2020 New Hampshire Senate election explained
| Election Name: | 2020 New Hampshire Senate election |
| Country: | New Hampshire |
| Type: | legislative |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2018 New Hampshire Senate election |
| Previous Year: | 2018 |
| Next Election: | 2022 New Hampshire Senate election |
| Next Year: | 2022 |
| Seats For Election: | All 24 seats in the New Hampshire Senate |
| Majority Seats: | 13 |
| Election Date: | November 3, 2020 |
| Image1: | 3x4.svg |
| Image1 Size: | 125 |
| Leader1: | Chuck Morse |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Leaders Seat1: | 22nd District |
| Seats Before1: | 10 |
| Seat Change1: | 4 |
| Seats After1: | 14 |
| Popular Vote1: | 384,138 |
| Percentage1: | 50.2% |
| Swing1: | 4.1% |
| Image2 Size: | 150 |
| Leader2: | Donna Soucy |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Leaders Seat2: | 18th District |
| Seats Before2: | 14 |
| Seat Change2: | 4 |
| Seats After2: | 10 |
| Popular Vote2: | 381,223 |
| Percentage2: | 49.8% |
| Swing2: | 4.1% |
| Map Size: | 150px |
| President |
| Before Election: | Donna Soucy |
| Before Party: | Democratic |
| After Election: | Chuck Morse |
| After Party: | Republican |
The 2020 New Hampshire Senate elections took place as part of the biennial 2020 United States elections. New Hampshire voters elected state senators in all of the state's 24 senate districts. State senators serve two-year terms in the New Hampshire Senate, with all of the seats up for election each cycle. The primary elections on September 8, 2020, determined which candidates will appear on the November 3, 2020, general election ballot.
Following the 2018 election, Democrats had control of the New Hampshire Senate with 14 seats to Republicans' 10 seats. Following the 2020 election, the Republicans flipped four seats and thus control of the chamber alongside flipping the New Hampshire House of Representatives.[1] [2] [3] [4]
Composition
| Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
| Total | |
|---|
| | |
| Democratic | Republican | Vacant |
|---|
| nowrap style="font-size:80%" | Before election | | 14 | 10 | 24 | 0 |
|---|
| nowrap style="font-size:80%" | After election | | 10 | | 14 | 24 | 0 |
|---|
|
Summary
Close races
| District | Winner | Margin |
|---|
| District 2 | data-sort-value=1 | Republican | 11.66% |
| District 1 | data-sort-value=1 | Republican | 14.6% |
| District 6 | data-sort-value=1 | Republican | 15.52% |
| District 7 | data-sort-value=1 | Republican | 15.94% |
| District 8 | data-sort-value=1 | Republican | 11.14% |
| District 9 | data-sort-value=1 | Republican (flip) | 1.16% |
| District 11 | data-sort-value=1 | Republican (flip) | 0.46% |
| District 12 | data-sort-value=1 | Republican (flip) | 2.24% |
| District 13 | data-sort-value=1 | Democratic | 17.15% |
| District 14 | data-sort-value=1 | Republican | 17.74% |
| District 16 | data-sort-value=1 | Democratic | 3.56% |
| District 18 | data-sort-value=1 | Democratic | 11.8% |
| District 19 | data-sort-value=1 | Republican | 15.08% |
| District 20 | data-sort-value=1 | Democratic | 12.78% |
| District 23 | data-sort-value=1 | Republican (flip) | 6.72% |
| District 24 | data-sort-value=1 | Democratic | 4.7% | |
Outgoing incumbents
Retiring
- Martha Hennessey (D–Hanover), representing District 5 since 2016, announced in May 2020 that she would be retiring at the end of her term to spend more time with her family.[5]
- Martha Fuller Clark (D–Portsmouth), representing District 21 since 2012 (and 2004–2010), announced in May 2020 that she would be retiring from the legislature.[6]
Seeking another office
Defeated in primary
Detailed results
District 1
Candidates
- Republican
- Erin Hennessey, incumbent state representative for Grafton District 4 since 2014
- David Starr, incumbent state senator since 2018
- Democratic
- Susan Ford, incumbent state representative for Grafton District 3 since 2018
Results
- Republican primary
- General election
District 2
Candidates
- Republican
- David DeVoy, U.S. Army veteran and gas station owner
- Bob Giuda, incumbent state senator since 2016, former state representative for Grafton District 4 and District 5 2000–2006
- Democratic
- Bill Bolton, retired state employee and Plymouth Select Board Chair
Results
- Republican primary
- General election
District 3
Candidates
- Republican
- Jeb Bradley, incumbent state senator since 2009, former Majority Leader (2010-2018), former U.S. Representative from (2003-2007)
- Democratic
- Theresa Swanick, Effingham elected official and candidate for state representative in Carroll District 5 in 2016 and 2018
Results
District 4
Candidates
- Democratic
- Republican
- Frank Bertone, former Libertarian candidate for state representative Strafford District 4 in 2018
Results
District 5
Candidates
- Democratic
- Beatriz Pastor, former state representative for Grafton District 12 (2008-2014)
- Sue Prentiss, former Lebanon Mayor, current Lebanon councilwoman and paramedic
- Republican
Results
- Democratic primary
- General election
District 6
Candidates
- Republican
- Democratic
Results
District 7
Candidates
- Republican
- Democratic
Results
District 8
Candidates
- Republican
- Ruth Ward, incumbent state senator since 2016
- Democratic
- Jenn Alford-Teaster, researcher and candidate for District 8 in 2018
Results
District 9
Candidates
- Democratic
- Republican
- Denise Ricciardi, Bedford councilwoman
Results
District 10
Candidates
- Democratic
- Jay Kahn, incumbent state senator since 2016
- Republican
- Dan LeClair, businessman and candidate for District 10 in 2018.
Results
District 11
Candidates
- Democratic
- Republican
- Gary Daniels, former state senator from District 11 (2014-2018)
Results
District 12
Candidates
- Democratic
- Republican
- Kevin Avard, former state senator from District 12 (2014-2018)
Results
District 13
Candidates
- Democratic
- Republican
- Mariellen MacKay, former Democratic state representative for Hillsborough District 30 (2012-2018), Republican candidate for Hillsborough District 30 in 2018
Results
District 14
Candidates
- Republican
- Sharon Carson, incumbent state senator since 2008, former president pro tempore of the New Hampshire Senate (2014-2018)
- Democratic
Results
District 15
Candidates
- Democratic
- Candace Bouchard, former Concord councilwoman and former state representative for Merrimack District 18 (1998-2014)
- Paul Hodes, former U.S. representative for (2007-2011)
- Becky Whitley, lawyer and activist
- Republican
- Linda Rae Banfill, candidate for Concord mayor in 2019
Results
- Democratic primary
- General election
District 16
Candidates
- Democratic
- Republican
- Jason Syversen, businessman
Results
District 17
Candidates
- Republican
- Janet DelFuoco, witch
- John Reagan, incumbent state senator since 2012
- Democratic
- Nancy Fraher, state senate candidate for District 17 in 2014 and 2016
Results
- Republican primary
- General election
District 18
Candidates
- Democratic
- Donna Soucy, incumbent state senator since 2012, incumbent Senate President since December 2018
- Republican
- George Lambert, former state representative for Hillsborough District 44 (2010-2014), former candidate for Governor (2014), candidate for District 18 in 2018
- Ross Terrio, former Manchester School Board member (2013-2020), former state representative for Hillsborough District 14 (2010-2012)
Results
- Republican primary
- General election
District 19
Candidates
- Republican
- Democratic
- Joshua Bourdon, Derry councilman
Results
District 20
Candidates
- Democratic
- Republican
- Carla Gericke, candidate for District 20 in 2016 and 2018
- Jack Kenny
Results
- Republican primary
- General election
District 21
Candidates
- Democratic
- Deaglan McEachern, Portsmouth councilman
- Rebecca Perkins Kwoka, Portsmouth councilwoman
- Republican
Results
- Democratic primary
- General election
District 22
Candidates
- Republican
- Chuck Morse, incumbent state senator since 2010 (and also 2002–2006) and former Senate President (2013-2018); Minority leader since 2018
- Democratic
Results
District 23
Candidates
- Democratic
- Republican
- Allen Cook, former state representative for Rockingham District 11 (2014-2018)
- Bill Gannon, former state senator for District 23 (2016-2018)
Results
- Republican primary
- General election
District 24
Candidates
- Democratic
- Republican
Results
- Republican primary
- General election
See also
External links
Notes and References
- News: Democrats fail to make gains in state legislative races in advance of 2021 redistricting. Vox. Demsas. Jerusalem. November 5, 2020. November 17, 2020.
- News: 'A decade of power': Statehouse wins position GOP to dominate redistricting. Politico. Mutnick. Ally. Rodriguez. Sabrina. November 4, 2020. November 17, 2020.
- News: The Failure That Could Haunt Democrats for a Decade. The Atlantic. Berman. Russell. November 10, 2020. November 17, 2020.
- News: Democrats blame increased Trump turnout, uphill races for failure to win state legislative seats. NBC News. Brown-Kaiser. Liz. Caldwell. Leigh Ann. November 10, 2020. November 17, 2020.
- Web site: DiStaso . John . After six years in Legislature, Sen. Martha Hennessey says she's retiring to spend time with family . WMUR . 17 September 2020 . en . 5 May 2020.
- Web site: Longtime legislator Martha Fuller Clark to retire . AP NEWS . 17 September 2020 . 28 May 2020.
- Web site: Hennessey ousts Starr for senate run against Ford . www.newhampshirelakesandmountains.com . 17 September 2020.
- Web site: October Overview: Handicapping the 2020 State Legislature Races. The Cook Political Report. November 1, 2020.
