The new legislature will be sworn in and pick a Secretary of State on Wednesday. Bill Gardner has been Secretary of State for 42 years, and for most of that time his re-election has been inevitable.
Not this year.
Colin Van Ostern, who ran for governor two years ago, and who says Gardner's office lacks accountability, is giving Gardner a stiff challenge. In a straw vote of the incoming Democratic House caucus taken last month, Van Ostern won by a close to 8-1 margin.
Five former governors have waded into the race to back Gardner. Governor Chris Sununu, who defeated Van Ostern in 2016, says he got along fine with Van Ostern when they were Executive Councilors, but doesn't expect they'll again share the second floor of the State House.
"I have worked with him, but again, that's not going to happen. I feel very, very confident that Bill Gardner is going to win overwhelmingly."
The House and Senate will meet at 10 a.m.
