NH Politics

While Democrats won every federal race on the New Hampshire ballot last week, Republicans were the big winners on the state level. That includes gaining new majorities in the state House of Representatives, state Senate and the Executive Council.

And that's led to some soul searching and finger pointing within the state Democratic Party in recent days about what went wrong and how to address it. 

New Hampshire voters may have re-elected Democrats to the U.S. Senate and congressional seats this week. But when it came to State House races, Republicans are the ones celebrating.

Republicans appear poised to claim new majorities in the state Senate and House of Representatives, as well as the Executive Council. And Gov. Chris Sununu, a Republican from Newfields, was perhaps the biggest victor on Tuesday night, winnning re-election by a 2 to 1 margin over his challengers. 

With the results of the presidential race still unknown and all bodies of the New Hampshire State House now likely controlled by Republicans, local progressives are facing an uncertain future.

On Wednesday night, about 150 people gathered in front of the State House, as part of a national post-election effort organized by progressive groups called ‘Protect the Results.’

We're well into the second day of an extremely close presidential election, following record turnout in New Hampshire and across the U.S. For may people, this election season has felt more emotional and higher stakes than elections past.

So we want to know: How are you feeling today? How have you been talking with family and friends about the election results so far, and the news that continues to roll in? What is most important to you right now?

Air date: Wednesday, Nov 4, from 8-9 p.m.

In some ways, New Hampshire’s election results amount to a ringing endorsement of the status quo in state politics. Incumbents Jeanne Shaheen, Chris Pappas and Annie Kuster all won reelection to their seats in the U.S. Senate and Congress. And Gov. Chris Sununu easily won a third term.

There is a lot on the country's plate right now: a pandemic, economic disruption, a racial justice crisis, and serious climate change threats.

All are getting some attention on the New Hampshire campaign trail in 2020, but so too are the issues of income taxes and abortion, which animate every election here regardless of who is running.

Democrats describe themselves as the only party taking the threat of climate change seriously. And President Trump’s continued denial of climate science and rollbacks of environmental protections haven’t made it easy for Republicans to change that.

But some New Hampshire conservatives think their candidates could be doing more to run – and win – on climate change.

In the final days of the 2020 campaign, we’re taking a few moments to hear closing arguments from candidates for statewide office.

NHPR's Peter Biello spoke with Gov. Chris Sununu about why he's seeking a third term.

Just days before this election season comes to a close, we're taking a few moments to hear closing arguments from candidates running for statewide office.

All Things Considered Host Peter Biello spoke with the Democratic candidate for governor, state Sen. Dan Feltes.

Iz Piedra once thought being a state representative was a goal he’d accomplish as a retiree, not as a 28-year-old attorney. 

But in 2018, Piedra got his chance to do that for Manchester. A local Democratic leader asked if he would consider running.

“And I went with it,” he said.  

Campaigns for New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional Distict seat tend to get testy. It’s among the most closely divided districts in the nation, swinging back and forth between Democrats and Republicans nearly every two years for more than a decade.

This year is no different.

New Hampshire's state legislature is overwhemingly made up of older white men. This is also true for many local governments across the state.

A political action committee created this year is dedicated to increasing the diversity of New Hampshire's state and local governments. 

Just days before this election season comes to a close, we’re taking a few moments to hear closing arguments from candidates running for statewide office. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is running for a third term in the U.S. Senate. She spoke with NHPR's Peter Biello.

In the final days of this election season, NHPR is hearing closing arguments from candidates running for statewide office. All Things Considered Host Peter Biello spoke with Bryant “Corky” Messner, the Republican nominee for Senate who has pitched himself as a political outsider, about why he thinks voters should support him.

Of all the prominent Republicans declaring opposition to President Trump, Jennifer Horn is one of the most outspoken. The former chair of the New Hampshire GOP is co-founder of The Lincoln Project, which is dedicated to convincing Republicans to put, as they describe it, “country over party” and vote against Trump.

Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is running for a third term this year against challenger Republican Corky Messner. Shaheen is a former governor of New Hampshire, whose political career in the Granite State spans decades, while Messner, a 63-year-old Army veteran and attorney, recently moved to the state from Colorado.

NHPR senior political reporter Josh Rogers spoke with All Things Considered host Peter Biello about Messner’s background and whether New Hampshire roots really matter in campaigns.

This February, just before the state presidential primary, New Hampshire Democrats gathered for a rally in Manchester. At that moment, the room was divided over who should be the party’s nominee for president.

But at the state level, there was no question about who’s in charge. 

Gov. Chris Sununu, a Republican seeking his third term, and challenger Dan Feltes, a Democratic state senator, debated live on NHPR's The Exchange on Tuesday.

The candidates clashed repeatedly over policy differences as they discussed the state's response to the coronavirus pandemic, New Hampshire's economic recovery, heath care, race and policing, and myriad issues the two have sparred over during Sununu's tenure as governor.