New Hampshire State Senate elections, 2014

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New Hampshire State Senate elections, 2014

Majority control • Qualifications

List of candidates District 1 • District 2 • District 3 • District 4 • District 5 • District 6 • District 7 • District 8 • District 9 • District 10 • District 11 • District 12 • District 13 • District 14 • District 15 • District 16 • District 17 • District 18 • District 19 • District 20 • District 21 • District 22• District 23 • District 24

State Legislative Election Results

New Hampshire State Senate • 2014 New Hampshire House Elections

State legislative elections in 2014

Elections for the New Hampshire State Senate 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.

Heading into the election, Republicans controlled a majority in the state Senate.

The State of the Race column on WMUR.com listed District 12 and the open seat in District 8 the two toss-ups in the Senate. Democrats were expected to win 10 seats and the Republicans 12 seats, according to the column. In Senate District 12, Incumbent Peggy Gilmour (D) was defeated by former house member Kevin Avard (R) in the general election. In the District 8 general election, House incumbent Linda Tanner (D) was defeated by Jerry Little (R).

The New Hampshire State Senate was one of 20 state legislative chambers noted by Ballotpedia staff as being a 2014 battleground chamber. The New Hampshire Senate had a difference in partisan balance between Democrats and Republicans of one seat, which amounted to 4.2 percent of the chamber. In 2012, a total of eight districts were competitive or mildly competitive. There were five districts where the margin of victory was 5 percent or less in the 2012 elections. Another three districts had a margin of victory between 5 and 10 percent.

Following the general election, there was no change to the majority control of the New Hampshire State Senate. The Republican Party increased their majority by two seats, increasing from 12 to 14 seats. The Democratic Party suffered a loss of one seat, decreasing from 11 to 10. The chamber's vacant seat was filled during the general election.

The Republican Party win in the New Hampshire House of Representatives provided the party with control of the legislature following 2014's elections.

Incumbents retiring

Three incumbents did not run for re-election in 2014. Those incumbents were:

Name	Party	Current Office
Bob Odell	Republican	Senate District 08
Sylvia Larsen	Democratic	Senate District 15
Jim Rausch	Republican	Senate District 19

Note: There was one vacant seat in District 11.

Majority control

See also: Partisan composition of state senates

Heading into the November 4 election, the Republican Party held the majority in the New Hampshire State Senate:

New Hampshire State Senate
Party		As of November 3, 2014	After November 4, 2014
	Democratic Party	11	10
	Republican Party	12	14
	Vacancy	1	0
Total		24	24

2014 Competitiveness Overview
Primary competition (state comparison)
Incumbents defeated • Victorious challengers • Primary competitiveness
Major party challengers (state comparison)
Candidates with no challenges at all in 2014
Open seats (state comparisons)
Impact of term limits on # of open seats Long-serving senators • Long-serving reps
Chart Comparing 2014 Results
Chart Comparing 2014 Results • Comparisons Between Years
Competitiveness Index • Absolute Index
2014 State Legislative Elections State legislative incumbent turnover in 2014
Competitiveness Studies from Other Years
2007 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2013

Competitiveness

Candidates unopposed by a major party

In 4 (16.6%) of the 24 districts up for election in 2014, there was only one major party candidate running for election. Two Republicans and two Democrats were guaranteed election in November, barring unforeseen circumstances.

Two major party candidates faced off in the general election in 20 (83.3%) of the 24 districts up for election. Five of those seats held competitive elections in 2012 with a margin of victory ranging from 0 to 5 percent. Three other elections were mildly competitive, with a margin of victory of 5 to 10 percent. Those districts were:

Competitive

• District 6: Incumbent Sam Cataldo (R) defeated Richard Leonard (D) in the general election. Cataldo defeated Leonard in the general election by a margin of victory of 3 percent in 2012.
• District 9: Incumbent Andy Sanborn (R) defeated Lee Nyquist (D) in the general election. Sanborn defeated Nyquist in the general election by a margin of victory of 0.69 percent in 2012.
• District 12: Incumbent Peggy Gilmour (D) was defeated by Kevin Avard (R) in the general election. Gilmour won the general election by a margin of victory of 4 percent in 2012.
• District 16: Incumbent David Boutin defeated Maureen Raiche Manning (D) in the general election. Boutin won the general election by a margin of victory of 1 percent in 2012.
• District 24: Incumbent Nancy Stiles defeated Chris Muns (D) in the general election. Stiles won the general election by a margin of victory of 5 percent in 2012.

Mildly competitive

• District 2: Incumbent Jeanie Forrester defeated Timothy Condon in the Republican primary. Forrester faced Carolyn Mello (D) in the general election. Forrester won the general election by a margin of victory of 8 percent in 2012.
• District 17: Incumbent John Reagan defeated Nancy R.B. Fraher (D) in the general election. Reagan won the general election by a margin of victory of 6 percent in 2012.
• District 23: Incumbent Russell Prescott (R) defeated Donna Schlachman (D) in the general election. Prescott won the general election by a margin of victory of 7 percent in 2012.

Primary challenges

A total of 4 incumbents faced primary competition on September 9. Four incumbents did not seek re-election in 2014 and another 16 incumbents advanced past the primary without opposition. The state senators that faced primary competition were:

• District 2: Incumbent Jeanie Forrester defeated Timothy Condon in the Republican primary.
• District 16: Incumbent David Boutin defeated Jane Cormier in the Republican primary. No Democrat filed for election.
• District 17: Incumbent John Reagan defeated Howard Pearl in the Republican primary.
• District 24: Incumbent Nancy Stiles defeated Steve Kenda in the Republican primary.

Retiring incumbents

Three incumbent senators did not run for re-election, while 16 (66.6%) of the current 24 incumbents ran for re-election. A list of those incumbents, one Democrat and three Republicans, can be found above. There was one vacancy in District 11.

Qualifications

To be eligible to serve in the New Hampshire Senate, a candidate must be:

• At least thirty years of age
• A resident of the state for seven years immediately preceding the election
• An inhabitant of the district for which they are chosen

Context

A Ballotpedia analysis of partisan balance showed that from 1992 to 2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the New Hampshire State Senate for six years while the Republicans were the majority for 16 years. The New Hampshire senate had a Republican majority for the study's final three years.

Races to Watch

In the state Senate, Republicans held a 13 to 11 advantage. For Democrats to take control, they needed to flip two seats. The Nashua Telegraph identified the District 6 race as one that was expected to play a key role on election night.

• District 6: In 2014's general election, incumbent Sam Cataldo (R) defeated Richard Leonard (D). In 2012, Cataldo defeated Leonard by only 600 votes.

• District 18: Incumbent Donna Soucy (D) defeated House incumbent George Lambert in the general election.

The State of the Race column on WMUR.com listed District 12 and the open seat in District 8 as the two tossups in the Senate. According to the column, Democrats were expected to win 10 seats and the Republicans, 12 seats.

• District 8: House incumbent Linda Tanner (D) was defeated by Jerry Little (R) in the general election.

• District 12: Incumbent Peggy Gilmour (D) was defeated by former House member Kevin Avard (R) in the general election.

List of candidates

District 1

September 9 Democratic primary candidates:

• Jeff Woodburn a- Incumbent Woodburn was first elected to the chamber in 2012.

September 9 Republican primary candidates:

• Mark Evans a

November 4 General election candidates:

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Jeff Woodburn: 10,829

Mark Evans: 7,166

District 2

September 9 Democratic primary candidates:

• Carolyn Mello a

September 9 Republican primary candidates:

• Timothy Condon: 1,133
• Jeanie Forrester: 4,180 a- Incumbent Forrester was first elected to the chamber in 2010.

November 4 General election candidates:

Carolyn Mello: 7,521

Jeanie Forrester: 12,657

District 3

September 9 Democratic primary candidates:

• John White a

September 9 Republican primary candidates:

• Jeb Bradley a- Incumbent Bradley was first elected to the chamber in a special election on April 21, 2009.

November 4 General election candidates:

John White: 7,950

Jeb Bradley: 14,409

District 4

September 9 Democratic primary candidates:

• David Watters a- Incumbent Watters was first elected to the chamber in 2008.

September 9 Republican primary candidates:

• Eddie Edwards a

November 4 General election candidates:

David Watters: 10,121

Eddie Edwards: 8,067

District 5

September 9 Democratic primary candidates:

• David Pierce a- Incumbent Pierce was first elected to the chamber in 2012.

September 9 Republican primary candidates:

• No candidates filed for election.

November 4 General election candidates:

David Pierce: 18,474

District 6

September 9 Democratic primary candidates:

• Richard Leonard a

September 9 Republican primary candidates:

• Sam Cataldo a- Incumbent Cataldo was first elected to the chamber in 2012.

November 4 General election candidates:

Richard Leonard: 7,640

Sam Cataldo: 9,882

District 7

September 9 Democratic primary candidates:

• Andrew Hosmer a- Incumbent Hosmer was first elected to the chamber in 2012.

September 9 Republican primary candidates:

• Kathleen Lauer-Rago a

November 4 General election candidates:

Andrew Hosmer: 9,578

Kathleen Lauer-Rago: 9,423

District 8

Note: Incumbent Bob Odell (R) did not run for re-election.

September 9 Democratic primary candidates:

• Linda Tanner a

September 9 Republican primary candidates:

• Jerry Little: 4,100 a
• J.P. Marzullo: 1,817

November 4 General election candidates:

Linda Tanner: 9,649

Jerry Little: 12,033

District 9

September 9 Democratic primary candidates:

• Lee Nyquist a

September 9 Republican primary candidates:

• Andy Sanborn a- Incumbent Sanborn was first elected to the chamber in 2012.

November 4 General election candidates:

Lee Nyquist: 10,804

Andy Sanborn: 12,310

District 10

September 9 Democratic primary candidates:

• Molly Kelly a- Incumbent Kelly was first elected to the chamber in 2006.

September 9 Republican primary candidates:

• No candidates filed for election.

November 4 General election candidates:

Molly Kelly: 14,034

District 11

Note: This seat was vacant.

September 9 Democratic primary candidates:

• Roger Tilton a

September 9 Republican primary candidates:

• Gary Daniels: 2,126 a
• Daniel Dwyer: 781
• Dan Hynes: 888
• Maureen Mooney: 1,682

November 4 General election candidates:

Roger Tilton: 8,575

Gary Daniels: 12,754

District 12

September 9 Democratic primary candidates:

• Peggy Gilmour a- Incumbent Gilmour was first elected to the chamber in 2012.

September 9 Republican primary candidates:

• Kevin Avard: 2,651 a
• Michael McCarthy: 2,284

November 4 General election candidates:

Peggy Gilmour: 10,517

Kevin Avard: 10,839

District 13

September 9 Democratic primary candidates:

• Bette Lasky a- Incumbent Lasky was first elected to the chamber in 2012.

September 9 Republican primary candidates:

• Doris Hohensee a

November 4 General election candidates:

Bette Lasky: 8,729

Doris Hohensee: 6,628

District 14

September 9 Democratic primary candidates:

• Kate Messner a

September 9 Republican primary candidates:

• Sharon Carson a- Incumbent Carson was first elected to the chamber in 2008.

November 4 General election candidates:

Kate Messner: 6,689

Sharon Carson: 11,742

District 15

Note: Incumbent Sylvia Larsen (D) did not run for re-election.

September 9 Democratic primary candidates:

• Kass Ardinger: 1,400
• Dan Feltes: 3,271 a

September 9 Republican primary candidates:

• Lydia Dube Harman a

November 4 General election candidates:

Dan Feltes: 13,352

Lydia Dube Harman: 7,154

District 16

September 9 Democratic primary candidates:

• No candidates filed for election.

September 9 Republican primary candidates:

• David Boutin: 3,096 a - Incumbent Boutin was first elected in a special election held February 16, 2010.
• Jane Cormier: 2,613

November 4 General election candidates:

Maureen Raiche Manning: 9,255

David Boutin: 11,666

District 17

September 9 Democratic primary candidates:

• Nancy R.B. Fraher a

September 9 Republican primary candidates:

• Howard Pearl: 837 - Pearl announced on August 6, 2014, that he was dropping out of the race. His name remained on the ballot.

• John Reagan: 4,045 a - Incumbent Reagan was first elected to the chamber in 2012.

November 4 General election candidates:

Nancy R.B. Fraher: 8,382

John Reagan: 11,669

District 18

September 9 Democratic primary candidates:

• Donna Soucy a- Incumbent Soucy was first elected to the chamber in 2012.

September 9 Republican primary candidates:

• Robyn M. Dunphy: 1,386
• George Lambert: 1,780 a

November 4 General election candidates:

Donna Soucy: 8,266

George Lambert: 7,268

District 19

Note: Incumbent Jim Rausch (R) did not run for re-election.

September 9 Democratic primary candidates:

• Kristi St. Laurent a

September 9 Republican primary candidates:

• Regina Birdsell: 1,980 a
• Jim Foley: 1,527
• Frank Sapareto: 1,447

November 4 General election candidates:

Kristi St. Laurent: 7,275

Regina Birdsell: 11,561

District 20

September 9 Democratic primary candidates:

• Lou D'Allesandro a- Incumbent D'Allesandro was first elected to the chamber in 1998.

September 9 Republican primary candidates:

• Eileen Landies a

November 4 General election candidates:

Lou D'Allesandro: 7,973

Eileen Landies: 5,787

District 21

September 9 Democratic primary candidates:

• Martha Fuller Clark a- Incumbent Fuller Clark was first elected to the chamber in 2012.

September 9 Republican primary candidates:

• Dennis Lamare: 488
• Peter Macdonald: 739
• Phil Nazzaro: 1,408 a

November 4 General election candidates:

Martha Fuller Clark: 12,423

Phil Nazzaro: 7,987

District 22

September 9 Democratic primary candidates:

• No candidates filed for election.

September 9 Republican primary candidates:

• Chuck Morse a- Incumbent Morse was first elected to the chamber in 2010.

November 4 General election candidates:

Richard O'Shaughnessy: 6,777

Chuck Morse: 12,928

District 23

September 9 Democratic primary candidates:

• Donna Schlachman a

September 9 Republican primary candidates:

• Russell Prescott a- Incumbent Prescott was first elected to the chamber in 2010.

November 4 General election candidates:

Donna Schlachman: 8,915

Russell Prescott: 12,030

District 24

September 9 Democratic primary candidates:

• Chris Muns a

September 9 Republican primary candidates:

• Steve Kenda: 2,337
• Nancy Stiles: 4,072 a - Incumbent Stiles was first elected to the chamber in 2010.

November 4 General election candidates:

Chris Muns: 9,816

Nancy Stiles: 14,990

See also

• New Hampshire State Senate
• New Hampshire State Legislature
• State legislative elections, 2014

External links

Suggest a link

• New Hampshire Secretary of State, Official general election results
• Primary election results
• Primary candidate list

Footnotes

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Current members of the New Hampshire State Senate

Leadership

Senate President:Sharon Carson

Majority Leader:Regina Birdsell

Senators

District 1

David Rochefort (R)

District 2

Timothy Lang (R)

District 3

Mark McConkey (R)

District 4

David Watters (D)

District 5

Suzanne Prentiss (D)

District 6

James Gray (R)

District 7

Dan Innis (R)

District 8

Ruth Ward (R)

District 9

Denise Ricciardi (R)

District 10

Donovan Fenton (D)

District 11

Tim McGough (R)

District 12

Kevin Avard (R)

District 13

Lucinda Rosenwald (D)

District 14

Sharon Carson (R)

District 15

Tara Reardon (D)

District 16

Keith Murphy (R)

District 17

Howard Pearl (R)

District 18

Victoria Sullivan (R)

District 19

Regina Birdsell (R)

District 20

Patrick Long (D)

District 21

Rebecca Perkins Kwoka (D)

District 22

Daryl Abbas (R)

District 23

William Gannon (R)

District 24

Debra Altschiller (D)

Republican Party (16)

Democratic Party (8)