Republican Party primaries in New Hampshire, 2018

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Republican Party primaries, 2018

New Hampshire Republican Party.png

Primary Date
September 11, 2018

Federal elections
Republican primaries for U.S. House

State elections
Republican primaries for New Hampshire legislature
Republican primary for governor

State party
Republican Party of New Hampshire
State political party revenue

Primary elections—in which registered voters select a candidate whom they believe should run on the party's ticket in the general election—can reflect internal conflict over the direction of a party.

Heading into the 2018 election, the Republican Party's legislative record during Donald Trump’s presidency figured into several Republican primaries. This record included the passage of major tax legislation in December 2017 and the confirmation of federal judges. It also included a $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill in March 2018, which Trump opposed, and unsuccessful efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.[1][2]

Trump, himself, also played a role in Republican primaries. His approval rating reached 90% in June among self-described Republicans, according to a Gallup survey.[3] Many Republican candidates campaigned on their support for Trump, and negative ads accusing opponents of criticizing the president were common.[4][5][6] A May report found Trump's name or image had appeared in 37% of all Republican campaign ads at that point in 2018.[7]

This page focuses on the Republican primaries that took place in New Hampshire on September 11, 2018. In addition, the page provides context for understanding the state party apparatus.

Battleground primaries

Battleground elections are those that Ballotpedia expected would either be more competitive than other races or attract significant national attention.

Federal elections

U.S. House

See also: United States House elections in New Hampshire (September 11, 2018 Republican primaries)
The 2018 U.S. House of Representatives elections in New Hampshire took place on November 6, 2018. Voters elected two candidates to serve in the U.S. House, one from each of the state's two congressional districts. In 2017, the NRCC identified New Hampshire's 1st and 2nd Congressional Districts as targeted races. To see a full list of candidates in the Republican primaries, click "Show more" below.
Show more

State elections

New Hampshire Party Control: 1992-2025
Four years of Democratic trifectas  •  Fourteen years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Governor R R R R R D D D D D D R R D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R
Senate R R R R R R R D S R R R R R R D D D D R R R R R R R R D D R R R R R
House R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R D D D D R R D D R R R R D D R R R R R

Gubernatorial election

See also: New Hampshire gubernatorial election, 2018 (September 11 Republican primary)

See also: New Hampshire gubernatorial election, 2018 (September 11 Republican primary)

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

State party overview

See also: Republican Party of New Hampshire
New Hampshire Republican Party.png


State political party revenue

See also: State political party revenue and State political party revenue per capita

State political parties typically deposit revenue in separate state and federal accounts in order to comply with state and federal campaign finance laws. The following table displays the Republican Party of New Hampshire's revenue over a six-year period from 2011 to 2016. Revenue totals are broken down by account type and year. The data was compiled through publicly available state and federal campaign finance reports.

Republican Party of New Hampshire revenue, 2011 to 2016[8][9]
Year Federal account State account(s) Total
2011 $339,359.54 --[12] $339,359.54
2012 $2,431,468.71 $350,941.02 $2,782,409.73
2013 $301,176.13 --[12] $301,176.13
2014 $3,002,309.55 $557,817.51 $3,560,127.06
2015 $506,692.25 --[12] $506,692.25
2016 $4,060,653.20 $787,056.32 $4,847,709.52

New Hampshire compared to other states

The Democratic Party and the Republican Party maintain state affiliates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and select U.S. territories. The following maps display total state political party revenue per capita for the Democratic and Republican state party affiliates from 2011 to 2016. The blue map displays Democratic state parties and the red map displays Republican state parties. Click on a state below to view the state party's revenue per capita totals:

Total Democratic and Republican state political party revenue per capita in the United States, 2011-2016

Primary election scheduling

New Hampshire was the only state to hold a primary election on September 11, 2018.

Voter information

How the primary works

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.[13][14][15]

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

Poll times

In New Hampshire, polling place hours of operation vary. According to state law, polling places must be open between 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Localities may set their own polling hours as long as they are open during those hours prescribed by state law.[16] To search for the hours your polling place is open, click here.

Registration requirements

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in New Hampshire, each applicant must provide documentary proof of United States citizenship, be a resident of New Hampshire, and at least 18 years old by the next election. Individuals may register to vote at the local clerk's office, with the community's supervisors of the checklist or registrar of voters, or at the polling place on the day of the election. Applicants must fill out a voter registration form and either show proof of identity and citizenship or sign an affidavit witnessed by an election official.[17][18] Absentee registration is allowed for those who are “unable to register in person because of physical disability, religious beliefs, military service, or because of temporary absence.” Absentee registration requires mailing a voter registration form and witnessed absentee voter registration affidavit to the local clerk.[17]

Automatic registration

New Hampshire does not practice automatic voter registration.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

New Hampshire does not permit online voter registration.

Same-day registration

New Hampshire allows same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

In New Hampshire, citizens can register to vote the day they move to the state.[17]

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

New Hampshire requires voters to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote, as of June 2025. Gov. Chris Sununu (R) signed HB 1569 into law on September 17, 2024. The legislation required voter registration applicants to provide one of the following at the time of registration: "birth certificate, passport, naturalization papers if the applicant is a naturalized citizen, or any other reasonable documentation which indicates the applicant is a United States citizen."[19]

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[20] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The New Hampshire Secretary of State’s office allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.

Voter ID requirements

New Hampshire requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[21]

The following list of accepted ID was current as of June 2024. Click here for the New Hampshire Secretary of State page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

  • Driver’s license issued by any state or federal government;
  • Non-driver ID card issued by NH DMV or motor vehicle agency of another state;
  • Photo ID card for “voting identification only” issued by NH DMV;
  • U.S. armed services identification card;
  • U.S. passport or passcard;
  • NH student ID card (Dated within the past 5 years. Must be from a school on the approval list provided to the Secretary of State each year by the Department of Education.);
  • Photo ID not mentioned above, but determined to be legitimate by the moderator, supervisors of the checklist,

or clerk of a town, ward or city.[22]

Additionally, a poll worker may verify the voter’s identity. If anyone authorized to challenge a voter objects to the poll worker’s verification, the voter would have to complete a challenged voter affidavit.[21]

Voters without proper photo identification can complete a challenged voter affidavit. A poll worker will take a photo of the voter and attach it to the affidavit. The voter may then cast a regular ballot. If the voter objects to being photographed for religious reasons, he or she can complete an affidavit of religious exemption, which will be attached to the challenged voter affidavit.[21]

Early voting

New Hampshire does not permit early voting.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.

Absentee voting

A voter is eligible to vote absentee in an election if he or she cannot make it to the polls on Election Day for one of the following reasons:[23]

  • The voter will be absent from his or her polling location on the day of the election.
  • The voter is unable to visit the polls because of the observance of a religious commitment.
  • The voter is unable to visit the polls because of a physical disability.
  • The voter is unable to visit the polls because of an employment obligation.
  • The voter is unable to visit the polls due to military service.

There is no specific deadline to apply for an absentee ballot. The completed ballot must be returned either in person by 5:00 p.m. the day before the election or by mail. If returned by mail, the ballot must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Election Day. A voter must include a photocopy of a valid photo identification or a notarized signature with the absentee ballot application. Voters may also present photo identification at a town clerk’s office to request an absentee ballot.[23]


Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

Three of 10 New Hampshire counties—30 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
County Trump margin of victory in 2016 Obama margin of victory in 2012 Obama margin of victory in 2008
Coos County, New Hampshire 8.89% 17.54% 18.19%
Hillsborough County, New Hampshire 0.20% 1.12% 3.73%
Sullivan County, New Hampshire 2.58% 13.27% 17.93%

In the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton (D) won New Hampshire with 46.8 percent of the vote. Donald Trump (R) received 46.5 percent. In presidential elections between 1789 and 2016, New Hampshire voted Republican 50 percent of the time and Democratic 31 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, New Hampshire voted Democratic with the exception of the 2000 presidential election.[24]

Presidential results by legislative district

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state Senate districts in New Hampshire. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[25][26]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 12 out of 24 state Senate districts in New Hampshire with an average margin of victory of 17.3 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 10 out of 24 state Senate districts in New Hampshire with an average margin of victory of 14.5 points. Clinton won two districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections.
In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 12 out of 24 state Senate districts in New Hampshire with an average margin of victory of 5.6 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 14 out of 24 state Senate districts in New Hampshire with an average margin of victory of 9.6 points. Trump won two districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.

Presidential results by legislative district

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in New Hampshire. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[27][28]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 145 out of 204 state House districts in New Hampshire with an average margin of victory of 17.8 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 101 out of 204 state House districts in New Hampshire with an average margin of victory of 17.1 points.
In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 59 out of 204 state House districts in New Hampshire with an average margin of victory of 9.9 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 103 out of 204 state House districts in New Hampshire with an average margin of victory of 12.9 points.

See also

Federal primaries in New Hampshire State primaries in New Hampshire New Hampshire state party apparatus New Hampshire voter information
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Footnotes

  1. ‘’National Review’’, “Trump Is Not Blameless in the Spending-Bill Disaster,” March 28, 2018
  2. The New York Times, "A New Guide to the Republican Herd," August 26, 2012
  3. Gallup, "Trump Job Approval Slips Back to 41%," June 25, 2018
  4. Daily Commercial, "Trump hurdle looms large in Florida GOP governor primary," July 30, 2018
  5. Daily Commercial, "These 2018 Primaries Are Worth Watching," July 25, 2018
  6. Washington Post, "Republican primary candidates have one goal: Securing Trump’s endorsement or denying it to an opponent," July 25, 2018
  7. USA Today, "Donald Trump once divided Republicans; ads for midterms signal that's no longer true," May 17, 2018
  8. Arizona Secretary of State, "Campaign Finance and Reporting," accessed May 2016 (Search terms AZ Republican Party and Arizona Democratic Party)
  9. Federal Election Commission, "Candidate and Committee Viewer," accessed May 2016 (Search terms Arizona Republican Party and Arizona State Democratic Central Executive Committee)
  10. New Hampshire Secretary of State, "Campaign Finance," accessed May 2016 (Search terms New Hampshire Republican State Committee and New Hampshire Democratic Party)
  11. Federal Election Commission, "Candidate and Committee Viewer," accessed May 2016 (Search terms New Hampshire Republican State Committee and New Hampshire Democratic Party)
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 Biennial reporting schedule.
  13. NCSL,"State Primary Election Types," accessed April 25, 2023
  14. Ballotpedia research conducted December 26, 2013, through January 3, 2014, researching and analyzing various state websites and codes.
  15. New Hampshire Secretary of State,"Voting in Party Primaries," accessed April 25, 2023
  16. New Hampshire Revised Statutes - Title 63, Chapter 659.4," accessed April 25, 2023
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 New Hampshire Secretary of State, “How to Register to Vote,” accessed June 25, 2024
  18. New Hampshire Secretary of State, “Register to Vote,” accessed June 25, 2024
  19. General Court of New Hampshire, "CHAPTER 378 HB 1569-FN - FINAL VERSION," accessed November 14, 2024
  20. Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 State of New Hampshire, "Voter ID Law Explanatory Document," accessed June 25, 2024
  22. Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  23. 23.0 23.1 New Hampshire Secretary of State, "Absentee Ballots," accessed September 29, 2025
  24. 270towin.com, "New Hampshire," accessed June 1, 2017
  25. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
  26. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
  27. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
  28. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017