Hodes was an unsuccessful candidate for the Senate seat being vacated by Judd Gregg in 2010, losing to former New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte. He was succeeded in the House of Representatives by Charles Bass.
After leaving Congress, Hodes was named as a board member of the Public Advisory Board of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College.[2] Hodes served on the boards of ADL, New England and the NJDC (National Jewish Democratic Council). In 2012, Hodes was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the US Senate to a position on the National Council on the Arts. He has subsequently worked as a green energy consultant with Shanti Energy, LLC and became Of Counsel at the law firm of Shaheen & Gordon, P.A. He also hosts radio programs on WKXL.
Hodes began playing guitar at age 15. Throughout his adult life, he has been both a performer and active member of the arts and entertainment communities. After graduating from Dartmouth College, Hodes spent three years acting, writing, and working on radio shows. While in law school, he acted in the Boston Arts Group .[4] In the 1990s, Hodes was instrumental in the creation of the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord, and previously served on the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts. In 2012, President Obama appointed Hodes to the National Council for the Arts which advises the chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. In addition to re-invigorating his performing career, Hodes now manages musical acts including Hawk & Dove, Black Cosmic and Larksong trio through Big Round Music, LLC.
Hodes's wife Peggo is a children's musician with whom Hodes has recorded and performed as "Paul & Peggo."[5] The couple won the 1996 Parent's Choice Honors Award for their album "Patchwork Quilt" and performed at the White House.[6]
Law career
Hodes worked as an attorney with the New Hampshire Department of Justice from 1978 until 1980. He was an Assistant Attorney General from 1980 until 1982, when he left to serve as a special prosecutor. From 1983 until 1996 he was in private practice.[7] He is now of Counsel to the firm of Shaheen & Gordon, P.A. in Concord, New Hampshire.
American-Canadian Inter-Parliamentary Working Group
President of the freshman class of 2006
Board Member, Capitol Center for the Arts, 1990–1996, 2002–present
Board Member, New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, 1998–present
Board Member, New Hampshire Children's Alliance, 1998–2000
Board Chair, Capitol Center for the Arts, 1990–1996
Political positions
In September 2008, Hodes voted against the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, also known as "the financial bailout bill", which enacted the Troubled Asset Relief Program ("TARP").
Hodes was one of the first Democrats to demand that Representative Charlie Rangel surrender his Ways and Means chairmanship in the wake of the Ethics Committee finding that he violated House rules.[8]
Hodes was chosen as the Democratic nominee for the United States Senate seat held by outgoing Republican senator Judd Gregg, who did not seek re-election. Hodes was defeated by Republican nominee Kelly Ayotte, the former New Hampshire Attorney General. Libertarian Ken Blevens and Independent Chris Booth were also on the ballot.
2020 New Hampshire Senate campaign
Hodes ran as a Democrat for the New Hampshire Senate from the 15th district, but lost in the primary to Becky Whitley.
