Paul William Hodes[1] (born March 21, 1951) is an American lawyer, musician, and former U.S. representative for New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district, serving from 2007 to 2011.

Hodes was an unsuccessful candidate for the Senate seat being vacated by Judd Gregg in 2010, losing to former New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte.

In 2012, Hodes was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the US Senate to a position on the National Council on the Arts.

After graduating from Dartmouth College, Hodes spent three years acting, writing, and working on radio shows.

"[5] The couple won the 1996 Parent's Choice Honors Award for their album "Patchwork Quilt" and performed at the White House.

In September 2008, Hodes voted against the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, also known as "the financial bailout bill", which enacted the Troubled Asset Relief Program ("TARP").

Hodes was one of the first Democrats to demand that Representative Charlie Rangel surrender his Ways and Means chairmanship in the wake of the Ethics Committee finding that he violated House rules.

[8] Hodes ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat for United States House of Representatives in 2004 against incumbent Charles Bass in New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district.