The rightwing holds governing majorities in both New Hampshire chambers, and they’ve used their power to attack patients’ ability to make healthcare decisions with their doctor, cut taxes for the ultrawealthy, and gut funding for affordable housing and public schools.
Yet, despite being in the minority, state lawmakers who are committed to improving the lives of their constituents have strategically worked across the aisle to deliver results. Because of their work, New Hampshire has invested in rural hospitals’ emergency services and maternal mental health, and strengthened protections for moms when they return to work.
In 2026, we see an opportunity to build governing power for state lawmakers who have demonstrated their ability to govern effectively by delivering real solutions for New Hampshirites.
While Vice President Harris narrowly won the 2024 presidential race in New Hampshire, voters elected a Republican governor by nearly 10 points — a margin that was too big for many down-ballot candidates to overcome. In the House, the margins were razor-thin, with 20 seats lost by about 200 votes or less. Winning those 20 seats, plus three more, would have created a new majority in the chamber.
In 2024, our work focused on building the unique infrastructure that campaigns in New Hampshire, particularly in the complex 400-seat House, need to win. In 2026, we have the chance to win seats that were lost by thin margins, and flip the House. Achieving our goal in New Hampshire will prevent a rightwing trifecta and ensure lawmakers can protect Granite Staters from the worst impacts of the MAGA agenda, at the federal level and in their state.
Our work in New Hampshire focused on elevating and professionalizing campaigns in a state where the sheer number of races can be an obstacle. In the House, there are 400 districts, a mix of single-member and multi-member districts. Historically, campaigns used a “one size fits all” approach — running ads featuring full slates of candidates, with no opportunity for individualized messaging. But after 2023, when TSP fueled several successful special elections, we worked with our in-state spending partners to make individualized ad campaigns possible in key districts — so candidates could hone their own unique message.
20 seats were lost across New Hampshire’s 400 House districts, along with 2 in the Senate. Despite losses in both chambers, our investments powered huge strides in seeding a more effective campaign operation in New Hampshire.
In the critical two weeks leading up to Election Day in the state, Giving Circles fueled a Door Knocking Challenge which incentivizes candidates to spend the majority of their time meeting voters on the doors. Many of the candidates who participated in this Door Knocking Challenge won their seats by narrow margins; that face-to-face contact was game-changing. Four of the participants won their seats by less than 326 votes!
With such close margins in the House, Democratic lawmakers were able to significantly impact policy and protect Granite Staters from the most extreme rightwing attacks.
The States Project was early to identify the New Hampshire Senate as the most endangered majority in the country in 2020, after helping to flip it in 2018 by only 300 votes. This time the margin was similar, but with the opposite outcome. Just 285 votes changing would have prevented a GOP majority.
In 2018, The States Project helped flip the New Hampshire Senate, fueling five candidates to victory, including four new seats. Just 300 votes gave governing power to the new majority.
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State lawmakers have the power to enact policies that can protect millions of Americans, and the overall direction of the country, from the worst impacts of a second Trump presidency.
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