New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District election, 2016

2018 → ← 2014

New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District

General Election Date November 8, 2016

Primary Date September 13, 2016

November 8 Election Winner: Carol Shea-Porter

Incumbent prior to election: Frank Guinta

Race Ratings Cook Political Report: Lean D Sabato's Crystal Ball: Lean D Rothenberg & Gonzales: Toss-up/Tilt D

New Hampshire U.S. House Elections District 1 • District 2

2016 U.S. Senate Elections

2016 U.S. House Elections

The 1st Congressional District of New Hampshire held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 8, 2016.

New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District was a battleground district in 2016. Carol Shea-Porter (D) defeated incumbent Frank Guinta (R), Robert Lombardo (L), and businessman Shawn O'Connor (I) in the general election on November 8, 2016. This election marked the fourth contest between Guinta and Shea-Porter, who alternately won against one another in elections for this seat since 2010. Guinta defeated Republican challengers Jamieson Gradert, Rich Ashooh, Michael Callis, and Robert Risley in the Republican primary on September 13, 2016. He was a member of the NRCC's Patriot Program, which was designed to assist vulnerable Republican incumbents seeking re-election.

This election was one of Ballotpedia's top 10 congressional races in 2016. Click here to read the full list.

HIGHLIGHTS

Incumbent Frank Guinta (R) was especially vulnerable following a campaign finance violation. Several New Hampshire Republicans, including Sen. Kelly Ayotte, previously called for his resignation.

Guinta faced Carol Shea-Porter (D) in their fourth consecutive general election battle. The seat swapped hands in each previous election.

Heading into the election, Shea-Porter led Guinta in polling and total fundraising.

Candidate Filing Deadline	Primary Election	General Election
June 10, 2016	September 13, 2016	November 8, 2016

Primary: A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. New Hampshire uses a semi-closed primary system. Unaffiliated voters may vote in the primary, but in order to do so, they have to choose a party before voting. This changes their status from unaffiliated to affiliated with that party unless they fill out a card to return to undeclared status.

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Incumbent: Heading into the election the incumbent was Frank Guinta (R), who previously represented the 1st District from 2011-2013 and was elected again in 2014. Guinta sought re-election in 2016.

New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District is located in the eastern portion of the state. It includes all of Carroll and Strafford counties and parts of Belknap, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, and Rockingham counties.

Election results

General election

U.S. House, New Hampshire District 1 General Election, 2016

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Carol Shea-Porter	44.3%	162,080
	Republican	Frank Guinta Incumbent	43%	157,176
	Independent	Shawn O'Connor	9.5%	34,735
	Independent	Brendan Kelly	1.7%	6,074
	Libertarian	Robert Lombardo	1.5%	5,507
Total Votes				365,572
Source: New Hampshire Secretary of State

Primary election

U.S. House, New Hampshire District 1 Republican Primary, 2016

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Frank Guinta Incumbent	46.6%	26,400
Rich Ashooh	45.3%	25,678
Michael Callis	4%	2,243
Robert Risley	2.4%	1,347
Jamieson Gradert	1.8%	1,031
Total Votes		56,699
Source: New Hampshire Secretary of State

Candidates

General election candidates:

Frank Guinta
Carol Shea-Porter a
Robert Lombardo
Shawn O'Connor

Primary candidates:

Democratic

Carol Shea-Porter - Previous 1st District incumbent a

Republican

Frank Guinta - Incumbent a
Jamieson Gradert
Rich Ashooh
Michael Callis
Robert Risley

Third Party/Other

Robert Lombardo (Libertarian)
Shawn O'Connor (Independent) - Businessman

Withdrew:
Dan Innis (R)
Pamela Tucker (R) - State Representative

Race background

Incumbent Frank Guinta sought re-election in 2016. He made his announcement amid calls for his resignation from some state Republicans, including Sen. Kelly Ayotte, following a campaign finance violation. The violation was ruled as an illegal contribution from Guinta's parents which was in excess of campaign finance limits. As a result, Guinta was required to repay $355,000.

Incumbent Frank Guinta was a member of the NRCC's Patriot Program. The program is designed to help raise money and assist vulnerable incumbents seeking re-election.

Carol Shea-Porter was one of the initial members of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's Emerging Races. Emerging Races is the second tier of the Red to Blue program. According to the DCCC, it includes the districts "where campaigns are on track and working hard to put seats in play."

Presidential preference

Frank Guinta

See also: Republicans and their declared positions on Donald Trump

On March 30, 2016, Guinta said, ”You know I've said that I'll support the nominee of the Republican party. We're going through a presidential primary process that I think is very unique because of the frustration that people have with the challenges that our nation has had economically and the leadership style that has been presented by this president. I very much respect the primary process, and I think we ought to let that process continue.” He did not mention Donald Trump in his statement.

Endorsements

Fact check/Has New Hampshire Congressional candidate Carol Shea-Porter consistently opposed Trade Promotion Authority and the Trans-Pacific Partnership?

Yes. While in Congress, Shea-Porter joined other Democrats in signing at least four letters to Obama Administration officials and others expressing concern over the potential adverse impacts of Trade Promotion Authority and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. She was also a member of the House Trade Working Group, which has opposed the prevailing “international trade model,” including the 2007 accord with Peru, which she voted against. Read Ballotpedia's fact check »

Frank Guinta

• The National Rifle Association - "You have been a champion for New Hampshire gun owners by consistently opposing attempts to ban lawfully-owned firearms, ammunition and magazines. And you have stood against President Obama’s, Hillary Clinton’s and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s gun control agenda."

Carol Shea-Porter

• EMILY's List - "Carol Shea-Porter is a tireless champion for women and families,” said Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILY's List. “As the first woman elected to represent New Hampshire in Congress, Carol began a strong tradition of women’s leadership. She is a leader in the fight to end gender discrimination in pay, and, as a former social worker, she is a powerful advocate for policies that give all Granite Staters a fair shot. New Hampshire women and families are sick and tired of the Republicans’ dangerous agenda. The stakes are high for this swing district in 2016, and the EMILY’s List community is proud to stand with Carol Shea-Porter in New Hampshire."
• Executive Councilor Chris Pappas - "I am excited to see that Carol is throwing her hat in the ring, and I look forward to welcoming her to (Executive Council) District 4 as she hits the campaign trail. Carol's leadership and integrity are certainly missed in Congress, and I know she will always be a steady voice for middle class families."

Polls

New Hampshire 1st District - Frank Guinta vs Carol Shea-Porter
Poll	Frank Guinta	Carol Shea-Porter	Shawn O'Connor	Margin of Error	Sample Size
Normington Petts (D) September 18-21, 2016	34%	44%	4%	+/-4.9	400
North Star Opinion Research (R) September 14-18, 2016	41%	38%	8%	+/-N/A	427
Note: A "0%" finding means the candidate was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org

Media

Frank Guinta

"Clear Choice" - NRCC campaign ad supporting Guinta, released September 2016

"Frank Guinta is Leading the Fight Against New Hampshire's Heroin Epidemic" - Guinta ad

Carol Shea-Porter

"Vision" - Shea-Porter campaign ad, released October 2016

Rich Ashooh

Support

"Honesty" - Ashooh's first ad, released August 2016

Campaign themes

Frank Guinta

“	Health Care: Health care premiums are skyrocketing, devastating the middle class here in the state and around the country. New Hampshire was promised we could keep our plan, and then 22,000 lost their health insurance. We were promised additional access to care; now we only have one insurer and almost half of our hospitals have been excluded from the Obamacare Exchange. Jobs: Getting Granite Staters back to work has been and will remain a top priority of mine. In New Hampshire, our economy depends on the success of our small business owners and entrepreneurs. In order for them to be successful, the federal government needs to create an environment favorable to job creation. Social Security: I do not support any proposal that reduces benefits for those at or near retirement. A promise made is a promise kept. Debt and Deficit: Our national debt is now nearing $18 trillion, meaning every man, woman and child in the United States owes over $55,000 to the federal government. This mounting burden of debt drains our economy, crushes our job creators, hurts seniors and entrepreneurs while sticking our children and grandchildren with the bill. Reforming Washington: It is no secret that Washington is broken. This dysfunction is stopping our elected officials from accomplishing anything of substance on our behalf.	”
—Frank Guinta's campaign website

Carol Shea-Porter

“	Campaign Finance Reform: What if the United States held an election season and no Super PAC money or other hard to trace or totally hidden special interest money showed up on our television or radio, or in print ads? Would voters think they were better off without that money in local, state, and federal elections? Do they think this money is unduly influencing our democratic process, and are they right? The answer to these questions is a resounding yes, and citizens want politicians to clean this mess up now. Jobs and the Economy: Hard work should pay off. I worked my way through UNH at minimum wage jobs and on a factory floor. I’m fighting to build an economy where hard work leads to good jobs, fair pay, and a shot at the American dream. Health Care: Government funds about two-thirds of health care spending. It’s had a large and beneficial role in health care for many decades, through Medicare for seniors; Medicaid to insure low-income Americans; the VA to treat military veterans; the Defense Department to treat active-duty military and their families; and the Children’s Health Insurance Program to insure low-income children. These programs provide an essential safety net for our most vulnerable citizens or for those who defend or have defended us. And millions of working Americans are insured through their employers. Education: The recent trend of slashing school budgets is shortsighted thinking that will result in an even greater long-term problem. The United States was already lagging behind other countries before budgets were slashed after the 2010 Tea Party wave. Money alone won’t solve all of our problems. But to cut funding when we’re already in a very precarious state defies logic and reminds me of the old and wise saying: “Penny-wise, pound-foolish.” Energy and Environment: After years of arguing about whether we are experiencing climate change as a result of our human activities, the debate is over. Climate change is real, and it is impacting our planet and the Granite State as we speak. We need our policy makers in Congress to finally acknowledge the reality of climate change and the effect it is having on our environment.	”
—Carol Shea-Porter's campaign website

Shawn O'Connor

“	Job Creation: As an entrepreneur, Shawn has created hundreds of jobs. He will work daily to create good-paying jobs by supporting efforts to help fund job training, education, and innovation. He will promote workplace safety and fair wages by supporting the right of workers to bargain collectively and support American businesses by promoting fair, not simply free, trade. Increasing the Minimum Wage: On Shawn’s first day in office, he will submit legislation to raise the minimum wage incrementally to $15/hour by 2020 while protecting New Hampshire’s small businesses (those that employ fewer than 100 people) by providing these businesses with an annual tax credit equal to a 50% of the increase in their payroll as a result of that year’s increase in the minimum wage. 96% of New Hampshire’s businesses will qualify for this tax credit. By 2020, this policy will dramatically reduce income inequality, increase the income of 52% of Americans, and produce billions in new consumer spending resulting in a significant economic stimulus. Guaranteeing Women's Unfettered Access to Healthcare: Shawn will advocate daily to restore full funding to Planned Parenthood so that all women can gain access to affordable cancer screening, family planning, and contraceptives in their local communities. Shawn will defend a woman’s right to make her own healthcare choices with her doctor. He will seek to overturn the Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby decision that gives a woman’s employer a voice in her healthcare decisions. Educating New Hampshire's Young People for the 21st Century: The son of a teacher, Shawn believes that all American children deserve access to high quality full-day kindergarten and Pre-K. He will work to close the opportunity gap between students in well-funded districts and those in more economically marginalized communities. Shawn believes that every student should be able to afford the postsecondary education of his or her choice. He will help students attain their dreams by controlling the costs of postsecondary education, increasing Pell Grants, lowering student loan interest rates to 1-2%, and allowing students and parents to refinance existing student loans at these lower interest rates. Fighting for LGBT Equality: Having worked with Mary Bonauto, the GLAD attorney who successfully argued the Massachusetts and Supreme Court marriage cases, Shawn recognizes that the fight for full LGBT equality is far from over. While the Supreme Court’s decision making gay marriage legal nationwide represented a major victory, Americans in 29 states can be married on Saturday and fired on Monday simply because of who they love. Shawn will co-sponsor the EQUALITY Act, which has been endorsed by President Obama, that would extend the protections enshrined in the 1964 Civil Rights Act to include sexual orientation and gender identity.	”
—Shawn O'Connor's campaign website

Campaign contributions

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Source: This graphic was generated using data from the FEC.

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Source: This graphic was generated using data from the FEC.

Carol Shea-Porter

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Source: This graphic was generated using data from the FEC.

Frank Guinta

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Source: This graphic was generated using data from the FEC.

Shawn O'Connor

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Source: This graphic was generated using data from the FEC.

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The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may not represent 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, and 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.

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District history

2014

See also: New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District elections, 2014

The 1st Congressional District of New Hampshire held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Former Rep. Frank Guinta (R) defeated incumbent Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D) in the general election.

U.S. House, New Hampshire District 1 General Election, 2014

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Carol Shea-Porter Incumbent	48.1%	116,769
	Republican	Frank Guinta	51.7%	125,508
	N/A	Scatter	0.2%	459
Total Votes				242,736
Source: New Hampshire Secretary of State

2012

See also: New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District elections, 2012

The 1st Congressional District of New Hampshire held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012. Democrat Carol Shea-Porter defeated incumbent Frank Guinta (R) in the general election.

U.S. House, New Hampshire District 1 General Election, 2012

Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Frank Guinta Incumbent	46%	158,659
	Democratic	Carol Shea-Porter	49.8%	171,650
	Libertarian	Brandan Kelly	4.2%	14,521
Total Votes				344,830
Source: New Hampshire Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"

Important dates and deadlines

See also: New Hampshire elections, 2016

The calendar below lists important dates for political candidates in New Hampshire in 2016.

Dates and requirements for candidates in 2016
Deadline	Event type	Event description
June 1, 2016	Ballot access	Filing period opens for all candidates
June 10, 2016	Ballot access	Filing period closes for primary election
August 10, 2016	Ballot access	Nomination papers for independent candidates and political organizations must be filed with supervisors of the checklist for certification
August 24, 2016	Campaign finance	First primary election campaign finance report due
August 31, 2016	Ballot access	Deadline for supervisors of the checklist to certify nomination papers
September 7, 2016	Ballot access	Deadline for independent candidates and political organizations to file nomination papers with the secretary of state
September 7, 2016	Campaign finance	Second primary election campaign finance report due
September 13, 2016	Election date	Primary election
September 21, 2016	Campaign finance	Last primary election campaign finance report due
October 19, 2016	Campaign finance	First general election campaign finance report due
November 2, 2016	Campaign finance	Second general election campaign finance report due
November 8, 2016	Election date	General election
November 16, 2016	Campaign finance	Last general election campaign finance report due
Source: New Hampshire Secretary of State, "Political Calendar 2016-2017," accessed October 28, 2015

See also

• United States House of Representatives elections in New Hampshire, 2016
• United States House of Representatives elections, 2016

Footnotes

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New Hampshire's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Maggie Hassan (D)

Jeanne Shaheen (D)

Representatives

District 1

Chris Pappas (D)

District 2

Maggie Goodlander (D)

Democratic Party (4)