Dr. Karishma Manzur, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, campaigning in Milford on Feb. 17. Cabinet photo by CHRISTOPHER ROBERSON

MILFORD – Dr. Karishma Manzur, a candidate for U.S. Senate, recently took the podium at Wadleigh Memorial Library speaking about healthcare and the minimum wage.

An Exeter Democrat, Manzur is running to succeed outgoing U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), who has held the position since 2009.

During the Feb. 17 event, Manzur shared a story about her friend Charlie. She said that despite being 76 years old, he drives for Uber as he does not have the money to retire. Charlie also depends on blood thinners. By 2024, he could no longer afford the co-pay.

“He decided to ration his blood thinners,” said Manzur.

Soon thereafter, Charlie suffered a stroke. Fortunately, he survived.

Manzur also spoke about a young woman who could not afford an apartment by herself so she splits the rent with three roommates. Although she works full-time, the woman told Manzur that because of limited space, she is forced to sleep in the closet.

Manzur shared another story about a family with a three-year-old child living in a camper. They were then ordered to move as their living situation violated the town ordinance.

“The system is manufactured to hurt people,” said Manzur. “It’s unheard of what we’re doing to our people.”

Speaking about her own experience, Manzur said she moved to the U.S. in the mid-1990s. A teenager at the time, she worked three jobs, made $4.25 per hour and paid a monthly rent of $500.

“Trying to make rent was a daily headache,” she said. “Food was secondary, healthcare was a luxury.”

Manzur said that since 2009, the federal minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 per hour, adding that New Hampshire is the only state in New England without its own minimum wage. Therefore, businesses default to the federal rate.

“It is not a survivable wage,” she said.

Manzur said that in 2021, then-President Joe Biden attempted to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour. However, she said New Hampshire’s federal delegation did not support Biden’s proposal.

She said a single person with no dependents needs to make at least $20 per hour to pay for New Hampshire’s current cost of living. She also said small business owners have told her that a higher minimum wage would be beneficial when hiring employees.

“They need to attract talent,” said Manzur.

Regarding healthcare, she said 50,000 Americans die each year as they do not have health insurance. She also said people are selling their homes to pay for cancer treatment and that GoFundMe pages are being used to cover funeral and medical costs.

“This is a lack of priority,” said Manzur, adding that President Donald Trump still authorized $40 billion to be sent to Argentina.

Manzur said that in Germany, general hospital services cost an average of $250. In the U.S., the same services are $5,000.

However, she is confident that the healthcare crisis would be solved by passing Medicare for All. The bill was first introduced in February 2003 by the late Congressman John Conyers (D-Mich.). He spent the next 14 years trying to get the legislation to pass.

The bill was introduced again in April 2025 by Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.)

“Healthcare should be a public service,” said Manzur. “Medicare for All will be cheaper than the current system.”

She also called attention to the 42 million Americans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

“Many of them work for McDonald’s and Walmart,” said Manzur. “Walmart just became a trillion-dollar company.”

As of February, the market capitalization of McDonald’s is $237 billion. Yet, none of that money makes it down to frontline workers, she said.

A member of the New Hampshire Democratic Party’s Rules Committee, Manzur holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology as well as a Bachelor’s degree in neuroscience.

If elected, she would be the first female U.S. senator in history with a Ph.D. in science.

Manzur has also served on the boards of New Hampshire Peace Action, Open Democracy Action and New Hampshire Ranked Choice Voting.

Manzur is running against Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH) and State Rep. Jared Sullivan (D-Grafton) in the Democratic primary election, which is scheduled for Sept. 8. According to the Jan. 19 poll from the University of New Hampshire, Pappas holds 65 percent of the vote while Manzur has 11 percent and Sullivan has two percent.

Republican candidates include former U.S. Sen. John Sununu and former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown. According to the UNH poll, Sununu has a comfortable lead over Brown at 48 percent to 25 percent.