About Us

Hon. Paul W. Hodes served two terms as congressman from New Hampshire’s second congressional district, (2007-2011). He is an attorney, government relations consultant, podcast host, and a musician.

After graduating from Dartmouth College in 1972 and Boston College Law School, Hodes began his career in New Hampshire as an Assistant Attorney General under then Attorney General David Souter. Hodes first served in the criminal justice division, where he pursued a series of successful homicide prosecutions and the first successful environmental prosecution against polluters. He continued as the Special Prosecutor for the State of New Hampshire where he led the successful prosecution of the largest white-collar fraud scheme to date in the State’s History, the “Stewart-Meyers” case. Prior to his congressional service, Hodes pursued the private practice of law as a trial and entertainment lawyer. He was a shareholder and director of the New Hampshire law firm, Shaheen & Gordon, P.A. from 1996-2006.

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

In his time in Congress, Hodes successfully introduced and worked to pass new legislation and provisions in health insurance, economic development, small business, veterans’ services, and financial services. He helped create 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 authored and introduced legislation titled “Michelle’s Law”, which ensured that college kids who got seriously ill would be able to stay on their parents’ insurance. The legislation was signed into law in 2007 and became the basis for the provision in Obamacare allowing young people up to the age of 26 to remain on their parent's insurance. Hodes introduced legislation to extend 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.

Hodes was also the first member of Congress from an early primary state to endorse then-Senator Obama for President and served as his 2008 national campaign Co-Chairman , appearing frequently in major media outlets, including CNN and MSNBC representing the campaign. During his congressional service he was a frequent guest on cable news, and especially on Bloomberg, Fox and NECN business news helping to describe and explain the changing regulations in the financial sector. Hodes is the host and co-host of a suite of podcasts under the “Beyond Politics” banner. Hodes was the New Hampshire Democratic candidate for the United States Senate in 2010.

Throughout his career, Hodes has also devoted substantial time to community service and advancing the arts in New Hampshire and the Nation. In recognition of his arts and entertainment background, he was appointed by President Obama to the National Council on The Arts, the board that oversees the National Endowment For the Arts in 2012. He 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 served 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, Hodes 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. He has also served on the board of the Concord Community Music School and as chairman of the board of Tricinium, Ltd. In other community service, Hodes served as the first chairman of the Board of FamilyStrength and as a board member of the NH Children’s Alliance.

He has served as President of The Economic Innovation Institute and Action Fund, policy advocacy organizations advocating a progressive agenda for economic growth and innovation. He is a founder and Principal at Shanti Energy, LLC, a renewable energy consulting firm. He is “Of Counsel” to the law firm of Shaheen & Gordon. Hodes currently serves on the advisory board of Hawthorne World, a real estate development company, the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at St. Anselm’s College, and The Rudman Center for Public Policy and Justice. He is affiliated with ASCAP as a writer and publisher as manager of Big Round Music, LLC. He is a member of the Recording Academy (NARAS) and of the AFM, local 374.

He and his wife, Peggo, have produced two musical children, Max and Ariana. Hodes is an avid guitarist and songwriter. He and Peggo appear as “Peggo and Paul” playing folk and original music. He also leads the original folk-rock band “Paul Hodes and the Blue Buddha Band”, appearing at benefits, in concert, and in dives around the Northeast.