Gordon J. Humphrey

In 1978 Humphrey won election to the U.S. Senate, despite being only a local Republican activist holding no political office. He defeated three-term incumbent Thomas J. McIntyre by barely two percent. He won election without help from the Republican Party and had few links to party regulars. Humphrey's 18-month campaign was run for the most part by himself and Patricia Green, a former New York City schoolteacher whom he married just after the four-way GOP primary that September. According to a New York Times article written a month after the election, she was "considered the strongest force in his camp and is expected to have a strong influence on his Washington staff."[2]

Humphrey was easily reelected in 1984, defeating five-term Democratic U.S. congressman Norman D'Amours. Humphrey declined to run for a third term in 1990, having promised to serve only two terms.

Humphrey was praised for his outspokenness as a Senator.[3]

In 1987, Humphrey harshly criticized President Ronald Reagan's appointment of openly gay geneticist Dr. Frank Lilly to his commission on the HIV Epidemic,[4] saying that Lilly's appointment would send the message ". . .that homosexuality is simply an alternative lifestyle."

In the Senate Humphrey served on the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Armed Services Committee and the Judiciary Committee and was a leader in the Congressional Task Force on Afghanistan, which shaped U.S. policy regarding the Soviet–Afghan War and Operation Cyclone. He voted against the federal budget all 12 years he was a member of the Senate, each time because the proposed budget ran a deficit.

Humphrey played a major role at the 1988 Republican National Convention as a leader and spokesman for right-wing delegates. He was instrumental in steering the vice-presidential nomination to Dan Quayle, having marshaled the commitment of four state delegations to run their own vice-presidential candidate in the event a candidate not to their liking was picked by George H. W. Bush. Under party rules, six delegations were needed.[5] Bush's choice of Quayle, who was pro-life (as was Humphrey), satisfied the Granite State senator.

In 2013, Humphrey made headlines when he expressed support for whistleblower Edward Snowden, who exposed the mass surveillance of Americans and foreign nationals by the National Security Agency.[6] Journalist Glenn Greenwald reported that Humphrey, a former member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, contacted Snowden via email, telling him that, "Provided you have not leaked information that would put in harms [sic] way any intelligence agent, I believe you have done the right thing in exposing what I regard as massive violation of the United States Constitution."[7]

Humphrey complained to Snowden that "no effort is being made to identify, remove from office and bring to justice those officials who have abused power, seriously and repeatedly violating the Constitution of the United States and the rights of millions of unsuspecting citizens." He cited Snowden as a "courageous whistle-blower."[8] Snowden replied with a message thanking Humphrey.[7]

In 2015, Humphrey endorsed Ohio governor John Kasich for President in 2016.[9] During the 2016 Republican presidential primaries, Humphrey was a leader of efforts to try to block Donald Trump from securing the nomination at the Republican National Convention. He stated, "I would only vote for Hillary [referring to Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee] in the event of a very close contest. Meantime, I'm hoping the Republican leadership, at long, long last will show the courage and principle to denounce Trump and to demand he renounce the nomination or face a reconvening of the convention." On November 6, 2016, two days before the election, Humphrey officially endorsed Clinton.[10][11] That same month, Humphrey left the Republican Party and became an independent.[12]

On August 9, 2017, Humphrey extended his opposition to President Trump by calling for his removal from office in a letter[13] addressed to his own member of Congress, Democratic Rep. Ann McLane Kuster, arguing that Trump is “sick of mind” and dangerous.