MANCHESTER – Two leading Democrats raised questions about Republican Candidate Anthony DiLorenzo’s personal financial interests and campaign funding, while he responded later with criticism of his opponent Stefany Shaheen’s paychecks.
They are reportedly in a statistical tie for the 1st U.S. Congressional seat being vacated by Chris Pappas who is running against Republican John E. Sununu for U.S. Senate.
Former New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Kathy Sullivan and House Democratic Leader Alexis Simpson held a press conference Tuesday in Manchester claiming DiLorenzo, a first time candidate and successful businessman, did not disclose all of his actual personal financial interests as required by the Congressional Ethics Committee. They later sent out a press release detailing the allegations.
“State records list DiLorenzo as the manager or member of companies that own more than $100,000,000 in real estate – more than 16 times the value of the total assets he disclosed – across New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and Pennsylvania.
“The New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration filed a tax lien against DiLorenzo for $174,232.00 in unpaid Interest and Dividends Tax. He pocketed $4,355,800 from interest and dividends in 2023. At a 5% return, that $4,355,800 profit would have required $87,116,000 in interest- and dividend-producing assets. At a 2% return, it would have required $217,790,000 in assets. DiLorenzo disclosed less than $6,750,000 in total assets in 2025, just two years later,” according to the news release.
NHPR reported that DiLorenzo repaid the $174,232 lien.
Luke Wilt, DiLorenzo’s Campaign Manager, responded to the allegations made at the press conference.
“Anthony DiLorenzo has never run away from his success in business. Nor has he run away
from the fact that he set up trusts in New Hampshire to protect his businesses, his family
that he loves beyond measure, and charitable causes he cares about,” Wilt said.
“Anthony borrows money from those trusts periodically, but the money was earned by his own hard
work.
“Unlike Stefany Shaheen whose company received a highly unethical $44 million grant
from the federal government after ‘persistent advocacy’ from her mother. That money was
from the U.S. taxpayer and directly paid Stefany’s salary. Stefany should worry less about
Anthony’s finances and focus on improving Granite Stater’s finances,” Wilt said.
NHGOP Chairman Scott Maltzie picked up where Wilt left off in a statement.
Maltzie said: “I find this press conference laughable. Democrats are trying to demonize success and use Anthony DiLorenzo’s accomplishments against him. Stefany Shaheen doesn’t have a comparable record of success to point to. She wouldn’t even be on the ballot if it wasn’t for her last name.”
“If the NH Democrats want to talk about financial ties, they should start by looking in the mirror. Stefany Shaheen was a top executive at ARMI, an organization that received a $44 million federal award after her mother advocated for the funding. (Stefany) Shaheen was paid by ARMI during her time there while the organization’s work has relied heavily on taxpayer dollars. Before the Democrats lecture Granite Staters about Anthony DiLorenzo’s success, they should explain why they are so eager to ignore their own candidate’s financial ties to an organization benefiting from millions in federal funding,” Maltzie said.
Stefany Shaheen’s campaign manager Emma Greenberg said:
“DiLorenzo owes New Hampshire an explanation for why he appears to be hiding hundreds of millions of dollars in assets and funding his campaign with a mystery loan. In a desperate attempt to distract from his unconditional support of Donald Trump, he’s attacking a transformational economic development initiative that was supported by Democrats, Independents and Republicans—including Kelly Ayotte and Chris Sununu. The groundbreaking work at ARMI is accelerating cures for challenging diseases and supporting thousands of good paying jobs in Manchester and throughout the region. Stefany raised millions in philanthropic and private sector funding for this innovative research, and was paid from those funds, not federal money. While Stefany has been fighting for medical research and better health care, Anthony DiLorenzo can’t even explain how it is possible that he doesn’t have a bank account.”
Former Democratic Party Chair Sullivan said in the Democrats’ release; “DiLorenzo took out two personal loans, not from a bank, but from Portsmouth Chevrolet. That’s another company that doesn’t appear on DiLorenzo’s disclosure. The dates of those loans coincide with six-figure contributions DiLorenzo made to his campaign for Congress. Is Portsmouth Chevrolet, Inc. his company and he just forgot to list an asset that has the kind of liquidity that it can produce six-figure loans? That’s a big oops. Or is that corporation owned by someone else? If so, who?”
The release said DiLorenzo borrowed between $500,000-$1,000,000 in two loans from Portsmouth Chevrolet, a corporation not listed among his disclosed assets. The timing of the two loans coincides with a pair of six-figure contributions DiLorenzo made to his campaign for Congress. He has continued to make loans to the campaign, for a total of $1,750,000. Using corporate contributions or loans to finance a campaign for Congress violates federal law, U.S. Code – 52 U.S.C. 30118, the release said.
“Anthony DiLorenzo isn’t being honest with New Hampshire voters about either his personal financial interests or who is funding his campaign; and maybe both,” said House Democratic Leader Alexis Simpson. “New Hampshire has had enough of people running for office and then profiteering off the job. See Donald Trump! We don’t need another one.”