Democratic Ivy Vann (incumbent) 744 31.8
Total votes 2,338 100.0
2022 Hillsborough 33rd New Hampshire House of Representatives Election, General Election[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jonah Wheeler 2,538 36.0
Democratic Peter Leishman (incumbent) 2,433 34.5
Republican Rachel Maidment 1,054 15.0
Republican Matthew Pilcher 1,020 14.5
Total votes 7,045 100.0

References

  1. ^ Wheeler, Jonah Orion (January 10, 2024). "Opinion: Increase base adequacy to lower property taxes, create new opportunities for students". Concord Monitor. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  2. ^ "Jonah Wheeler". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  3. ^ Green, Rick (November 15, 2022). "Peterborough rep, 19, ready to provide perspective in NH House". The Keene Sentinel. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  4. ^ Duhownik, Joe (January 23, 2023). "Arizona poised to drop legislator age requirement from 25 to 18: 'A youth movement'". Tucson Sentinel. Retrieved January 18, 2024. Young politicians are particularly successful in New Hampshire. Of the 25 youngest state legislators in American history, 14 of them hail from New Hampshire. [...] Wheeler took office in December at age 19.
  5. ^ "Representative Jonah Wheeler (D) Hillsborough - District 33". The New Hampshire House of Representatives. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Cuno-Booth, Paul (July 11, 2020). "Stepping up: Area residents taking reins of social justice movement". The Keene Sentinel. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  7. ^ "Zoning Board of Adjustment". Welcome to Petersborough, New Hampshire. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
  8. ^ Saari, Ashley; Conant, Ben (September 14, 2022). "Jonah Wheeler tops Democrats in Hillsborough 33 primary; Vann unseated". Monadnock Ledger-Transcript. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  9. ^ Williamson, Marianne [@marwilliamson] (December 21, 2023). "Rep. Jonah Wheeler endorses Marianne" (Tweet). Retrieved 2024-01-10 – via Twitter.
  10. ^ "District Level Delegate Caucus Results" (PDF). New Hampshire Democratic Party. January 6, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Jonah Wheeler". Ballotpedia. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
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