# Elections in New Hampshire

Elections in New Hampshire :
Federal government
Presidential elections
1788–89
1792
1796
1800
1804
1808
1812
1816
1820
1824
1828
1832
1836
1840
1844
1848
1852
1856
1860
1864
1868
1872
1876
1880
1884
1888
1892
1896
1900
1904
1908
1912
1916
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Presidential primaries
Democratic
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Republican
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Local
Dixville Notch
Hart's Location
United States Senate elections
1788
1789
1792
1794
1798
1798 (sp)
1800
1801 (sp)
1802 (sp)
1804
1807
1810
1810 (sp)
1813 (sp)
1814 (sp)
1816
1817 (sp)
1818
1819
1823
1825
1846 (sp)
1831
1835
1836 (sp)
1837
1841
1842 (sp)
1843
1846
1852
1855
1855 (sp)
1857 (sp)
1859
1861
1864
1870
1872
1876
1879 (sp)
1883 (sp)
1885 (sp)
1887 (sp)
1889 (sp)
1891
1895
1897
1901
1903
1907
1909
1913
1914
1918
1918 (sp)
1920
1924
1926
1930
1932
1936
1938
1942
1944
1948
1950
1954
1954 (sp)
1956
1960
1962
1962 (sp)
1966
1968
1972
1974/5
1978
1980
1984
1986
1990
1992
1996
1998
2002
2004
2008
2010
2014
2016
2020
2022
2026
United States House elections
1789
1789 (sp)
1790
1792
1794
1796
1797 (sp)
1798
1799 (sp)
1800 (sp)
1800
1802 (sp)
1802
1804
1806
1808
1810/1811
1812
1814
1814 (sp)
1816
1819
1820
1822/1823
1824/1825
1825 (sp)
1827
1829
1831
1833
1835
1837
1839
1841
1843
1845/1846
1847
1849
1851
1853
1855
1857
1859
1861
1863
1865
1867
1869
1871
1873
1875
1877
1878
1880
1882
1884
1886
1888
1890
1892
1894
1896
1898
1900
1902
1904
1906
1908
1910
1912
1914
1916
1917 (sp 1st)
1920
1928
1938
1940
1942
1944
1946
1954
1956
1968
1972
1980
1984
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
2026 :
State government
Gubernatorial elections
1800
1801
1802
1803
1804
1805
1806
1807
1808
1809
1810
1811
1812
1813
1814
1815
1816
1817
1818
1819
1820
1821
1822
1823
1824
1825
1826
1827
1828
1829
1830
1831
1832
1833
1834
1835
1836
1837
1838
1839
1840
1841
1842
1843
1844
1845
1846
1847
1848
1849
1850
1851
1852
1853
1854
1855
1856
1857
1858
1859
1860
1861
1862
1863
1864
1865
1866
1867
1868
1869
1870
1871
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
Mar. 1878
Nov. 1878
1880
1882
1884
1886
1888
1890
1892
1894
1896
1898
1900
1902
1904
1906
1908
1910
1912
1914
1916
1918
1920
1922
1924
1926
1928
1930
1932
1934
1936
1938
1940
1942
1944
1946
1948
1950
1952
1954
1956
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
Executive Council elections
2018
2020
2022
2024
General Court elections
2004
2006
Senate elections
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
House elections
2018
2020
2022
2024 :
Manchester
Mayoral elections
19th century
1846
1847
1848
1849
1850
1851
1852
1853
1854
1855
1856 (Mar)
1856 (Nov)
1857
1858
1859
1860
1861
1862
1863
1864
1865
1866
1867
1868
1869
1870
1871
1872
1873
1875
1876
1877
1878 (Mar)
1878 (Nov)
1880
1882
1884
1886
1888
1890
1892
1894
1896
1898
1900
20th century
1902
1904
1906
1908
1910
1912
1914
1915
1917
1919
1921
1923
1925
1927
1929
1931
1933
1935
1937
1939
1941
1943
1945
1947
1949
1951
1953
1955
1957
1959
1961
1963
1965
1967
1969
1971
1973
1975
1977
1979
1981
1983
1985
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
21st century
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
2015
2017
2019
2021
2023 :
vte :
Elections in the U.S. state of New Hampshire are held at national, state and local (county and municipal) level. The state holds the first presidential primary in the national cycle. Elections for a range of state positions coincide with biennial elections for the House of Representatives.
In a 2020 study, New Hampshire was ranked as the 6th hardest state for citizens to vote in.

## Elections for state offices

Gubernatorial election results :
| Year | Democratic | Republican |
| 1950 | 43.0% 82,258 | 57.0% 108,907 |
| 1952 | 36.9% 97,924 | 63.2% 167,791 |
| 1954 | 44.9% 87,344 | 55.1% 107,287 |
| 1956 | 45.3% 117,117 | 54.7% 141,578 |
| 1958 | 48.4% 99,955 | 51.7% 106,790 |
| 1960 | 44.5% 129,404 | 55.5% 161,123 |
| 1962 | 58.9% 135,481 | 41.1% 94,567 |
| 1964 | 66.8% 190,863 | 33.2% 94,824 |
| 1966 | 53.9% 125,882 | 45.9% 107,259 |
| 1968 | 47.4% 135,378 | 52.5% 149,902 |
| 1970 | 44.1% 98,098 | 46.0% 102,298 |
| 1972 | 39.0% 126,107 | 41.4% 133,702 |
| 1974 | 48.8% 110,591 | 51.2% 115,933 |
| 1976 | 42.3% 145,015 | 57.7% 197,589 |
| 1978 | 49.4% 133,133 | 45.4% 122,464 |
| 1980 | 59.0% 226,436 | 40.7% 156,178 |
| 1982 | 46.8% 132,317 | 51.5% 145,389 |
| 1984 | 33.1% 127,156 | 66.9% 256,574 |
| 1986 | 46.3% 116,142 | 53.7% 134,824 |
| 1988 | 39.1% 172,543 | 60.5% 267,064 |
| 1990 | 34.7% 101,923 | 60.5% 177,773 |
| 1992 | 40.0% 206,232 | 56.0% 289,170 |
| 1994 | 25.6% 79,686 | 70.0% 218,134 |
| 1996 | 57.2% 284,175 | 39.5% 196,321 |
| 1998 | 66.1% 210,769 | 30.9% 98,473 |
| 2000 | 48.7% 275,038 | 43.8% 246,952 |
| 2002 | 38.2% 169,277 | 58.6% 259,663 |
| 2004 | 51.0% 340,299 | 48.9% 325,981 |
| 2006 | 74.0% 298,761 | 25.8% 104,288 |
| 2008 | 70.2% 479,042 | 27.6% 188,555 |
| 2010 | 52.6% 240,346 | 45.0% 205,616 |
| 2012 | 54.6% 378,934 | 42.5% 295,026 |
| 2014 | 52.4% 254,666 | 47.4% 230,610 |
| 2016 | 46.6% 337,589 | 48.8% 354,040 |
| 2018 | 45.7% 262,359 | 52.8% 302,764 |
| 2020 | 33.4% 264,639 | 65.1% 516,609 |
| 2022 | 41.5% 256,774 | 57.0% 352,982 |
| 2024 | 44.3% 360,149 | 53.6% 436,122 |
The state of New Hampshire holds its state general elections on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November (better known as Election Day) in even-numbered years. As a result of this, general elections in New Hampshire systematically coincide with the biennial elections for the United States House of Representatives.
During general elections in New Hampshire, elections are held for the positions of Governor, Executive Councilor, state Senator, state Representative, Sheriff, County Attorney, County Treasurer, Register of Deeds, and Register of Probate. Officials elected to all nine of these offices are elected for a term of two years.
Election of County Commissioners also occurs during the state's general elections, but rules for these elections vary by county. In Strafford County, for example, three County Commissioners are elected to two-year terms at every general election. In Carroll County, by contrast, three County Commissioners are elected to rotating four-year terms.
New Hampshire's Governor is elected at large; Executive Councilors, state Senators, and state Representatives are elected by district; Sheriff, County Attorney, County Treasurer, Register of Deeds, and Register of Probate are elected by county; and County Commissioners are elected, again, by rules that vary from county to county.
New Hampshire currently has 400 seats in its House of Representatives, 24 seats in its Senate, and five seats on its Executive Council.

## National elections

New Hampshire is well known in national politics for holding the first primary in the quadrennial U.S. presidential election cycle. This New Hampshire primary is actually mandated by state law. New Hampshire RSA 653:9 requires that the state's presidential primary elections be scheduled on the earlier of:
* the second Tuesday in March, or
* no less than seven days prior to the holding of a "similar election" in any other state

## History

United States presidential election results for New Hampshire :
| Year | Republican / Whig | Republican / Whig | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 395,523 | 47.87% | 418,488 | 50.65% | 12,178 | 1.47% |
| 2020 | 365,660 | 45.36% | 424,937 | 52.71% | 15,608 | 1.94% |
| 2016 | 345,790 | 46.46% | 348,526 | 46.83% | 49,980 | 6.72% |
| 2012 | 329,918 | 46.40% | 369,561 | 51.98% | 11,493 | 1.62% |
| 2008 | 316,534 | 44.52% | 384,826 | 54.13% | 9,610 | 1.35% |
| 2004 | 331,237 | 48.87% | 340,511 | 50.24% | 5,990 | 0.88% |
| 2000 | 273,559 | 48.07% | 266,348 | 46.80% | 29,174 | 5.13% |
| 1996 | 196,532 | 39.37% | 246,214 | 49.32% | 56,429 | 11.30% |
| 1992 | 202,484 | 37.64% | 209,040 | 38.86% | 126,421 | 23.50% |
| 1988 | 281,537 | 62.49% | 163,696 | 36.33% | 5,292 | 1.17% |
| 1984 | 267,051 | 68.66% | 120,395 | 30.95% | 1,508 | 0.39% |
| 1980 | 221,705 | 57.74% | 108,864 | 28.35% | 53,430 | 13.91% |
| 1976 | 185,935 | 54.75% | 147,635 | 43.47% | 6,048 | 1.78% |
| 1972 | 213,724 | 63.98% | 116,435 | 34.85% | 3,900 | 1.17% |
| 1968 | 154,903 | 52.10% | 130,589 | 43.93% | 11,807 | 3.97% |
| 1964 | 104,029 | 36.11% | 184,064 | 63.89% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 157,989 | 53.42% | 137,772 | 46.58% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 176,519 | 66.11% | 90,364 | 33.84% | 111 | 0.04% |
| 1952 | 166,287 | 60.92% | 106,663 | 39.08% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 121,299 | 52.41% | 107,995 | 46.66% | 2,146 | 0.93% |
| 1944 | 109,916 | 47.87% | 119,663 | 52.11% | 48 | 0.02% |
| 1940 | 110,127 | 46.78% | 125,292 | 53.22% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 104,642 | 47.98% | 108,460 | 49.73% | 5,012 | 2.30% |
| 1932 | 103,629 | 50.42% | 100,680 | 48.99% | 1,211 | 0.59% |
| 1928 | 115,404 | 58.65% | 80,715 | 41.02% | 638 | 0.32% |
| 1924 | 98,575 | 59.83% | 57,201 | 34.72% | 8,993 | 5.46% |
| 1920 | 95,196 | 59.84% | 62,662 | 39.39% | 1,234 | 0.78% |
| 1916 | 43,725 | 49.06% | 43,781 | 49.12% | 1,621 | 1.82% |
| 1912 | 32,927 | 37.43% | 34,724 | 39.48% | 20,310 | 23.09% |
| 1908 | 53,149 | 59.32% | 33,655 | 37.56% | 2,796 | 3.12% |
| 1904 | 54,163 | 60.07% | 34,074 | 37.79% | 1,924 | 2.13% |
| 1900 | 54,799 | 59.33% | 35,489 | 38.42% | 2,076 | 2.25% |
| 1896 | 57,444 | 68.66% | 21,650 | 25.88% | 4,576 | 5.47% |
| 1892 | 45,658 | 51.11% | 42,081 | 47.11% | 1,590 | 1.78% |
| 1888 | 45,728 | 50.34% | 43,456 | 47.84% | 1,651 | 1.82% |
| 1884 | 43,254 | 51.14% | 39,198 | 46.34% | 2,134 | 2.52% |
| 1880 | 44,856 | 51.94% | 40,797 | 47.24% | 708 | 0.82% |
| 1876 | 41,540 | 51.83% | 38,510 | 48.05% | 91 | 0.11% |
| 1872 | 37,168 | 53.94% | 31,425 | 45.61% | 313 | 0.45% |
| 1868 | 37,718 | 55.22% | 30,575 | 44.76% | 11 | 0.02% |
| 1864 | 36,596 | 52.56% | 33,034 | 47.44% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1860 | 37,519 | 56.90% | 25,887 | 39.26% | 2,537 | 3.85% |
| 1856 | 37,473 | 53.71% | 31,891 | 45.71% | 410 | 0.59% |
| 1852 | 15,486 | 30.64% | 28,503 | 56.40% | 6,546 | 12.95% |
| 1848 | 14,781 | 29.50% | 27,763 | 55.41% | 7,560 | 15.09% |
| 1844 | 17,866 | 36.32% | 27,160 | 55.22% | 4,161 | 8.46% |
| 1840 | 26,310 | 43.88% | 32,774 | 54.66% | 872 | 1.45% |
| 1836 | 6,228 | 24.99% | 18,697 | 75.01% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1832 | 18,938 | 43.24% | 24,855 | 56.76% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1828 | 23,823 | 54.10% | 20,212 | 45.90% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1824 | 9,389 | 93.59% | 0 | 0.00% | 643 | 6.41% |
New Hampshire voters selected Republicans for office during the 19th and 20th centuries until 1992. Since then, voters have chosen Democrats for U.S. President all but once, while voting Democratic for most state offices in 2006 and 2008 and Republican for most state offices in 2010. On selected issues, political debate in New Hampshire centers on personal liberty. Historically, New Hampshire was a staunchly conservative state and regularly voted Republican. Some sources trace the founding of the Republican Party to the town of Exeter in 1853. Prior to 1992, New Hampshire had only strayed from the Republican Party for three presidential candidates—Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson. The state voted for Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan twice by overwhelming majorities.
Beginning in 1992, New Hampshire became a swing state in both national and local elections. The state supported Democrats Bill Clinton in 1992 and 1996, John Kerry in 2004, and Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012. It was the only U.S. state to support George W. Bush in the 2000 election and go Democratic in the 2004 election. The state has elected three Democrats to the Governorship during this period.
The voters selected Democrats in New Hampshire as they did nationally in 2006 and 2008. In 2006, Democrats won both congressional seats (electing Carol Shea-Porter in the 1st district and Paul Hodes in the 2nd district), re-elected Governor John Lynch, and gained a majority on the Executive Council and in both houses of the legislature for the first time since 1911. Democrats had not held both the legislature and the governorship since 1874. Neither U.S. Senate seat was up for a vote in 2006. In 2008, Democrats retained their majorities, governorship, and congressional seats; and former governor Jeanne Shaheen defeated incumbent Republican John E. Sununu for the U.S. Senate in a rematch of the 2002 contest. Barack Obama won the simultaneous presidential election and carried every New Hampshire county for the Democrats for the first time since 1852. It had been thought that Democrats moving in from Massachusetts were responsible for the shift. A 2006 University of New Hampshire survey found that those immigrants were mostly Republican. Their moving had helped the border towns to remain Republican, while other areas had become increasingly Democratic. The study indicated that immigrants from states other than Massachusetts tended to lean Democratic.
The 2008 elections resulted in women holding 13 of the 24 seats in the New Hampshire Senate, a first for any legislative body in the United States. At the end of the 2008 election cycle, voters registered Democratic outnumbered those registered Republican.
In the 2010 midterm elections, New Hampshire voted out both of its Democratic members in the House of Representatives in favor of Republicans. Republicans also won control of both chambers of the State House by veto-proof majorities, while Governor John Lynch won an unprecedented fourth term. Two years later, in the 2012 elections, New Hampshire voted out both of its Republican members in the House of Representatives in favor of Democrats. At the same time, voters returned Democrats to the majority in the State House of Representatives, while Republicans held on to a narrow 13-11 majority in the State Senate, despite losing the popular vote. Democrat Maggie Hassan won the 2012 gubernatorial election with a 12% margin of victory, with 54.6% of the vote in the gubernatorial election, becoming the first Democrat to succeed another Democrat as Governor of New Hampshire since 1854.
However, Republicans gained control of the State House in 2014, and in 2016 elections, Republican Executive Councilor Chris Sununu was elected as Governor, giving Republicans full control over state government. However, the state narrowly went to Democrat Hillary Clinton over Republican Donald Trump in that year's presidential election. Meanwhile, Democratic governor Maggie Hassan defeated incumbent Republican Kelly Ayotte to join Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Representatives Carol Shea-Porter and Ann McLane Kuster to make the entire congressional delegation represented by the Democratic party for the first time since 1854.
In the 2018 midterm elections, both chambers of the state legislature returned to Democratic control, while Sununu was reelected as governor, resulting in divided government. While New Hampshire Democrats retained their seats in the 2020 federal elections, Republicans regained the majority in the state's Senate, House of Representatives, and Executive Council. New Hampshire's incumbent Republican Gov. Chris Sununu also won the election to his third term in office against Democrat Dan Feltes. This election signaled Republican strength on a state level, flipping the Senate from a 14-10 Democratic majority to a 14-10 Republican majority. The house flipped to the GOP with 213 Republicans and 187 Democrats.