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New Hampshire House of Representatives District Merrimack 8
New Hampshire House of Representatives Merrimack 8 is represented by Tony Caplan (D), Eileen Kelly (D), and Stephanie Payeur (D).
As of the 2020 Census, New Hampshire state representatives represented an average of 3,448 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 3,304 residents.
About the office
Members of the New Hampshire House of Representatives serve two-year terms and are not subject to term limits. New Hampshire legislators assume office on the first Wednesday of December following the general election.[1]
Qualifications
To be eligible to serve in the New Hampshire House of Representatives, a candidate must be:[2]
- At least 18 years of age
- A registered voter
- A resident of the state for two years immediately preceding the election
- A resident of the town or ward the candidate is running to represent
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[3] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $100/year | No per diem is paid. |
Vacancies
If there is a vacancy in the New Hampshire General Court, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat. The governor and executive council must call a special election within 21 days of receiving proof of a vacancy or a request that a vacancy be filled.[4][5][6]
See sources: New Hampshire Cons. Part II, Articles 16 and 34 and New Hampshire Rev. Stat. Ann. § 661:8
District map
Redistricting
2020 redistricting cycle
On March 23, 2022, Gov. Chris Sununu (R) signed a new state house map into law. On May 6, Sununu signed a new state senate map into law. These maps took effect for New Hampshire's 2022 elections.
On Jan. 5, 2022, the New Hampshire House of Representatives voted 186-168 to approve the state House map.[7] On Feb. 16, the New Hampshire State Senate voted 14-10 to approve the map.[7] On Feb. 16, the New Hampshire State Senate voted 14-10 to approve the map.[7]
On Feb. 16, the state Senate voted 14-10 to approve the state Senate map. On April 21, the House voted 172-149 to approve the map.[8]
How does redistricting in New Hampshire work? In New Hampshire, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the state legislature. These lines are subject to veto by the governor.[9]
State law requires that state legislative districts "be contiguous, and maintain the boundaries of towns, wards, or unincorporated places." There are no such requirements in place for congressional districts.[9]
New Hampshire House of Representatives Merrimack 8
until December 6, 2022
Click a district to compare boundaries.
New Hampshire House of Representatives Merrimack 8
starting December 7, 2022
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Elections
2024
See also: New Hampshire House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for New Hampshire House of Representatives Merrimack 8 (3 seats)
The following candidates ran in the general election for New Hampshire House of Representatives Merrimack 8 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Eileen Kelly (D) | 17.5 | 2,765 |
| ✔ |  | Tony Caplan (D) | 17.1 | 2,700 |
| ✔ |  | Stephanie Payeur (D) | 17.1 | 2,694 |
 | Natalie Wells (R) | 16.7 | 2,637 | |
 | Sherry Gould (R) | 16.3 | 2,572 | |
 | James Parker (R) | 15.2 | 2,390 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 9 | ||
| Total votes: 15,767 | |||
 = 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. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for New Hampshire House of Representatives Merrimack 8 (3 seats)
Incumbent Stephanie Payeur, Eileen Kelly, and incumbent Tony Caplan advanced from the Democratic primary for New Hampshire House of Representatives Merrimack 8 on September 10, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Stephanie Payeur | 33.4 | 1,003 |
| ✔ | | Eileen Kelly | 33.2 | 997 |
| ✔ | | Tony Caplan | 32.8 | 986 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.6 | 19 | ||
| Total votes: 3,005 | |||
| = 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 House of Representatives Merrimack 8 (3 seats)
Natalie Wells, James Parker, and incumbent Sherry Gould advanced from the Republican primary for New Hampshire House of Representatives Merrimack 8 on September 10, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Natalie Wells | 40.0 | 740 |
| ✔ | | James Parker | 29.9 | 553 |
| ✔ | | Sherry Gould | 29.5 | 546 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.7 | 13 | ||
| Total votes: 1,852 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2022
General election
General election for New Hampshire House of Representatives Merrimack 8 (3 seats)
The following candidates ran in the general election for New Hampshire House of Representatives Merrimack 8 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Sherry Gould (D) | 19.6 | 2,448 |
| ✔ | | Tony Caplan (D) | 19.0 | 2,366 |
| ✔ | | Stephanie Payeur (D) | 18.9 | 2,365 |
 | Margaret Kennedy (R) | 15.6 | 1,944 | |
| James Bass Parker (R) | 13.5 | 1,683 | ||
| Walter Kirsch (R) | 13.4 | 1,673 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 5 | ||
| Total votes: 12,484 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for New Hampshire House of Representatives Merrimack 8 (3 seats)
Sherry Gould, incumbent Tony Caplan, and Stephanie Payeur advanced from the Democratic primary for New Hampshire House of Representatives Merrimack 8 on September 13, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Sherry Gould | 35.3 | 757 |
| ✔ | | Tony Caplan | 32.3 | 692 |
| ✔ | | Stephanie Payeur | 31.8 | 682 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.6 | 12 | ||
| Total votes: 2,143 | |||
| = 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 House of Representatives Merrimack 8 (3 seats)
Incumbent Margaret Kennedy, James Bass Parker, and Walter Kirsch defeated Everett Mahoney and Jay Noone in the Republican primary for New Hampshire House of Representatives Merrimack 8 on September 13, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Margaret Kennedy | 31.7 | 497 |
| ✔ | James Bass Parker | 17.7 | 277 | |
| ✔ | Walter Kirsch | 17.7 | 277 | |
| Everett Mahoney | 16.6 | 260 | ||
| Jay Noone | 14.8 | 232 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.5 | 24 | ||
| Total votes: 1,567 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2020
General election
General election for New Hampshire House of Representatives Merrimack 8
Caroletta Alicea defeated incumbent Robert Forsythe (Unofficially withdrew) and Rick Devoid in the general election for New Hampshire House of Representatives Merrimack 8 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Caroletta Alicea (D) | 46.9 | 882 |
 | Robert Forsythe (R) (Unofficially withdrew) | 36.9 | 695 | |
| Rick Devoid (Independent) (Write-in) | 15.7 | 296 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4 | 8 | ||
| Total votes: 1,881 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for New Hampshire House of Representatives Merrimack 8
Caroletta Alicea advanced from the Democratic primary for New Hampshire House of Representatives Merrimack 8 on September 8, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Caroletta Alicea | 97.4 | 343 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 2.6 | 9 | ||
| Total votes: 352 | |||
| = 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 House of Representatives Merrimack 8
Incumbent Robert Forsythe (Unofficially withdrew) defeated Rick Devoid in the Republican primary for New Hampshire House of Representatives Merrimack 8 on September 8, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Robert Forsythe (Unofficially withdrew) | 66.7 | 226 |
| Rick Devoid (Write-in) | 29.2 | 99 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 4.1 | 14 | ||
| Total votes: 339 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2018
General election
General election for New Hampshire House of Representatives Merrimack 8
Robert Forsythe defeated Edward Cherian in the general election for New Hampshire House of Representatives Merrimack 8 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Robert Forsythe (R) | 50.1 | 632 |
| Edward Cherian (D) | 49.6 | 626 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 3 | ||
| Total votes: 1,261 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for New Hampshire House of Representatives Merrimack 8
Edward Cherian advanced from the Democratic primary for New Hampshire House of Representatives Merrimack 8 on September 11, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Edward Cherian | 100.0 | 225 | |
| Total votes: 225 | |||
| = 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 House of Representatives Merrimack 8
Robert Forsythe defeated Tim Vendt in the Republican primary for New Hampshire House of Representatives Merrimack 8 on September 11, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Robert Forsythe | 51.7 | 135 |
| Tim Vendt | 48.3 | 126 | ||
| Total votes: 261 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2016
Elections for the New Hampshire House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on September 13, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 10, 2016.
Incumbent Caroletta Alicea defeated Robert Forsythe in the New Hampshire House of Representatives District Merrimack 8 general election.[10][11]
| New Hampshire House of Representatives, District Merrimack 8 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Caroletta Alicea Incumbent |
51.50% | 873 | |
| Republican | Robert Forsythe | 48.50% | 822 | |
| Total Votes | 1,695 | |||
| Source: New Hampshire Secretary of State | ||||
Incumbent Caroletta Alicea ran unopposed in the New Hampshire House of Representatives District Merrimack 8 Democratic primary.[12][13]
| New Hampshire House of Representatives, District Merrimack 8 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Caroletta Alicea Incumbent (unopposed) | |
Robert Forsythe ran unopposed in the New Hampshire House of Representatives District Merrimack 8 Republican primary.[12][13]
| New Hampshire House of Representatives, District Merrimack 8 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Robert Forsythe (unopposed) | |
2014
Elections for the New Hampshire House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on September 9, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 13, 2014. Incumbent Caroletta Alicea was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Robert L. Forsythe was unopposed in the Republican primary. Alicea and Forsythe faced off in the general election.[14] Incumbent Alicea defeated Forsythe in the general election.[15]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Caroletta Alicea Incumbent |
54.8% | 645 | |
| Republican | Robert L. Forsythe | 44.8% | 528 | |
| NA | Scatter | 0.4% | 5 | |
| Total Votes | 1,178 | |||
2012
Elections for the office of New Hampshire House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on September 11, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 15, 2012. Caroletta Alicea (D) was unopposed in both the general election and Democratic primary. [16][17][18]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Caroletta Alicea |
100% | 1,140 | |
| Total Votes | 1,140 | |||
Campaign contributions
From 2004 to 2024, candidates for New Hampshire House of Representatives Merrimack 8 raised a total of $23,335. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $383 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money
| Campaign contributions, New Hampshire House of Representatives Merrimack 8 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
| 2024 | $6,672 | 6 | $1,112 |
| 2022 | $5,150 | 8 | $644 |
| 2020 | $725 | 1 | $725 |
| 2018 | $2,350 | 3 | $783 |
| 2016 | $0 | 2 | $0 |
| 2014 | $1,070 | 2 | $535 |
| 2012 | $0 | 5 | $0 |
| 2010 | $2,244 | 9 | $249 |
| 2008 | $2,419 | 8 | $302 |
| 2006 | $2,705 | 8 | $338 |
| 2004 | $0 | 9 | $0 |
| Total | $23,335 | 61 | $383 |
See also
- New Hampshire General Court
- New Hampshire State Senate
- New Hampshire House of Representatives
- New Hampshire state legislative districts
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ New Hampshire Constitution, "Part II, Article 3," accessed February 10, 2021
- ↑ New Hampshire Secretary of State, "Qualifications for Office," accessed May 23, 2025
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑ State of New Hampshire, "State Constitution-House of Representatives," accessed February 10, 2021 (Sections 12 and 16)
- ↑ State of New Hampshire, "State Constitution-Senate," accessed February 10, 2021 (Section 34)
- ↑ New Hampshire General Court, "Title LXIII: Elections," accessed February 10, 2021 (Title LXIII, Chapter 661:8)
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 New Hampshire General Court, "HB50," accessed February 16, 2022
- ↑ New Hampshire General Court, "SB240," accessed February 16, 2022
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 All About Redistricting, "New Hampshire," accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑ New Hampshire Secretary of State, "General Election - November 8, 2016," accessed October 25, 2016
- ↑ New Hampshire Secretary of State, "General Election Results - 2016," accessed December 23, 2016
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 New Hampshire Secretary of State, "State Primary - September 13, 2016," accessed June 22, 2016
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 New Hampshire Secretary of State, "2016 Primary election results," accessed November 21, 2016
- ↑ New Hampshire Secretary of State, "2014 Filing Period," accessed July 1, 2014
- ↑ New Hampshire Secretary of State, "2014 General Election Results," accessed December 3, 2014
- ↑ New Hampshire Secretary of State, "2012 General Election Results," accessed December 6, 2013
- ↑ New Hampshire Secretary of State, "2012 Candidate List," accessed December 6, 2013
- ↑ New Hampshire Secretary of State, "Official Primary Results," accessed December 6, 2013
