E7: Jon Kiper

Jon Kiper was a Democratic gubernatorial candidate in 2024, and he's back to run again in 2026, with a twist: He's running as an independent. Kiper, a restauranteur and former Town Councilor in Newmarket, surprised many with by getting almost 10% of the vote on a shoestring budget against two much better-known Democrats in 2024. He's focused like a laser on economics, especially housing and property taxes, and even has a catch phrase that includes his support of legalized cannabis: "Weed for Housing". We talked about his 2024 and 2026 runs, why he's taking the tougher road as an independent, and how politicians of both major parties need to better connect with the working class.