# New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district

New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district covers the western, northern, and some southern parts of New Hampshire. It includes the state's second-largest city, Nashua, as well as the state capital, Concord. It is currently represented in the United States House of Representatives by Democrat Maggie Goodlander.
The district is classified by the Census Bureau as a majority-rural district, with 51.67% of its population residing in rural areas. The district is home to Dartmouth College, the state's second-largest college, and three of its representatives since 1995 (Charles Bass, Paul Hodes, and Annie Kuster) have been Dartmouth alumni. Some of the largest employers in the district are Dartmouth–Hitchcock Medical Center, Dartmouth College, Southern New Hampshire Health System, and BAE Systems.

## History

Until 1847, New Hampshire's representatives were elected at large, from the entire state, and not from districts. Districts began being used in the 1846 elections. Until the 1878 elections, New Hampshire elected its members of the United States House of Representatives in March of the odd-numbered years. That would be too late for the beginning of the March 4 term, but the first session of the House typically didn't start until December; so, a March election wasn't a problem.
Historically, the second district has had strong Republican leanings, having voted Republican 71 times and Democrat only 15. The district has leaned Democratic in congressional races since 2006, and in presidential races since 2000.

## Composition

As of the 2021 redistricting cycle, the 2nd district containts 161 municipalities.
Belknap County (2)
    Center Harbor, New Hampton
Carroll County (3)
    Albany, Jackson, Sandwich
Cheshire County (23)
    All 23 municipalities
Coös County (20)
    All 20 municipalities
Grafton County (40)
    All 40 municipalities
Hillsborough County (27)
    Amherst, Antrim, Bennington, Brookline, Deering, Francestown, Greenfield, Greenville, Hancock, Hillsborough, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, Lyndeborough, Mason, Milford, Mont Vernon, Nashua, New Boston, New Ipswich, Pelham, Peterborough, Sharon, Temple, Weare, Wilton, Windsor
Merrimack County (26)
    Allenstown, Andover, Boscawen, Bow, Bradford, Canterbury, Chichester, Concord, Danbury, Dunbarton, Epsom, Franklin, Henniker, Hill, Hopkinton, Loudon, New London, Newbury, Northfield, Pembroke, Pittsfield, Salisbury, Sutton, Warner, Webster, Wilmot
Rockingham County (5)
    Atkinson, Deerfield, Northwood, Salem, Windham
Sullivan County (15)
    All 15 municipalities

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | Obama 56% - 43% |
| 2008 | Senate | Shaheen 53% - 44% |
| 2010 | Senate | Ayotte 58% - 39% |
| 2010 | Governor | Lynch 54% - 43% |
| 2012 | President | Obama 55% - 45% |
| 2012 | Governor | Hassan 56% - 41% |
| 2014 | Governor | Hassan 54% - 46% |
| 2016 | President | Clinton 48% - 45% |
| 2016 | Senate | Hassan 49% - 47% |
| 2016 | Governor | Van Ostern 48% - 47% |
| 2018 | Governor | Sununu 51% - 48% |
| 2020 | President | Biden 54% - 45% |
| 2020 | Senate | Shaheen 57% - 40% |
| 2020 | Governor | Sununu 63% - 35% |
| 2022 | Senate | Hassan 54% - 44% |
| 2022 | Governor | Sununu 56% - 43% |
| 2024 | President | Harris 51% - 48% |
| 2024 | Governor | Ayotte 53% - 45% |

## List of members representing the district

| Representative | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history |
| District established March 4, 1847 |||||
| Charles H. Peaslee (Concord) | Democratic | March 4, 1847 – March 3, 1853 | 30th 31st 32nd | Elected late on March 9, 1847. Re-elected late on March 13, 1849. Re-elected late on March 11, 1851. Retired. |
| George W. Morrison (Manchester) | Democratic | March 4, 1853 – March 3, 1855 | 33rd | Elected late on March 8, 1853. Lost re-election. |
| Mason Tappan (Bradford) | Know Nothing | March 4, 1855 – March 3, 1857 | 34th | Elected late on March 13, 1855. Re-elected late on March 10, 1857. Re-elected late on March 8, 1859. Retired. |
| Mason Tappan (Bradford) | Republican | March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1861 | 35th 36th | Elected late on March 13, 1855. Re-elected late on March 10, 1857. Re-elected late on March 8, 1859. Retired. |
| Edward H. Rollins (Concord) | Republican | March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1867 | 37th 38th 39th | Elected late on March 12, 1861. Re-elected late on March 10, 1863. Re-elected late on March 14, 1865. Retired. |
| Aaron Fletcher Stevens (Nashua) | Republican | March 4, 1867 – March 3, 1871 | 40th 41st | Elected late on March 12, 1867. Re-elected late on March 9, 1869. Lost re-election. |
| Samuel Newell Bell (Manchester) | Democratic | March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1873 | 42nd | Elected late on March 14, 1871. Lost re-election. |
| Austin F. Pike (Franklin) | Republican | March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875 | 43rd | Elected late on March 11, 1873. Retired. |
| Samuel Newell Bell (Manchester) | Democratic | March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1877 | 44th | Elected late on March 9, 1875. Retired. |
| James F. Briggs (Manchester) | Republican | March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1883 | 45th 46th 47th | Elected late on March 13, 1877. Re-elected in 1878. Re-elected in 1880. Retired. |
| Ossian Ray (Lancaster) | Republican | March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1885 | 48th | Redistricted from the 3rd district and re-elected in 1882. Retired. |
| Jacob H. Gallinger (Concord) | Republican | March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1889 | 49th 50th | Elected in 1884. Re-elected in 1886. Retired. |
| Orren C. Moore (Nashua) | Republican | March 4, 1889 – March 3, 1891 | 51st | Elected in 1888. Lost re-election. |
| Warren F. Daniell (Franklin) | Democratic | March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893 | 52nd | Elected in 1890. Retired. |
| Henry Moore Baker (Bow) | Republican | March 4, 1893 – March 3, 1897 | 53rd 54th | Elected in 1892. Re-elected in 1894. Retired. |
| Frank Gay Clarke (Peterborough) | Republican | March 4, 1897 – January 9, 1901 | 55th 56th | Elected in 1896. Re-elected in 1898. Retired and died before next term began. |
| Vacant | Vacant | January 9, 1901 – March 3, 1901 | 56th | |
| Frank Dunklee Currier (Canaan) | Republican | March 4, 1901 – March 3, 1913 | 57th 58th 59th 60th 61st 62nd | Elected in 1900. Re-elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Re-elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Lost re-election. |
| Raymond Bartlett Stevens (Landaff) | Democratic | March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1915 | 63rd | Elected in 1912. Retired to run for U.S. Senator. |
| Edward Hills Wason (Nashua) | Republican | March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1933 | 64th 65th 66th 67th 68th 69th 70th 71st 72nd | Elected in 1914. Re-elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Re-elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Re-elected in 1930. Retired. |
| Charles W. Tobey (Temple) | Republican | March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1939 | 73rd 74th 75th | Elected in 1932. Re-elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Retired to run for U.S. Senator. |
| Foster Waterman Stearns (Hancock) | Republican | January 3, 1939 – January 3, 1945 | 76th 77th 78th | Elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Re-elected in 1942. Retired to run for U.S. Senator. |
| Sherman Adams (Lincoln) | Republican | January 3, 1945 – January 3, 1947 | 79th | Elected in 1944. Retired to run for Governor of New Hampshire. |
| Norris Cotton (Lebanon) | Republican | January 3, 1947 – November 7, 1954 | 80th 81st 82nd 83rd | Elected in 1946. Re-elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Re-elected in 1952. Retired to run for U.S. senator and resigned when elected |
| Vacant | Vacant | November 7, 1954 – January 3, 1955 | 83rd | |
| Perkins Bass (Peterborough) | Republican | January 3, 1955 – January 3, 1963 | 84th 85th 86th 87th | Elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Retired to run for U.S. Senator. |
| James Colgate Cleveland (New London) | Republican | January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1981 | 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd 93rd 94th 95th 96th | Elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Re-elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Re-elected in 1974. Re-elected in 1976. Re-elected in 1978. Retired. |
| Judd Gregg (Greenfield) | Republican | January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1989 | 97th 98th 99th 100th | Elected in 1980. Re-elected in 1982. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Retired to run for Governor of New Hampshire. |
| Chuck Douglas (Concord) | Republican | January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1991 | 101st | Elected in 1988. Lost re-election. |
| Dick Swett (Bow) | Democratic | January 3, 1991 – January 3, 1995 | 102nd 103rd | Elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Lost re-election.. |
| Charles Bass (Peterborough) | Republican | January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2007 | 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th | Elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Lost re-election. |
| Paul Hodes (Concord) | Democratic | January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2011 | 110th 111th | Elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Retired to run for U.S. Senator. |
| Charles Bass (Peterborough) | Republican | January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2013 | 112th | Elected again in 2010. Lost re-election. |
| Ann McLane Kuster (Hopkinton) | Democratic | January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2025 | 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th | Elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Retired. |
| Maggie Goodlander (Nashua) | Democratic | January 3, 2025 – present | 119th | Elected in 2024. |

## Electoral history

For current election, see 2024 United States House of Representatives elections in New Hampshire

### 2012

New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ann McLane Kuster | 169,275 | 50.2 |
| | Republican | Charles Bass (incumbent) | 152,977 | 45.3 |
| | Libertarian | Hardy Macia | 14,936 | 4.4 |
| | n/a | Write-ins | 206 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 337,394 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### 2014

New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ann McLane Kuster (incumbent) | 130,700 | 54.9 |
| | Republican | Marilinda Garcia | 106,871 | 44.9 |
| | n/a | Write-ins | 613 | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 238,184 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2016

New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ann McLane Kuster (incumbent) | 174,495 | 49.7 |
| | Republican | Jim Lawrence | 158,973 | 45.3 |
| | Independent | John Babiarz | 17,088 | 4.9 |
| | n/a | Write-ins | 236 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 350,792 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2018

New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ann McLane Kuster (incumbent) | 155,358 | 55.5 |
| | Republican | Steve Negron | 117,990 | 42.2 |
| | Libertarian | Justin O'Donnell | 6,206 | 2.2 |
| | n/a | Write-ins | 151 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 279,705 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2020

New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ann McLane Kuster (incumbent) | 207,863 | 53.91 |
| | Republican | Steve Negron | 168,491 | 43.70 |
| | Libertarian | Andrew Olding | 9,093 | 2.36 |
| | N/A | Scatter | 147 | 0.04 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 385,594 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2022

New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Annie Kuster (incumbent) | 171,636 | 55.80 |
| | Republican | Robert Burns | 135,579 | 44.08 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 369 | 0.12 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 307,584 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2024

New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district, 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Maggie Goodlander | 211,641 | 52.93 | −1.87 |
| | Republican | Lily Tang Williams | 187,810 | 46.97 | +1.89 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 367 | 0.10 | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 399,818 | 100.0 | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |