[7] O'Brien temporarily closed the New Hampshire House gallery to the public during a debate about the state budget on March 31, 2011, after union protestors of budget cuts began yelling slogans and chants from the gallery, such as "shame on you" and "don't harass the middle class", thus preventing debate from being heard.
[9] Assistant Democratic Leader Gary Richardson of Hopkinton asked O'Brien to allow the public back in.
Richardson cited a provision of the New Hampshire Constitution, which states, "The doors of the galleries ... shall be kept open to all persons who behave decently."
"[8] In Merrimack County Superior Court, Judge Richard McNamara heard arguments about closing the gallery and was told that it was open again.
[10] Remarks by O'Brien to a Tea Party-related group – explaining that a reason for a proposed law imposing more rigorous voter ID and residency requirements to be able to vote in New Hampshire elections, is that college students dominate certain local elections and "take away a town's ability to govern itself" and are "foolish, voting as a liberal" because they lack "life experience" – were widely reported in March 2011.
"[13] In August 2013, O'Brien spoke at a rally in New Hampshire of the Americans for Prosperity, a conservative political advocacy group, where he likened the Affordable Care Act to an 1850 pro-slavery federal law.
"[14] After Republicans lost control of the House, O'Brien did not run for a leadership position or seek to serve on a committee.
Instead, he transitioned towards running for New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district against Democratic Congresswoman Ann McLane Kuster in the 2014 elections.