Exeter resident Maggie Hassan last week expanded her campaign team to focus on Hillsborough County, the state's most populous region.

Hassan, a former state Senate majority leader representing Rockingham County, nabbed longtime Democratic activists Bette Lasky, a former state senator from Nashua and Will Kanteres, a businessman from Manchester, to lead her Hillsborough County committee.

“A strong campaign organization in Hillsborough County is a crucial to our efforts,” Hassan said in a statement. She served with Lasky in the Senate at the same time.

Hillsborough County runs from Nashua to Manchester and also includes Amherst, Bedford, and Peterborough.

Hassan is going up against Jackie Cilley, a former state senator from Barrington, for the Democratic nomination for governor. On the GOP side, Ovide Lamontagne is going up against Kevin Smith.

Hassan also last week released the names of the following supporters in Hillsborough County:

• Kath Allen, Democratic Party Leader, Peterborough
• Bob Bruce, Democratic Party Leader, Manchester
• Andrea Chatfield, Attorney, Bedford
• Ben Clemons, Former Alderman, Nashua
• Jane Clemons, Former State Rep., Former City Democratic Chair, Nashua
• Mike Clemons, Former Hillsborough County Commissioner, Nashua
• Jim Craig, Former NH House Democratic Leader, Manchester
• Ald. Joyce Craig, Alderman, Manchester
• Marjorie Curran, Democratic Party Leader, Manchester
• John David, Town Democratic Chair, Amherst
• Jeanne Dietsch, Businesswoman, Zoning Board of Adjustment, and Former School Board Member, Peterborough
• Jeanne Emmick, Democratic Party Leader, Milford
• Joe Foster, Former State Senator, Nashua
• Dave Gelinas, Former City Democrats Treasurer, and Vice Chair, School Board, Manchester
• Rep. Ken Gidge, State Representative, Nashua
• Celie Ives, Democratic Party Leader, Peterborough
• Mary Jack, Democratic Party Leader, Nashua
• Angie Kopka, Former State Representative, Nashua
• Susan Ladmer, Democratic Party Leader, Peterborough
• Dr. Elliot Lasky, Democratic Party Leader, Nashua
• Meryl Levin, Democratic Party Leader, Manchester
• Lee Marcroft, Selectman and Town Democratic Chair, Weare
• Ald. Mary Ann Melizzi-Golja, Alderman, Nashua
• Howard Morse, Democratic Party Leader, Amherst
• Trudy Morgan, Town Democratic Chair, Milford
• Christopher Pappas, Businessman, Former State Representative, and Former City Democratic Chair, Manchester
• Rep. Cindy Rosenwald, State Representative, Nashua
• Jan Schmidt, Democratic Party Leader, Nashua
• Jill Shaffer Hammond, Former State Representative, Peterborough
• Catherine Spinney, Disability Rights Advocate, Pelham
• Janet Williamson, Disability Rights Advocate, Manchester