2012 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2012 United States gubernatorial elections.

2012 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

←  2010 November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06) 2014  →

Nominee Maggie Hassan Ovide Lamontagne Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 378,934 294,024 Percentage 54.61% 42.53%

County results Municipality results Congressional district results Hassan:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     >90% Lamontagne:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%      70–80%     80–90% Tie:     40–50%

Governor before election John Lynch Democratic Elected Governor Maggie Hassan Democratic

The 2012 New Hampshire gubernatorial election took place on November 6, 2012, concurrently with the 2012 U.S. presidential election, U.S. House elections, and various state and local elections.

Four-term incumbent governor John Lynch was eligible to seek a fifth term. In the fall of 2011, Lynch announced that he would retire rather than run for re-election. ^[1] On September 11, 2012, Democrat Maggie Hassan and Republican Ovide Lamontagne defeated primary opponents to win their parties' nominations. ^{[2] [3]} Hassan won the election while carrying every county in the state and began the two-year term on January 3, 2013. ^[4]

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Jackie Cilley, former state Senator ^[5]
• Maggie Hassan, former majority leader of the New Hampshire Senate ^[6]
• Bill Kennedy, firefighter and retired Air Force officer ^{[7] [8]}

Declined

• Mark Connolly, former director of the New Hampshire's Bureau of Securities Regulation ^[9]
• Tom Ferrini, mayor of Portsmouth ^[1]
• Gary Hirshberg, chairman and former CEO of Stonyfield Farm ^[10]
• John Lynch, incumbent governor ^[1]
• Steve Marchand, former mayor of Portsmouth ^[11]
• Phil McLaughlin, former state Attorney General ^[12]
• Terry Shumaker, lawyer and former United States Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago ^[13]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Jackie Cilley	Maggie Hassan	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling [14]	August 9–12, 2012	400	± 4.9%	24%	30%	—	46%
Public Policy Polling [15]	May 10–13, 2012	477	± 4.5%	20%	23%	—	57%

Results

Results by county:

  Hassan—60–70%

  Hassan—50–60%

  Hassan—40–50%

  Cilley—50–60%

  Cilley—40–50%

Democratic primary results ^[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Maggie Hassan	45,120	53.1
	Democratic	Jackie Cilley	33,066	38.9
	Democratic	Bill Kennedy	5,936	7.0
	Democratic	Other	850	1.0
Total votes			84,972	100

Republican primary

Candidates

• Ovide M. Lamontagne, attorney, 1992 congressional candidate, nominee for governor in 1996 and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2010 ^[17]
• Kevin H. Smith, conservative activist and former state Representative ^[18]
• Robert Tarr ^[19]

Declined

• Bill Binnie, businessman and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2010 ^[20]
• Jeb Bradley, New Hampshire Senate Majority Leader and former U.S. Representative ^[21]
• Peter Bragdon, state Senate President ^[22]
• Ted Gatsas, Mayor of Manchester ^[23]
• Steve Kenda, businessman ^[24]
• John Lyons, chairman of the New Hampshire Board of Education ^[25]
• John Stephen, former Health and Human Services Commissioner and Republican nominee for governor in 2010 ^[26]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Ovide Lamontagne	Kevin Smith	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling [14]	August 9–12, 2012	662	± 3.8%	49%	21%	—	30%
Public Policy Polling [15]	May 10–13, 2012	555	± 4.2%	53%	13%	—	34%
Public Policy Polling [27]	January 7–8, 2012	1,771	± 2.3%	40%	12%	—	48%

Results

Results by county:

  Lamontagne—80–90%

  Lamontagne—60–70%

Republican primary results ^[28]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Ovide Lamontagne	73,437	67.7
	Republican	Kevin Smith	32,396	29.8
	Republican	Robert Tarr	1,725	1.6
	Republican	Other	988	0.9
Total votes			108,546	100

General election

Candidates

• John Babiarz (Libertarian), businessman and party nominee for governor in 2000, 2002, and 2010 ^[29]
• Maggie Hassan (D), former majority leader of the New Hampshire Senate
• Ovide Lamontagne (R), attorney, Republican nominee for governor in 1996, and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2010

Debates

• Complete video of debate, C-SPAN, September 14, 2012
• Complete video of debate, C-SPAN, October 8, 2012

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report [30]	Tossup	November 1, 2012
Sabato's Crystal Ball [31]	Lean D	November 5, 2012
Rothenberg Political Report [32]	Tossup	November 2, 2012
Real Clear Politics [33]	Lean D	November 5, 2012

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Maggie Hassan (D)	Ovide Lamontagne (R)	Other	Undecided
Rasmussen Reports [34]	November 4, 2012	750	± 4%	50%	45%	1%	4%
New England College [35]	November 3–4, 2012	666	± 4.1%	47%	45%	1%	7%
Public Policy Polling [36]	November 3–4, 2012	1,550	± 2.5%	51%	47%	—	2%
WMUR/University of New Hampshire [37]	November 1–4, 2012	789	± 3.5%	54%	43%	3%	—
WMUR/University of New Hampshire [38]	October 31–November 2, 2012	502	± 4.4%	47%	42%	3%	8%
NBC/WSJ/Marist [39]	October 28–29, 2012	1013	± 3.1%	49%	44%	1%	6%
Public Policy Polling [40]	October 26–28, 2012	874	± 3.3%	48%	44%	—	8%
New England College [41]	October 23–25, 2012	571	± 4.1%	45%	45%	1%	9%
Rasmussen Reports [42]	October 23, 2012	500	± 4.5%	46%	48%	1%	5%
WMUR/University of New Hampshire [43]	October 17–21, 2012	773	± 3.5%	43%	35%	3%	18%
Public Policy Polling [44]	October 17–19, 2012	1,036	± 3.0%	45%	43%	—	12%
Rasmussen Reports [45]	October 15, 2012	500	± 4.5%	46%	48%	—	5%
Suffolk University/7NEWS [46]	October 12–14, 2012	500	± 4.4%	41%	38%	4%	16%
American Research Group [47]	October 9–11, 2012	600	± 4%	40%	46%	3%	11%
Rasmussen Reports [48]	October 9, 2012	500	± 4.5%	48%	46%	—	5%
WMUR/University of New Hampshire [49]	October 1–6, 2012	419	± 4.8%	35%	39%	3%	23%
WMUR/University of New Hampshire [50]	September 27–30, 2012	600	± 4.0%	38%	36%	2%	25%
Public Policy Polling [51]	September 24–25, 2012	862	± 3.3%	51%	44%	—	5%
NBC/ The Wall Street Journal /Marist College [52]	September 23–25, 2012	1012	± 3.1%	47%	45%	1%	7%
Greenberg Quinlan Rosner [53]	September 15–19, 2012	600	± 4.9%	48%	46%	—	6%
Rasmussen Reports [54]	September 18, 2012	500	± 4.5%	44%	48%	2%	7%
Public Policy Polling [15]	August 9–12, 2012	1,055	± 3.0%	45%	43%	—	12%
WMUR/University of New Hampshire [55]	August 1–12, 2012	555	± 4.2%	31%	33%	1%	35%
Rasmussen Reports [56]	June 20, 2012	500	± 4.5%	36%	42%	—	22%
Public Policy Polling [15]	May 10–13, 2012	1,163	± 2.9%	39%	40%	—	21%
WMUR/University of New Hampshire [57]	April 9–20, 2012	486	± 4.4%	34%	29%	1%	36%
WMUR/University of New Hampshire [58]	January 25–February 2, 2012	495	± 4.4%	26%	32%	1%	41%
Public Policy Polling [59]	June 30–July 5, 2011	662	± 3.8%	35%	41%	—	24%

Hypothetical polling

With Cilley

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Jackie Cilley (D)	Ovide Lamontagne (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling [15]	August 9–12, 2012	1,055	± 3.0%	42%	42%	—	16%
WMUR/University of New Hampshire [55]	August 1–12, 2012	555	± 4.2%	31%	35%	1%	33%
Rasmussen Reports [56]	June 20, 2012	500	± 4.5%	39%	41%	—	20%
Public Policy Polling [15]	May 10–13, 2012	1,163	± 2.9%	38%	38%	—	24%
WMUR/University of New Hampshire [57]	April 9–20, 2012	486	± 4.4%	31%	30%	1%	38%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Jackie Cilley (D)	Kevin Smith (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling [15]	August 9–12, 2012	1,055	± 3.0%	39%	38%	—	23%
WMUR/University of New Hampshire [55]	August 1–12, 2012	555	± 4.2%	31%	28%	1%	39%
Rasmussen Reports [56]	June 20, 2012	500	± 4.5%	39%	37%	—	24%
Public Policy Polling [15]	May 10–13, 2012	1,163	± 2.9%	37%	32%	—	31%
WMUR/University of New Hampshire [57]	April 9–20, 2012	486	± 4.4%	30%	23%	1%	47%

With Smith

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Maggie Hassan (D)	Kevin Smith (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling [15]	August 9–12, 2012	1,055	± 3.0%	42%	39%	—	20%
WMUR/University of New Hampshire [55]	August 1–12, 2012	555	± 4.2%	31%	29%	1%	39%
Rasmussen Reports [56]	June 20, 2012	500	± 4.5%	36%	39%	—	25%
Public Policy Polling [15]	May 10–13, 2012	1,163	± 2.9%	37%	31%	—	32%
WMUR/University of New Hampshire [57]	April 9–20, 2012	486	± 4.4%	29%	24%	1%	46%

With Kennedy

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bill Kennedy (D)	Ovide Lamontagne (R)	Other	Undecided
WMUR/University of New Hampshire [55]	August 1–12, 2012	555	± 4.2%	29%	35%	1%	36%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bill Kennedy (D)	Kevin Smith (R)	Other	Undecided
WMUR/University of New Hampshire [55]	August 1–12, 2012	555	± 4.2%	27%	29%	1%	44%

With Bradley

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Mark Connolly (D)	Jeb Bradley (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling [59]	June 30-July 5, 2011	662	± 3.8%	30%	38%	—	31%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Maggie Hassan (D)	Jeb Bradley (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling [59]	June 30-July 5, 2011	662	± 3.8%	33%	39%	—	28%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Steve Marchand (D)	Jeb Bradley (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling [59]	June 30-July 5, 2011	662	± 3.8%	32%	38%	—	31%

With Connolly

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Mark Connolly (D)	Ovide Lamontagne (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling [59]	June 30-July 5, 2011	662	± 3.8%	34%	40%	—	26%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Mark Connolly (D)	John Stephen (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling [59]	June 30-July 5, 2011	662	± 3.8%	36%	36%	—	28%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Mark Connolly (D)	John E. Sununu (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling [59]	June 30-July 5, 2011	662	± 3.8%	36%	44%	—	20%

With Gatsas

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Maggie Hassan (D)	Ted Gatsas (R)	Other	Undecided
WMUR/University of New Hampshire [58]	January 25-February 2, 2012	495	± 4.4%	27%	29%	1%	43%

With Lynch

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	John Lynch (D)	Jeb Bradley (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling [59]	June 30-July 5, 2011	662	± 3.8%	54%	35%	—	11%
Public Policy Polling [60]	March 31-April 3, 2011	769	± 3.5%	57%	33%	—	10%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	John Lynch (D)	Ovide Lamontagne (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling [59]	June 30-July 5, 2011	662	± 3.8%	54%	36%	—	10%
Public Policy Polling [60]	March 31-April 3, 2011	769	± 3.5%	57%	33%	—	10%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	John Lynch (D)	John Stephen (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling [59]	June 30-July 5, 2011	662	± 3.8%	55%	34%	—	11%
Public Policy Polling [60]	March 31-April 3, 2011	769	± 3.5%	57%	29%	—	14%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	John Lynch (D)	John E. Sununu (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling [59]	June 30-July 5, 2011	662	± 3.8%	51%	40%	—	8%
Public Policy Polling [60]	March 31-April 3, 2011	769	± 3.5%	54%	36%	—	11%

With Marchand

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Steve Marchand (D)	Ovide Lamontagne (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling [59]	June 30-July 5, 2011	662	± 3.8%	33%	40%	—	27%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Steve Marchand (D)	John Stephen (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling [59]	June 30-July 5, 2011	662	± 3.8%	34%	36%	—	30%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Steve Marchand (D)	John E. Sununu (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling [59]	June 30-July 5, 2011	662	± 3.8%	35%	44%	—	21%

With Stephen

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Maggie Hassan (D)	John Stephen (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling [59]	June 30-July 5, 2011	662	± 3.8%	36%	37%	—	27%

With Sununu

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Maggie Hassan (D)	John E. Sununu (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling [59]	June 30-July 5, 2011	662	± 3.8%	36%	45%	—	19%

Results

2012 New Hampshire gubernatorial election ^[61]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Maggie Hassan	378,934	54.61%	+1.98%
	Republican	Ovide Lamontagne	295,026	42.52%	−2.51%
	Libertarian	John J. Babiarz	19,251	2.77%	+0.56%
	Write-in		666	0.10%	-0.02%
Total votes			693,877	100.00%	N/A
	Democratic hold

Counties that swung from Republican to Democratic

• Rockingham (largest municipality: Derry)

By congressional district

Hassan won both congressional districts. ^[62]

District	Hassan	Lamontagne	Representative
1st	52.98%	44.43%	Carol Shea-Porter
2nd	56.38%	40.66%	Annie Kuster

References

1. Langley, Karen (September 16, 2011). "Lynch will not seek a fifth term". Concord Monitor . Retrieved May 20, 2012.
2. "2012 Election Information". New Hampshire Secretary of State. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
3. "Lamontagne, Hassan will face off in governor's race". Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved September 11, 2012.
4. New Hampshire
5. Hall, Beth LaMontagne (February 7, 2012). "Former state Sen. Cilley enters race for governor". New Hampshire Union Leader . Archived from the original on December 14, 2014. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
6. Marchocki, Kathryn (October 25, 2011). "Former Senate Majority Leader Maggie Hassan makes gubernatorial bid official". New Hampshire Union Leader . Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
7. Claffey, Jason (April 4, 2012). "Democratic Field for Governor to Expand". Exeter, NH Patch . Retrieved April 28, 2012.
8. Timmins, Annmarie (April 5, 2012). "Political newcomer to run for governor". Concord Monitor . Retrieved April 28, 2012.
9. Landrigan, Kevin (February 11, 2012). "Mark Connolly, financial whistle-blower, won't run for governor". Nashua Telegraph . Retrieved February 13, 2012.
10. Ireland, Doug (January 13, 2012). "Stonyfield CEO steps down". The Eagle-Tribune . Retrieved May 20, 2012.
11. Cresta, Joey (December 21, 2011). "Ex-Mayor accepts UNH job, ending political rumblings". The Portsmouth Herald . Archived from the original on March 7, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
12. "McLaughlin won't run for governor". The Laconia Daily Sun . January 26, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
13. Pindell, James (February 7, 2012). "EXCLUSIVE: Shumaker Will Not Run For Governor". WMUR-TV Political Scoop. Archived from the original on February 8, 2012. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
14. Public Policy Polling
15. Public Policy Polling
16. "2012 Governor - Democratic Primary". New Hampshire Secretary of State . Archived from the original on October 3, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
17. Houghton, Kimberly (September 19, 2011). "Ovide Lamontagne makes candidacy for governor official". New Hampshire Union Leader . Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
18. DiStaso, John (November 16, 2011). "Conservative Kevin Smith says 'I'm in' for governor". New Hampshire Union Leader . Archived from the original on January 28, 2012. Retrieved November 16, 2011.
19. "In NH, a big election year by the numbers, too". Nashua Telegraph . June 20, 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
20. Curtis, Danielle (May 17, 2012). "Binnie won't enter governor race". Nashua Telegraph . Retrieved May 17, 2012.
21. Pindell, James (January 26, 2012). "Bradley Won't Run For Governor". WMUR-TV Political Scoop. Archived from the original on March 29, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
22. Cleveland, Kathy (September 22, 2011). "Sen. Peter Bragdon rules out run for governor in 2012". Milford Cabinet . Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
23. Landrigan, Kevin (March 8, 2012). "Manchester mayor Gatsas bows out of race for governor". Nashua Telegraph . Retrieved March 12, 2012.
24. Landrigan, Kevin (March 31, 2012). "Kenda rules out run for governor". Nashua Telegraph . Retrieved April 3, 2012.
25. Pindell, James (February 13, 2012). "EXCLUSIVE: NH Education Board Chair Not Running For Governor". Political Scoop. Archived from the original on May 15, 2012. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
26. Landrigan, Kevin (February 13, 2012). "Stephen, 2010 GOP governor nominee, will not run again". Nashua Telegraph . Retrieved February 13, 2012.
27. Public Policy Polling
28. "2012 Governor - Republican Primary". New Hampshire Secretary of State . Retrieved September 24, 2012.
29. Schinella, Tony (June 12, 2012). "VIDEO: Babiarz Running for Governor". Amherst, NH Patch . Archived from the original on June 22, 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
30. "2012 Governor Race Ratings for November 1, 2012". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
31. "PROJECTION: OBAMA WILL LIKELY WIN SECOND TERM". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Archived from the original on December 1, 2018. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
32. "2012 Gubernatorial Ratings". Gubernatorial Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
33. "2012 Elections Map - 2012 Governor Races". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
34. Rasmussen Reports
35. New England College
36. Public Policy Polling
37. WMUR/University of New Hampshire
38. WMUR/University of New Hampshire
39. NBC/WSJ/Marist
40. Public Policy Polling
41. New England College
42. Rasmussen Reports
43. WMUR/University of New Hampshire
44. Public Policy Polling
45. Rasmussen Reports
46. Suffolk University/7NEWS Archived 2012-10-17 at the Wayback Machine
47. American Research Group
48. Rasmussen Reports
49. WMUR/University of New Hampshire
50. WMUR/University of New Hampshire
51. Public Policy Polling
52. NBC/Wall Street Journal/Marist College
53. Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Archived 2012-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
54. Rasmussen Reports
55. WMUR/University of New Hampshire
56. Rasmussen Reports
57. WMUR/University of New Hampshire
58. WMUR/University of New Hampshire
59. Public Policy Polling
60. Public Policy Polling
61. "Governor - 2012 General Election - NHSOS". Archived from the original on August 4, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
62. "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts". Daily Kos. Retrieved August 11, 2020.

External links

• Election Division at the New Hampshire Secretary of State

Official campaign websites

• John Babiarz for Governor
• Jackie Cilley for Governor
• Maggie Hassan for Governor
• Ovide Lamontagne for Governor
• Kevin Smith for Governor
• Robert Tarr for Governor