GOFFSTOWN, NH — Dian McCarthy, a small business owner, former nonprofit executive director, and three-term Goffstown School Board member, has announced her campaign for New Hampshire State Senate District 16 (Candia, Goffstown, Hooksett, Manchester-Ward 1, and Raymond).
“I have spent my entire career showing up for this community in the nonprofit sector, on the school board, and everywhere in between.” said McCarthy. “I know what it means to make hard budget decisions, fight for kids who need support, and stand up for families who are being left behind. That is not just what I plan to do in Concord. That is who I am.
“I am also a breast cancer survivor,” McCarthy continued. “I know firsthand what it means to face a terrifying diagnosis and worry about the bills coming in. No family should have to fight for their life and their financial survival at the same time. I am running for State Senate because every family in this district deserves someone in Concord who will fight for affordable healthcare, fully funded schools, and a state that shows up for the people. That is a promise I intend to keep.”
She began her professional life working for her family’s insurance agency before co-founding a custom cabinetry business with her husband, where she gained firsthand experience navigating the challenges of running a small business in New Hampshire.
She went on to serve for ten years as Executive Director of a local nonprofit serving the youth and families of Goffstown, working on the front lines of mental health services, substance misuse prevention, juvenile justice, and leadership development.
McCarthy also served three consecutive terms on the Goffstown School Board, including six years as Board Chairperson and seven years as the Board’s representative to the Budget Committee.
Her recent leadership roles include serving as Vice Chair of the NH Juvenile Court Diversion Network Board, where she helped guide the statewide network through a period of significant growth, and as President of the NH Breast Cancer Coalition, where she advocated for breast cancer survivors and treatment advancement at the state and national level. She has also served on the Our Kids Commission, a committee of the Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire working to close the opportunity gap for children across the state.
“Dian McCarthy has spent her career doing exactly what we need more of in Concord: balancing budgets, leading in her community, and making tough choices that put our kids first,” said Senate Democratic Leader Rebecca Perkins Kwoka. “She is a fighter in every sense of the word, and District 16 will finally know what it feels like to have someone truly in their corner. I am proud to welcome her to this race and excited to fight alongside her in the Senate.”
McCarthy and her husband live in Goffstown, where they enjoy hiking and spending time with their family and dogs.
To learn more about Dian McCarthy’s campaign, visit mccarthy4nh.com.