# Jess Edwards

Jesse Craton "Jess" Edwards Jr. is an American politician who is a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. He represents the Rockingham 4 district, comprising the towns of Auburn, Chester, and Sandown.

## Biography

Edwards served in the United States Medical Corps, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel and retiring in 2009.

## Political career

Edwards is a Republican. In his third term, he was appointed to Chair Division III of the Finance Committee. In 2023, Edwards endorsed Ron DeSantis for president.

## Political positions
### Abortion

In 2022, Edwards advocated for the successful passage of HB1609, which created an exemption for fatal fetal diagnoses to the 24-week abortion ban law passed in 2021.

### Child marriage

In 2024, Edwards argued against raising New Hampshire's minimum marriage age from 16 to 18, stating that 16- and 17-year-olds "are a ripe, fertile age and may have a pregnancy and a baby involved", in which case "marriage might be the right solution" and should be available "as a legitimate social option" to avoid "making abortion a much more desirable alternative".

### Menstrual Care

In 2025, Edwards cosponsored a bill to repeal 2019 law requiring New Hampshire school districts to provide menstrual products to students. Edwards called the requirement "offensive". In 2023, Edwards unsuccessfully cosponsored HB129 which would have limited distribution of pads and tampons by making them available only by request from nurses and school administrators.

## Personal life

Edwards's daughter, Elizabeth, served as a state representative, and Edwards credits her service as the inspiration for his run for office.

## Electoral history

2020 Rockingham District 4 General Election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jess Edwards (incumbent) | 6,686 | 14 |
| | Republican | Chris True (incumbent) | 6,330 | 13.3 |
| | Republican | Jason Osborne (incumbent) | 6,235 | 13.1 |
| | Republican | Tony Piemonte (incumbent) | 5,982 | 12.5 |
| | Republican | Oliver Ford | 5,966 | 12.5 |
| | Democratic | Michael D'Angelo | 3,533 | 7.4 |
| | Democratic | Jane Van Zandt | 3,441 | 7.4 |
| | Democratic | Matthew Krohn | 3,178 | 6.7 |
| | Democratic | Ben Geiger | 3,162 | 6.6 |
| | Democratic | Russell Normal | 3,158 | 6.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 47,676 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
2018 Rockingham District 4 General Election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Chris True (incumbent) | 4,416 | 12.6 |
| | Republican | Jess Edwards (incumbent) | 4,371 | 12.5 |
| | Republican | Becky Owens | 4,236 | 12.1 |
| | Republican | Jason Osborne (incumbent) | 4,093 | 11.7 |
| | Republican | Tony Piemonte | 3,948 | 11.3 |
| | Democratic | Cynthia Herman | 2,934 | 8.4 |
| | Democratic | Todd Bedard | 2,834 | 8.1 |
| | Democratic | Patrick McLaughlin | 2,784 | 8.0 |
| | Democratic | Stephen D'Angelo | 2,698 | 7.7 |
| | Democratic | Benjamin Geiger | 2,622 | 7.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 34,940 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |