GOP Sweeps Back Into Control At Statehouse On Sununu's Coattails

CONCORD, NH — While it is unknown exactly how much control Republicans will have over political bodies at the Statehouse in New Hampshire, the Grand Old Party has swept back into power on the coattails of Gov. Chris Sununu's historic win Tuesday.

Sununu, according to unofficial returns, won a third term with more than 65 percent of the vote or 518,400 votes. The governor's campaign said Wednesday the result set a record for total number of votes for any candidate in any race in state history.

"New Hampshire Republicans ran as a unified ticket that put New Hampshire first, and the result is an incoming Republican majority in the Executive Council and both chambers at the Statehouse," Sununu said. "I am pleased that Granite State voters rejected the D.C. style politics that had crept into the Statehouse these last two years, and I am excited to get to work with our new Republican majorities to deliver results for the people of this state."

While many of his voters cast ballots for Democrats, including the entire federal delegation, they also buoyed down ballot Republicans across the state — leading to the GOP takeovers.

In the five Executive Council seats, four will be Republicans: In District 1, Joseph Kenney, a former executive councilor, beat incumbent Michael Cryans, the Democrat elected in the 2018 Democrat sweep, by 5,113 votes. Cinde Warmington, a Democrat, easily beat Jim Beard for the open District 2 seat by 12,999 votes. Janet Stevens beat Mindi Messmer on the Seacoast for the open District 3 seat by 8,037 votes. Incumbent Ted Gatsas will return to the District 4 seat after easily beating Mark Mackenzie by 16,239 votes. Dave Wheeler, the former District 5 executive councilor, returns to the fold after besting Democrat Debora Pignatelli by about 1,227 votes.

Warmington said she was excited and honored to have won.

"This campaign has been an incredible journey, and I can’t express enough gratitude for the countless people who supported us with their votes, their time, their treasure, their outreach to their networks, and so much more," she said.

It appears unofficially that Republicans have won 14 of the 24 state Senate seats — with at least two potentially going to a recount: Denise Ricciardi, a Republican, beat incumbent state Sen. Jeanne Dietsch and a Democrat by 127 votes for the District 9 seat which includes Bedford. In the District 11 seat, which represents Amherst, Merrimack, and Milford, former state Sen. Gary Daniels, a Republican, bested incumbent state Sen. Shannon Chandley, the Democrat, by 198 votes.

At 400 members, the New Hampshire General Court is one of the largest political bodies in the world. It flipped from Republican-controlled in 2016 by 16 seats to the Democrats in 2018 by 33 seats. Republicans appear to have won anywhere from 10 to 15 more seats. Some of the races will go to a recount — like the Hillsborough District 34 third place seat, where Democrat Melbourne Moran Jr. placed third out of six candidates for three seats by a single vote over Republican Charlie Hall.

House Speaker Steve Shurtleff, D-Penacook, who was standing at the polls in Ward 1 in Concord Tuesday, hoping for a future victory, said Wednesday, he was disappointed with the results.

"While the results on election day were not what we had hoped to see, we understand a smooth transition of power is critical to ensuring New Hampshire’s success," he said. "I will work to ensure a smooth transition this year and congratulate everyone on their victories this year."

While basking in the afterglow of Democrats returning to all three federal offices, Ray Buckley, the chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, said state leaders would continue to work, "in the face of aggressive Republican lies and smears," on helping Granite Staters "by building back better after the pandemic, making health care more affordable, raising the minimum wage, and advancing a clean energy future, just as they have done throughout their campaigns."

Buckley added, "It's clear that New Hampshire voters were focused on the Trump sideshow in Washington and not on the GOP circus in Concord, and while last night's state results may not be what we'd hoped, voters have elected a slate of strong Democratic leaders, and I am proud of the honest, local, and positive campaigns they ran this year."

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