Paul Hodes

In 1983, he entered private practice, successfully practicing in the fields of personal injury, criminal defense, civil litigation, divorce and family law and entertainment law.

Paul ran for the United States Congress in 2004. Paul was elected to Congress in 2006, and became the President of the historic 2006 freshman class. As a member of Congress, Paul served on the House Committee on Financial Services and the House Committee on Oversight, where he focused on understanding how to make markets work better and institutions function more effectively in the wake of the financial collapse of 2008.

During his time in Congress, Paul successfully passed new laws and provisions in health insurance, economic development, small business, veterans’ services, and financial services. He created the Northern Border Development commission, a federal-state partnership that funds economic development in the North Country of New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and New York. He wrote and passed Michelle’s Law, which ensures that college kids who get seriously ill will be able to stay on their parents’ insurance. He passed expanded depreciation rules to help small businesses invest in equipment and expand. And he helped to craft a series of reforms to induce greater investment in green building and the creation of financial instruments that support renewable energy investment.

Paul was also the first member of Congress from an early primary state to endorse then-Senator Obama for President and served as a National Co-Chairman of his 2008 campaign, appearing frequently in national media outlets representing the campaign. He has also subsequently been a frequent guest on national cable news, including MSNBC, CNBC, NECN and on Bloomberg business news helping to describe and explain the changing regulations in the financial sector. He is a regular contributor to RevolutionBoston radio. Paul was the New Hampshire Democratic Party candidate for the United States Senate in 2010.

Throughout his career, Paul has also devoted substantial time to community service and advancing the arts in New Hampshire, including service as a New Hampshire State Councilor for the Arts under then-Governor Jeanne Shaheen. As Chairman of the Board of the Capitol Center for the Arts from 1990-1996, Paul helped to lead the Concord community’s efforts to create a premiere, award-winning performing arts institution that now serves as an important economic engine for the city. His entertainment practice has been enhanced by his own experience. Paul and his wife were long time members of the state’s touring artist roster and he has worked professionally as a producer, playwright, actor, songwriter, recording artist and musician, most notably earning Parents Choice awards for groundbreaking family music. He is a member of ASCAP, The Recording Academy and the American Federation of Musicians. In recognition of his arts and entertainment background, Paul has been nominated by President Obama to the National Council on The Arts.