New Hampshire Democrats Flip Legislature and Executive Council
Democrats made gains across New Hampshire’s state government on November 3, flipping both chambers of the Legislature and appearing to win all five seats on the Executive Council. Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte won reelection, setting up divided control in Concord for her second term.
A preliminary count put Democrats at 292 seats in the 400-member House, compared with 107 Republicans and one independent. Recounts and unfinished tallies could change the result. In the 24-seat Senate, Democrats were projected to hold a 15-9 majority, short of a veto-proof margin.
The five-member Executive Council approves state contracts and gubernatorial appointments, including judicial nominees. Democrats appeared to take four seats from Republicans, despite district boundaries redrawn in 2022 that favored the GOP. The incoming council will consider Ayotte’s eventual nominee to replace former Supreme Court Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald, who resigned in September after an ethics probe.
Democratic councilor Karen Liot Hill, who won a second term, said voters had made clear they wanted a different direction. Democrat Jim O’Connell said judicial appointments should be based on candidates’ qualifications rather than political affiliation.
Democrats said they intended to focus on lowering costs and addressing education funding. Republican House leader Jason Osborne, who was reelected, said his party would work to regain its majority in 2028, emphasizing fiscal restraint and warning against tax increases. The new councilors take office in January, and the new legislative majorities begin work in 2027.
New Hampshire Voters Give Democrats a Mandate for Change
New Hampshire voters delivered a clear rebuke to Republican control of state government on November 3, giving Democrats majorities in both legislative chambers and an apparent sweep of the Executive Council. Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte won a second term, but will face a Legislature and council now controlled by Democrats.
A preliminary count showed Democrats with 292 of the House’s 400 seats, against 107 Republicans and one independent. Recounts could alter the tally. Democrats were projected to win the 24-seat Senate by 15-9, short of a veto-proof majority.
The results also give Democrats control of the five-member council that approves state contracts, top gubernatorial appointments and judicial nominees. They appeared to flip four seats despite district lines drawn in 2022 that favored Republicans. The council will have a role in reviewing Ayotte’s nominee to replace former Supreme Court Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald, who resigned in September following an ethics probe.
Democrats say the new majorities will pursue lower costs and address education funding. Councilor Karen Liot Hill said voters want a different direction, while incoming councilor Jim O’Connell said judicial nominees should be judged on their ability to do the job, not party affiliation.
Republicans say they will focus on fiscal restraint and try to retake the House in 2028. But voters have handed Democrats the responsibility—and the opportunity—to turn their promises into results when the new legislative session begins in 2027. The councilors take office in January.
Ayotte Wins Again as Democrats Take Over New Hampshire Legislature
Kelly Ayotte’s reelection on November 3 kept a Republican in New Hampshire’s governor’s office, but Democrats’ gains across the state government will make her next term more difficult. Democrats flipped both legislative chambers and appeared to win all five seats on the Executive Council, setting up a sharp contest over policy in Concord.
A preliminary tally gave Democrats 292 seats in the 400-member House, compared with 107 Republicans and one independent. Recounts could change the numbers. Democrats were projected to hold a 15-9 edge in the 24-seat Senate, just short of a veto-proof majority.
The apparent council sweep gives Democrats influence over state contracts, gubernatorial appointments and judicial nominees. The five-member body will have a say in Ayotte’s selection of a successor to former Supreme Court Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald, who resigned in September following an ethics probe. Republicans have also asked the state Supreme Court to overturn decisions finding that New Hampshire underfunded K-12 public schools.
Democrats say they will lower costs and make progress on education funding. Republicans should make the consequences of those choices—and the importance of fiscal restraint—a central focus. House Republican leader Jason Osborne, reelected on November 3, said his party would work to regain its majority in 2028 and argued that voters have little patience for tax increases.
The new councilors take office in January, and the new legislative majorities begin work in 2027. Ayotte’s victory means Republicans retain the governorship, but Democrats will have expanded power over the state’s laws, spending and appointments.
Reported by The Boston Globe, GBH News.
