2026 New Hampshire elections

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2026 New Hampshire elections
Flag of New Hampshire.svg
 2024November 3, 2026 (2026-11-03)2028 

The 2026 New Hampshire elections will be held in the state of New Hampshire on November 3, 2026, alongside the nationwide midterm elections. Elections will be held for a U.S. Senate seat and governor as well as both of the state's U.S. House of Representatives seats, all 5 seats on the Executive Council of New Hampshire, all 400 seats in the New Hampshire House of Representatives, and all 24 seats in the New Hampshire Senate. Primary elections will be held on September 8, 2026. [1]

Contents

A swing state, New Hampshire frequently votes for both Republicans and Democrats statewide. [2] [3] Democrats have had more success at the federal level, winning New Hampshire in every presidential election since 2004, controlling both United States Senate seats and both U.S. House seats. [4] [5]

Despite Democratic success in federal races, Republicans have dominated other elections in the state for the past decade. [5] [6] In 2024, Republicans gained a veto-proof supermajority in the State Senate, expanded their majority in the State House, maintained 4-1 control of the Executive Council, and held the governorship despite Kamala Harris winning the state on the presidential level by roughly 3 points. [4] [7] [8] [9]

Federal

United States Senate

Incumbent Democratic senator Jeanne Shaheen was re-elected with 56.6% of the vote in 2020. She is retiring. [10]

Writer and activist Karishma Manzur, United States representative Chris Pappas, and state representative Jared Sullivan are running in the Democratic primary. [11] [12] [13] Former United States ambassador to New Zealand and former United States senator Scott Brown is running in the Republican primary. [14]

United States House of Representatives

Both of New Hampshire's seats in the United States House of Representatives are up for election in 2026. Members of the United States House of Representatives serve two year terms. [15]

Following the 2024 elections, Democrats control both of the state's U.S. House seats. [16] [17] The state is under pressure by the second Trump administration to redraw the state's congressional maps for 2026, though incumbent Republican governor Kelly Ayotte has publicly opposed such measures. [18] [19] [20]

State executive

Governor

Incumbent Republican governor Kelly Ayotte was first elected in 2024 with 53.6% of the vote. She is eligible to run for re-election to a second term in office but has not yet stated if she will do so. [21]

Corey Lewandowski, a news commentator and former campaign manager for Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, has expressed interest in challenging Ayotte for the Republican nomination. [22] Former Newmarket town councilor Jon Kiper is running for the Democratic nomination after previously running as an independent. [23] Former state senator and Democratic nominee for governor in 2022, Tom Sherman, has also expressed in running for the Democratic nomination. [24]

Executive Council

All 5 seats on the Executive Council of New Hampshire are up for election in 2026. Councilors serve two year terms and are elected alongside the governor. [25]

Following the 2024 elections, Republicans control 4 seats, and Democrats control 1 seat. [4]

State legislative

State Senate

All 24 seats in the New Hampshire Senate are up for election in 2026. Members serve two year terms. [26]

Following the 2024 elections, Republicans hold a veto-proof supermajority with 18 seats, and Democrats hold 6. [4] [9] [26]

State House of Representatives

All 400 seats in the New Hampshire House of Representatives are up for election in 2026. Members serve two year terms. [27]

Republicans expanded their majority in the 2024 elections to 222 seats. [4] As of October 2025, Republicans currently hold 217 seats, Democrats hold 177, with two independents. Four seats are vacant. [28]

See also

References

  1. "2026 State Primary Election Dates". National Conference of State Legislatures. September 26, 2025. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  2. Mitropoulos, Arielle (November 4, 2024). "Swing states key to election outcome as New Hampshire polls show tight race". WMUR 5. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  3. Sexton, Adam (November 29, 2024). "Narrow margin between Trump and Harris in 2024 sets up New Hampshire as 2028 battleground". WMUR 9. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Rogers, Josh (November 6, 2024). "NH Republicans claim big State House wins and strengthen majorities in House and Senate". New Hampshire Public Radio. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  5. 1 2 DeWitt, Ethan (November 6, 2024). "Harris beats Trump in New Hampshire, continuing Democrats' winning streak in the state". New Hampshire Bulletin. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  6. Matherly, Charlotte (November 7, 2024). "Why does New Hampshire favor Democratic candidates nationally but Republicans in the state?". Concord Monitor. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  7. Cullen, Margie (November 7, 2024). "NH keeps GOP in control of state while voting for Democrats in D.C. Experts explain why". The Portsmouth Herald . Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  8. Cullen, Margie (November 5, 2024). "Kelly Ayotte wins New Hampshire governor's race". The Portsmouth Herald . Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  9. 1 2 Sullivan, Claire (November 7, 2024). "New Hampshire Republicans expand majority in Senate, now hold 16-8 advantage". New Hampshire Bulletin. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  10. Belman, Felice (March 12, 2025). "Senator Jeanne Shaheen, New Hampshire Democrat, Won't Run Again in 2026" . The New York Times. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  11. Graham, Michael (August 17, 2025). "Progressive Manzur To Challenge Pappas in Dem Senate Primary". New Hampshire Journal. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  12. Sexton, Adam (April 4, 2025). "First on WMUR: Chris Pappas announces he will run for U.S. Senate". WMUR 9. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  13. Blechl, Robert (September 26, 2025). "Bethlehem State Rep. Announces U.S. Senate Run" . Caledonian Record. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  14. Sexton, Adam (June 25, 2025). "First on WMUR: Scott Brown jumping into 2026 race for U.S. Senate in New Hampshire". WMUR 9. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  15. "About Congress". U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  16. "NH Election Results". New Hampshire Public Radio. November 5, 2024. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  17. Cullen, Margie (August 11, 2025). "As redistricting battles heat up in other states, Ayotte says no to redistricting in NH". The Portsmouth Herald . Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  18. Skipworth, William (July 31, 2025). "Some states are exploring mid-decade redistricting. Will New Hampshire follow?". New Hampshire Bulletin. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  19. Pellish, Aaron (August 8, 2025). "Kelly Ayotte rules out redistricting for New Hampshire". POLITICO. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  20. Huot-Marchand, Amalia (August 8, 2025). "Republican New Hampshire governor rules out redistricting". The Hill. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  21. Sexton, Adam (June 4, 2025). "Gov. Kelly Ayotte posts record-setting fundraising total for 2026 governor's race". WMUR 9. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  22. Kashinsky, Lisa; Garrity, Kelly; Ward, Myah (October 2, 2025). "Lewandowski weighs bid against Gov. Ayotte amid White House pressure campaign". POLITICO. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  23. Sexton, Adam (September 2, 2025). "Kiper rejoins Democratic Party to continue campaign for New Hampshire governor". WMUR 9. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  24. Sexton, Adam (May 2, 2025). "Tom Sherman considering campaign for governor or 1st District in 2026". WMUR 9. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  25. "About Us". New Hampshire Executive Council. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  26. 1 2 "About the New Hampshire Senate". New Hampshire State Senate. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  27. "Number of Legislators and Length of Terms in Years". National Conference of State Legislatures. June 19, 2024. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
  28. "RDSE.pdf" (PDF). New Hampshire House of Representatives. September 23, 2025. Retrieved October 6, 2025.