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John Stephen
John Stephen (Republican Party) is a member of the New Hampshire Executive Council, representing District 4. He assumed office on January 8, 2025. His current term ends on January 6, 2027.
Stephen (Republican Party) ran for election to the New Hampshire Executive Council to represent District 4. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Biography
John Stephen was born in Manchester, New Hampshire. He completed high school at Trinity High, studied business at the University of New Hampshire, and received his J.D. from the Detroit College of Law, where he was managing editor of the law review.
Stephen's career experience includes working as a law clerk for federal district court judge Martin F. Loughlin, as an assistant county attorney in Hillsborough, as an assistant district attorney, as an assistant commissioner of the Department of Safety, and as New Hampshire's first Coordinator of Homeland Security. From 2003 through 2007, Stephen was Commissioner of Health and Human Services. After leaving government service, he joined the Lucas Group, a Boston based law firm specializing in consulting work. Stephen has authored six books on law enforcement and has taught at New Hampshire's police academy.
Elections
2024
See also: New Hampshire Executive Council election, 2024
General election
General election for New Hampshire Executive Council District 4
John Stephen defeated James O'Connell in the general election for New Hampshire Executive Council District 4 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | John Stephen (R) | 53.8 | 77,903 |
 | James O'Connell (D)  | 46.1 | 66,842 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 111 | ||
| Total votes: 144,856 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for New Hampshire Executive Council District 4
James O'Connell advanced from the Democratic primary for New Hampshire Executive Council District 4 on September 10, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | James O'Connell | 99.3 | 19,431 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.7 | 133 | ||
| Total votes: 19,564 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for New Hampshire Executive Council District 4
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for New Hampshire Executive Council District 4 on September 10, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | John Stephen | 36.8 | 9,312 |
 | Bob Burns | 22.7 | 5,748 | |
 | Terese Bastarache | 16.5 | 4,167 | |
 | John Reagan | 14.9 | 3,758 | |
 | Ross Terrio | 5.1 | 1,295 | |
 | Ryan Terrell | 3.6 | 908 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 84 | ||
| Total votes: 25,272 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Stephen in this election.
2010
Stephen overwhelmingly won the September 14 primary, defeating Frank Emiro, Jack Kimball, and Karen Testerman.
Stephen faced John Lynch (D) and John J. Babiarz (L) in the general election on November 2, 2010. Stephen lost to Lynch.[1]
| 2010 New Hampshire gubernatorial general election | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote Percentage | |
| Democratic Party |  John Lynch
|
52.70% | |
| Republican Party | John Stephen | 44.97% | |
| Libertarian Party | John J. Babiarz | 2.21% | |
| Other | write-in | 0.12% | |
| Total Votes | 456,588 | ||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
John Stephen did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
Campaign website
Stephen’s campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
Fellow Granite Stater, You deserve a state government that is as responsible with taxpayer dollars as you are with your own finances. As federal dollars from the COVID-19 response begin to dwindle and the realities of policy decisions out of Washington that have slowed our economy set in, it is crucial that New Hampshire braces for the impact with a tight fiscal grip and judicious planning. Our future depends on decisions made today that ensure sustainability and financial health for our state. This isn’t just about budgets and numbers—it’s about preserving the way of life that we cherish in New Hampshire. The current fiscal situation demands more than just careful scrutiny of state departments; it calls for leaders who are as invested in the state’s welfare as you are in your personal well-being. As a constituent, your expectation for quality, responsible leaders in state government is clear. You have a right to public servants who monitor every tax dollar and prioritize the public interest, individuals who are both skilled and devoted to fostering a thriving, robust New Hampshire that we all have come to cherish. Your voice is the cornerstone of our democracy, and your access to responsive and effective constituent services is non-negotiable. It’s about ensuring that the government is a true reflection of your needs and aspirations. You should always feel heard, represented, and valued. It’s more than a commitment—it’s a foundational principle that your experiences and opinions will drive meaningful action and bring about a government that truly works for its people and that’s my commitment to you. Together, let’s forge a path toward a prosperous opportunity for every resident of the Granite State and take the New Hampshire Advantage to the next level. Live Free or Die, John Stephen [2] |
” |
| —John Stephen’s campaign website (2024)[3] | ||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
| New Hampshire | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ New Hampshire Secretary of State, "NEW HAMPSHIRE - GENERAL ELECTION, November 2, 2010: Governor," November 5, 2010
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ John Stephen for Executive Council, “Home,” accessed August 22, 2024
| Political offices | ||
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New Hampshire Executive Council District 4 2025-Present |
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