2018 New Hampshire Senate election
The 2018 New Hampshire Senate election was held on November 6, 2018, concurrently with the elections for the New Hampshire House of Representatives, to elect members to the 166th New Hampshire General Court. All 24 seats in the New Hampshire Senate were up for election. It resulted in Democrats gaining control of both chambers of the New Hampshire General Court, ending the total control of New Hampshire's state government, that Republicans had held in New Hampshire since the 2016 state elections.
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All 24 seats in the New Hampshire Senate 13 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Results of New Hampshire Senate elections 2018, by district | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Elections in New Hampshire | ||||||||||
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Primary elections were held on September 11, 2018.
Background
In the 2016 New Hampshire state elections, Republicans held on to their majority in the New Hampshire Senate by a margin of 14–10. Republicans also maintained control of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. In addition, Republican Chris Sununu won the open 2016 New Hampshire gubernatorial election giving the New Hampshire Republican Party total control of the state government for the first time since Republican Governor Craig Benson was defeated by Democrat John Lynch in the 2004 New Hampshire gubernatorial election.
In the aftermath of his 2016 election, then president-elect Donald Trump claimed in a tweet that voter fraud had occurred in New Hampshire.[1] In February 2017, Trump advisor Stephen Miller reaffirmed that position by claiming "busing voters in to New Hampshire is widely known by anyone who’s worked in New Hampshire politics".[2] These claims were called "baseless" by several observers.[3]
In response to those allegations, the Republican majorities in the New Hampshire General Court drafted bills changing voter registration rules. Senate Bill 3 (SB 3) passed both chambers of the New Hampshire General Court on party-line votes and was signed in to law by Governor Sununu on July, 10 2017.[4] The new law requires voters to declare a "domicile" in New Hampshire. It also included jail sentences of up to one year or a fine of up to $5,000, if voters registered and not provided necessary paperwork as proof within 10 day or 30 days in smaller towns.[5] Republicans pointed to over 5,000 voters who voted in the 2016 election after identifying with an out-of-state driver's licence, that have not gotten an in-state licence as of September 2017.[6] Democrats suspected a voter suppression scheme, that targeted college students, that they think are most likely to use identification issued by other states.[7]
The League of Women Voters, the New Hampshire Democratic Party and several college students challenged the new law in court.[5] They pointed to the Supreme Court's decision in Symm v. United States, that guaranteed college students the right to vote at their university. The trial judge of the Hillsborough Superior Court decided on October 22, 2018, that the state cannot apply the law in the upcoming elections.[8] The Attorney General of New Hampshire's office then filed an emergency motion with the New Hampshire Supreme Court.[9] The State Supreme Court sided with the state in a unanimous 5-0 decision arguing that overturning the law so close to elections was potentially confusing and disruptive.[10] The State Supreme Court did not decide on the merits of the law in this decision.[9] Therefore, SB3 was first applied in the 2018 elections.
Results
Analysis
In the 2018 elections, Democrats saw gains in state elections across the countries, gaining multiple Governorships and legislative chambers. Democrats also won control of the United States House of Representatives for the first time since 2010. Commentators called the election results a "blue wave", that was especially pronounced in state elections.[11][12]
In the New Hampshire Senate, Democrats were able to flip Districts 9, 11, 12, 23 and 24, while the Republicans flipped District 1. The Democratic gains were mostly in less rural areas in Southern and Eastern New Hampshire while the Republican gains were limited to the rural Senate District 1 in the North Country. The incumbent Democratic Senator in District 1, Jeff Woodburn, had been accused of domestic violence and criminally charged a few months before the election.[13][14]
Overview
14 | 10 |
Democratic | Republican |
Source: Official results.[15]
Parties | Candidates | Seats | Popular Vote | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016 | 2018 | +/- | Strength | Vote | % | Change | |||
Democratic | 24 | 10 | 14 | 58.33% | 296,608 | 53.77% | |||
Republican | 23 | 14 | 10 | 41.67% | 253,412 | 45.94% | |||
Libertarian | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 1,461 | 0.26% | |||
Independent | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 1,103 | 0.03% | |||
Total | 51 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 100.00% | 551,629 | 100.00% | - |
Detailed results
District 1 • District 2 • District 3 • District 4 • District 5 • District 6 • District 7 • District 8 • District 9 • District 10 • District 11 • District 12 • District 13 • District 14 • District 15 • District 16 • District 17 • District 18 • District 19 • District 20 • District 21 • District 22 • District 23 • District 24 |
District 1
Incumbent Democratic State Senator Jeff Woodburn had represented the New Hampshire's 1st State Senate District since 2012. Senator Woodburn had also served as Senate Minority Leader since 2014. Woodburn was arrested on August 2, 2018 on simple assault, domestic violence, criminal mischief, and criminal trespass charges. Democratic Party Chairman Raymond Buckley called on him to resign.[16] On August 6, Woodburn announced he would resign as the minority leader but would remain as a senator.[17] He won the Democratic primary on September 11, 2018, but was defeated by Republican David Starr in the 2018 general election.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | David Starr | 10,560 | 54.3 | |
Democratic | Jeff Woodburn (incumbent) | 8,739 | 44.9 | |
Independent | Kathleen Kelley (write-in) | 148 | 0.8 | |
Total votes | 19,447 | 100 | ||
Republican gain from Democratic | ||||
District 2
Incumbent Republican State Senator Bob Giuda had represented the New Hampshire's 2nd State Senate District since 2016. He won reelection against Democrat Bill Bolton.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Bob Giuda (incumbent) | 12,127 | 51.6 | |
Democratic | Bill Bolton | 11,376 | 48.4 | |
Total votes | 23,503 | 100 | ||
Republican hold |
District 3
Incumbent Republican State Senator Jeb Bradley had represented the New Hampshire's 3rd State Senate District since 2009. He won reelection against Democrat Christopher Meier and Libertarian Tania Butler.[18]
Primary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Republican | Jeb Bradley (incumbent) | 4,326 | 77.4 | |
Republican | Steven Steiner | 1,262 | 22.6 | |
Total votes | 5,588 | 100 | ||
General election | ||||
Republican | Jeb Bradley (incumbent) | 14,841 | 56.6 | |
Democratic | Christopher Meier | 10,895 | 41.5 | |
Libertarian | Tania Butler | 506 | 1.9 | |
Total votes | 26,242 | 100 | ||
Republican hold |
District 4
Incumbent Democrat State Senator David Watters had represented the New Hampshire's 4th State Senate District since 2012. He was reelected without opposition.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | David Watters (incumbent) | 15,299 | 100 | |
Total votes | 15,299 | 100 | ||
Democratic hold |
District 5
Incumbent Democratic State Senator Martha Hennessey had represented the New Hampshire's 5th State Senate District since 2016. She won reelection against Republican Patrick Lozito.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Martha Hennessey (incumbent) | 16,932 | 71.2 | |
Republican | Patrick Lozito | 6,862 | 28.8 | |
Total votes | 23,794 | 100 | ||
Democratic hold |
District 6
Incumbent Republican State Senator James Gray had represented the New Hampshire's 6th State Senate District since 2016. He won reelection against Democrat Anne Grassie.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | James Gray (incumbent) | 11,602 | 54.9 | |
Democratic | Anne Grassie | 9,537 | 45.1 | |
Total votes | 21,139 | 100 | ||
Republican hold |
District 7
Incumbent Republican State Senator Harold F. French had represented the New Hampshire's 7th State Senate District since 2016. He won reelection against Democrat Mason Donovan.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Harold French (incumbent) | 11,616 | 53.4 | |
Democratic | Mason Donovan | 10,141 | 46.6 | |
Total votes | 21,757 | 100 | ||
Republican hold |
District 8
Incumbent Republican State Senator Ruth Ward had represented the New Hampshire's 8th State Senate District since 2016. She won reelection against Democrat Jenn Alford-Teaster.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Ruth Ward (incumbent) | 12,859 | 51.3 | |
Democratic | Jenn Alford-Teaster | 12,212 | 48.7 | |
Total votes | 25,071 | 100 | ||
Republican hold |
District 9
Incumbent Republican State Senator Andy Sanborn had represented the New Hampshire's 9th State Senate District since 2010. He did not run for reelection in 2018. Instead, he ran unsuccessfully in the Republican primary for New Hampshire's 1st congressional district. The open seat was won by Democrat Jeanne Dietsch against Republican Dan Hynes.
Primary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Democratic | Jeanne Dietsch | 3,728 | 54.6 | |
Democratic | Mark Fernald | 2,219 | 32.5 | |
Democratic | Bruce Fox | 884 | 12.9 | |
Total votes | 6,831 | 100 | ||
Republican | Dan Hynes | 2,699 | 53.1 | |
Republican | Terry Wolf | 2,382 | 46.9 | |
Total votes | 5,081 | 100 | ||
General election | ||||
Democratic | Jeanne Dietsch | 14,037 | 52.4 | |
Republican | Dan Hynes | 12,776 | 47.6 | |
Total votes | 26,813 | 100 | ||
Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
District 10
Incumbent Democratic State Senator Jay Kahn had represented the New Hampshire's 10th State Senate District since 2016. He won reelection against Republican Dan LeClair and Libertarian Ian Freeman.[18]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Jay Kahn (incumbent) | 15,036 | 65.1 | |
Republican | Dan LeClair | 7,538 | 32.7 | |
Libertarian | Ian Freeman | 507 | 2.2 | |
Total votes | 23,081 | 100 | ||
Democratic hold |
District 11
Incumbent Republican State Senator Gary L. Daniels had represented the New Hampshire's 11th State Senate District since 2014. He was defeated for reelection by Democratic State Representative Shannon Chandley.
Primary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Democratic | Shannon Chandley | 3,917 | 83.1 | |
Democratic | Roger Tilton | 797 | 16.9 | |
Total votes | 4,714 | 100 | ||
General election | ||||
Democratic | Shannon Chandley | 13,361 | 52.3 | |
Republican | Gary L. Daniels (incumbent) | 12,205 | 47.7 | |
Total votes | 25,566 | 100 | ||
Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
District 12
Incumbent Republican State Senator Kevin Avard had represented the New Hampshire's 12th State Senate District since 2014. He was defeated for reelection by former Democratic State Representative Melanie Levesque.
Primary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Democratic | Melanie Levesque | 3,727 | 79.4 | |
Democratic | Tom Falter | 969 | 20.6 | |
Total votes | 4,696 | 100 | ||
Republican | Kevin Avard (incumbent) | 3,274 | 76.1 | |
Republican | Richard Dowd | 1,028 | 23.9 | |
Total votes | 4,302 | 100 | ||
General election | ||||
Democratic | Melanie Levesque | 12,553 | 50.3 | |
Republican | Kevin Avard (incumbent) | 12,384 | 49.7 | |
Total votes | 24,937 | 100 | ||
Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
District 13
Incumbent Democratic State Senator Bette Lasky had represented the New Hampshire's 13th State Senate District since 2012. She did not run for reelection in 2018. The open seat was won by Democrat Cindy Rosenwald against Republican David Schoneman.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Cindy Rosenwald | 11,307 | 60.9 | |
Republican | David Schoneman | 7,259 | 39.1 | |
Total votes | 18,566 | 100 | ||
Democratic hold |
District 14
Incumbent Republican State Senator Sharon Carson had represented the New Hampshire's 14th State Senate District since 2008. She won reelection against Democrat Tammy Siekmann.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Sharon Carson (incumbent) | 12,823 | 57.6 | |
Democratic | Tammy Siekmann | 9,424 | 42.4 | |
Total votes | 22,247 | 100 | ||
Republican hold |
District 15
Incumbent Democratic State Senator Dan Feltes had represented the New Hampshire's 15th State Senate District since 2014. He won reelection against Republican Pamela Ean.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Dan Feltes (incumbent) | 15,929 | 66.2 | |
Republican | Pamela Ean | 8,119 | 33.8 | |
Total votes | 24,048 | 100 | ||
Democratic hold |
District 16
Incumbent Democratic State Senator Kevin Cavanaugh had represented the New Hampshire's 16th State Senate District since a 2017 special election. He won reelection in a rematch against former Republican State Senator David Boutin.
Primary election | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
Republican | David Boutin | 2,961 | 60.0 | |
Republican | Bill Kuch | 1,978 | 40.0 | |
Total votes | 4,939 | 100 | ||
General election | ||||
Democratic | Kevin Cavanaugh (incumbent) | 12,990 | 52.3 | |
Republican | David Boutin | 11,853 | 47.7 | |
Total votes | 24,843 | 100 | ||
Democratic hold |
District 17
Incumbent Republican State Senator John Reagan had represented the New Hampshire's 17th State Senate District since 2012. He won reelection against Democrat Christoper Roundy.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | John Reagan (incumbent) | 13,172 | 55.5 | |
Democratic | Christopher Roundy | 10,578 | 44.5 | |
Total votes | 23,750 | 100 | ||
Republican hold |
District 18
Incumbent Democratic State Senator Donna Soucy had represented the New Hampshire's 18th State Senate District since 2012. She won reelection against Republican State Representative George Lambert.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Donna Soucy (incumbent) | 10,276 | 56.0 | |
Republican | George Lambert | 8,066 | 44.0 | |
Total votes | 18,342 | 100 | ||
Democratic hold |
District 19
Incumbent Republican State Senator Regina Birdsell had represented the New Hampshire's 19th State Senate District since 2014. She won reelection against Democrat Kristina Durocher.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Regina Birdsell (incumbent) | 12,192 | 56.8 | |
Democratic | Kristina Durocher | 9,269 | 43.2 | |
Total votes | 21,461 | 100 | ||
Republican hold |
District 20
Incumbent Democratic State Senator Lou D'Allesandro had represented the New Hampshire's 20th State Senate District since 1998. D'Allesandro is the longest-serving member of the body. He won reelection against Republican Carla Gericke.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Lou D'Allesandro (incumbent) | 9,903 | 58.4 | |
Republican | Carla Gericke | 7,047 | 41.6 | |
Total votes | 16,950 | 100 | ||
Democratic hold |
District 21
Incumbent Democratic State Senator Martha Fuller Clark had represented the New Hampshire's 21st State Senate District since 2012. She won reelection against Republican Peter Macdonald.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Martha Fuller Clark (incumbent) | 19,084 | 72.3 | |
Republican | Peter Macdonald | 7,324 | 27.7 | |
Total votes | 26,408 | 100 | ||
Democratic hold |
District 22
Incumbent Republican State Senator Chuck Morse had represented the New Hampshire's 22nd State Senate District since 2010. He won reelection against Democrat Richard O'Shaughnessy and Libertarian Mitch Dyer.[18]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Chuck Morse (incumbent) | 13,571 | 58.6 | |
Democratic | Richard O'Shaughnessy | 9,155 | 39.5 | |
Libertarian | Mitch Dyer | 448 | 1.9 | |
Total votes | 23,174 | 100 | ||
Republican hold |
District 23
Incumbent Republican State Senator Bill Gannon had represented the New Hampshire's 23rd State Senate District since 2014. He was defeated for reelection by Democrat Jon Morgan.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Jon Morgan | 12,911 | 50.2 | |
Republican | Bill Gannon (incumbent) | 12,806 | 49.8 | |
Total votes | 25,717 | 100 | ||
Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
District 24
Incumbent Republican State Senator Daniel Innis had represented the New Hampshire's 24th State Senate District since 2016. He was defeated for reelection by Democratic State Representative Tom Sherman.
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Tom Sherman | 15,664 | 53.1 | |
Republican | Daniel Innis (incumbent) | 13,832 | 46.9 | |
Total votes | 29,496 | 100 | ||
Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
References
- "Trump's baseless assertions of voter fraud called 'stunning'". Politico. 27 November 2016. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
- "Voter Fraud in New Hampshire? Trump Has No Proof and Many Skeptics". New York Times. 13 February 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
- "No Evidence of Busing Voters to N.H." Factcheck. 14 February 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
- "Sununu signs controversial GOP voter registration measure into law". WMUR9. 10 July 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
- "Court blocks penalties in new New Hampshire voting law". Politico. 12 September 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
- "Updated: New voting statistics show 6,540 people registered to vote in NH last year using out-of-state driver's licenses as IDs". WMUR9. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
- "On eve of voter commission hearing in N.H., Bill Gardner in middle of partisan divide". Concord Monitor. 11 September 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
- "Judge bars New Hampshire proof of residency requirement for new voters". Reuters. 23 October 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
- "N.H. Supreme Court restores registration forms, process of 2017 'proof-of-domicile' law SB 3". WMUR9. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
- "Supreme Court sides with state in SB 3 case". Nashua Telegraph. 27 October 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
- "The blue wave was big — and significant — in state legislatures". Washington Post. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
- "The Biggest Shift of the Midterms Wasn't in Congress—It Was in the States". Fortune. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
- "In the North Country, a district divided over Sen. Jeff Woodburn". Concord Monitor. 3 November 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
- "N.H. Lawmaker Accused Of Domestic Violence Loses Reelection Bid". New Hampshire Public Radio. 7 November 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
- "New Hampshire 2018 General Election Information and Results". New Hampshire Secretary of State. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
- http://www.unionleader.com/State-senator-facing-nine-criminal-charges State Senator Facing Nine Criminal Charges
- "State Senate Democrats choose Soucy to succeed Woodburn as minority leader". WMUR9. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
- "New Hampshire State Senate elections, 2018". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 25 December 2019.