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Final results: Summary results | Town resultsThe BasicsThe New Hampshire primary is a mainstay in American electoral politics. Every four years, voters gather to help determine the Republican and/or Democratic nominee for President. While the state only has 12 electoral votes in 2012 (normally it’s 24, but the Republican National Committee penalized the state party for moving up the event date), the primary’s position as one of the earliest contests gives the state out-sized influence over the nomination process.Only the Iowa caucuses come before New Hampshire’s primary. Traditionally, New Hampshire’s broad-based primary contest has been seen as a counter-weight to Iowa’s more drawn-out caucus process, which tends to draw a smaller core of party faithful. In the case of the 2012 Republican race, New Hampshire’s electorate is seen to represent the more libertarian-leaning, fiscally conservative wing of the party, while Iowa voters are seen as representing the socially conservative wing of the GOP base.N.H. Primary summary provided by StateImpact - NH reporter, Amanda Loder

Democratic Candidates for Governor Meet in First Debate

The three Democratic candidates for New Hampshire Governor – Jackie Cilley, Maggie Hassan, and Bill Kennedy – met at New England College for their first debate.

The three outlined their views on an income tax, which is seen as the most controversial difference between the three candidates. 

Former Senate Majority Leader Maggie Hassan of Exeter is the only candidate who would veto an income or sales tax as governor. Bill Kennedy of Danbury says he thinks an income tax is the most equitable way to ease the property tax burden on citizens. Jackie Cilley of Barrington says she will not rule out a broad based tax. 

The candidates also weighed in on the news of the day, the constitutional amendment on education funding being pushed by Republican Leaders and Governor Lynch.

Cilley went after the current version of an amendment

"Having watched what’s happened in the last two years," Cilley says, "Any amendment that would put more power into the hands of a legislative body who fundamentally does not believe in education, I would oppose vigorously."

Cilley’s opponents weren’t so zealous.

Former Senate Majority Leader Maggie Hassan said she hasn’t seen the proposed language, but she agrees something needs to give lawmakers a freer hand on education funding.

"One of the problems we still have is a gap, in spending between the poorest communities, spending per pupil and the wealthiest, and I think we need to focus on that gap," she explains.

Bill Kennedy said poorer towns need more school aid, but the legislature actions should still be checked by the courts.

The three are seeking to replace Democratic Gov. John Lynch, who has announced he won't seek a fifth term.

The candidates spoke in Henniker at a debate coordinated by WMUR-TV and the Concord Monitor.

Sam Evans-Brown has been working for New Hampshire Public Radio since 2010, when he began as a freelancer. He shifted gears in 2016 and began producing Outside/In, a podcast and radio show about “the natural world and how we use it.” His work has won him several awards, including two regional Edward R. Murrow awards, one national Murrow, and the Overseas Press Club of America's award for best environmental reporting in any medium. He studied Politics and Spanish at Bates College, and before reporting was variously employed as a Spanish teacher, farmer, bicycle mechanic, ski coach, research assistant, a wilderness trip leader and a technical supporter.
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