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2026 NH Senate Primary

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The New Hampshire Senate is the counterpart to the New Hampshire House in the NH Legislature. There are 24 state Senate voting districts, each electing a single senator. New Hampshire state senators serve a two-year term.

Our profiles include candidate issue positions and background information to help you make an informed decision on who to vote for. Candidates who win their party's nomination in the primary will go on to the general election in November. 

Voting Date:

District 1

Democrat
Cathleen Fountain
Cathleen A. Fountain    
Democrat

Avis/Budget Group; Secretary, Dalton Planning Board; Veteran, U.S. Navy

Republican
David Rochefort
David Rochefort (incumbent)  
Republican

Senator, NH Senate (2024 - present); Representative, NH House of Representatives (2022 - 2024), Pharmacist/Pharmacy Owner; President, NH Board of Pharmacy; Zoning Board; youth sports volunteer

District 2

Democrat
Kurt Webber
Kurt Webber    
Democrat

Army officer (retired, 23 years); Airborne, Ranger, Special Forces (Green Beret); Professor, Lakes Region Community College and New Hampshire Technical Institute (2001 - 2017)

Republican
Tim Lang
Timothy P. Lang Sr.    
Republican

Senator, NH Senate (2022 - present); Representative, NH House of Representatives (2016 - 2022); Winnisquam School Board & Budget Committee; Current Sanbornton Town Moderator; Town Budget Committee; Former Zoning Board Chair

District 3

Democrat
Bobbi Boudman
Bobbi Boudman    
Democrat

Financial Analyst; City Director; Non-profit Manager; Small Business Owner; Athletic Director; Substitute Teacher

Republican
Mark McConkey
Mark E. McConkey (incumbent)  
Republican

Senator, NH Senate (2024 - present); Representative, NH House of Representatives (2002 - 2018, 2020 - 2024); Past Chairman Ossipee Zoning Board; Small Business Owner; numerous other local boards and committees

District 4

Democrat
David Watters
David H. Watters (incumbent)  
Democrat

Senator, NH Senate (2012 - present); Representative, NH House of Representatives (2008 - 2012); Professor Emeritus of English, University of New Hampshire

Republican
Shawn Mickelonis
Shawn Mickelonis    
Republican

Former Representative, NH House of Representatives (Rochester)

District 5

Democrat
Suzanne Prentiss
Suzanne M. Prentiss (incumbent)  
Democrat

Senator, NH Senate (2020 - present); Lebanon City Councilor (12 years); former Mayor, Lebanon (2 years); former Chief of EMS, NH Department of Safety; paramedic

Republican
no photo provided generic silhouette
Conrad Schoeffter    
Republican

District 6

Democrat
no photo provided generic silhouette
Cecil Abels    
Democrat

Republican
James P. Gray (incumbent)  
Republican

Senator, NH Senate (2016 - present); Representative, NH House of Representatives (2012 - 2016); Senior Engineering Manager for Industrial Operation, Naval Sea Systems Command; Ward Moderator, Town of Rochester; School Board Member, Planning Board Member

District 7

Democrat
no photo provided generic silhouette
Rebecca Harned    
Democrat

Republican
Dan Innis
Daniel Innis (incumbent)  
Republican

Senator, NH Senate (2022 - present, 2016 - 2018); Professor of Marketing and Hospitality Management, University of New Hampshire; Former Dean of Business and Economics, University of New Hampshire; Founder, Ale House Inn and Hotel Portsmouth; Co-Owner, Great Island Inn in New Castle; part-time farmer

District 8

Democrat
David Trumble
David Trumble    
Democrat

Organic farmer; college debate coach; founder, NH Mental Health Law Clinic

Republican
Jim Creighton
Jim Creighton    
Republican

Representative, NH House of Representatives (2020 - present); Colonel, U.S. Army (retired); Ski Patrol; Leadership Coach; Business owner (Ursa Major Northeast Guides); Author (Coalition Leadership)

District 9

Democrat
Matt McLaughlin
Matthew McLaughlin    
Democrat

"I was born and raised in Bedford, the youngest of 10 children. I attended the US Naval Academy and after graduation became a tactical naval aviator flying the A-7E Corsair II.

"After retiring from the Navy my wife and I returned to New Hampshire to raise our family. I flew as a commercial airline pilot for 33 years.

"My community experience includes coaching the girls lacrosse team at West High School in Manchester, coaching and reffing Bedford youth sports, Volunteer driver for Meals on Wheels, and a frequent platelet donor for the Red Cross in Manchester."

Republican
Denise Ricciardi
Denise Ricciardi (incumbent)  
Republican

Senator, NH Senate (2020 - present); Vice Chairman, Bedford Town Council; founder, Bedford Cares; volunteered in over 20 non-profit and community groups

District 10

Democrat
Donovan Fenton (incumbent)  
Democrat

Senator, NH Senate (2022 - present); Representative, NH House of Representatives (2016 - present); Sales Coordinator, Fenton Family Dealerships; Board Member, The Community Kitchen; Volunteer, Monadnock Center for Violence Prevention (MCVP)

District 11

Democrat
Shannon Chandley
Shannon E. Chandley    
Democrat

Senator, NH Senate (2018 - 2020, 2022 - 2024); ranking Democrat, Senate Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee; Representative, NH House of Representatives (2016 - 2018, 2012 - 2014, 2008 - 2010); former chair, Committee on Resources, Recreation and Development

Republican
Tim McGough
Tim McGough (incumbent)  
Republican

Senator, NH Senate (2024 - present); 3 Terms NH State Representative (1996-2000, 2022-2024), House Commerce & Consumer Affairs Committee (3 terms), House Resources, Recreation & Development, NH Canadian Trade Council (clerk), NH Healthcare Consumer Protection Commission (Vice Chair), Long-Term Drinking Water Commission, Christa McAuliffe Memorial Commission, National Council of State Legislatures (state coordinator), American Legislative Exchange Council, Nashua Fish & Game Assoc., Chief Commercial Officer (medical device), 9 patents in biotech, Youth Football & Lacrosse Coach

District 12

Democrat
no photo provided generic silhouette
Carryl L. Roy    
Democrat

Republican
Kevin Avard
Kevin A. Avard (incumbent)  
Republican

Senator, NH Senate (2014 - 2018, 2020 - present); Representative, NH House of Representatives (2010 - 2012); Small Business Owner

District 13

Democrat
Laura Telerski    
Democrat

Representative, NH House of Representatives (2018 - present); account executive; full-time parent; Selectman, Nashua Ward 8

Republican
Daniel Paul
Daniel J. Paul    
Republican

Business and Personnel Management; Retail Sales and Service

District 14

Democrat
no photo provided generic silhouette
Timothy Wyatt    
Democrat

Support representative, Sustainability Committee, Citizens Traffic Advisory Committee, Democrat Committee Treasurer

Republican
Sharon M. Carson (incumbent)  
Republican

Senator, NH Senate (2008 - present); Representative, NH House of Representatives (2000 - 2008); Member, Pro-Gun New Hampshire Council of Advisors; Member, Board of Governors for the Vesta Roy Women in Government Series; State Director, Women in Government; Adjunct Faculty, Nashua Community College; Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army/U.S. Army Reserve (1978 - 1995)

District 15

Democrat
Tara Reardon
Tara Reardon (incumbent)  
Democrat

Senator, NH Senate (2024 - present); Merrimack County Commissioner, current chair; retired attorney; representative, NH House of Representatives (1997 - 2009); School Board Member; At-large City Councilor

Republican
no photo provided generic silhouette
Dennis Blankenbeker    
Republican

Senior Project Manager, AISG (2006 - 2010); Project Manager in Information Technology

District 16

Democrat
David DePuy
David DePuy    
Democrat

Attorney (retired); Candia Board of Selectmen (2012 - 2015)

Dian McCarthy
Dian McCarthy    
Democrat
Executive Director, Crispin’s House Coalition for Youth; member, Goffstown School Board (2010 - 2019)

Republican
no photo provided generic silhouette
Anthony Clements    
Republican
Keith Murphy
Keith Murphy (incumbent)  
Republican

Senator, NH Senate (2022 - present); Representative, NH House of Representatives (2010 - 2018); Selectman, City of Manchester; restaurant industry (32 years)

District 17

Democrat
no photo provided generic silhouette
Robert Lawliss    
Democrat

Republican
Howard Pearl
Howard C. Pearl (incumbent)  
Republican

Senator, NH Senate (2022 - present); Representative, NH House of Representatives (2016 - 2022); Member, Loudon ZBA (13 years); Loudon Moderator (2 years); Member, Merrimack County Farm Bureau Board of Directors; Farmer

no photo provided generic silhouette
Julie Smith    
Republican

District 18

Democrat
no photo provided generic silhouette
Leonard Bell    
Democrat

Republican
Victoria Sullivan (incumbent)  
Republican

Senator, NH Senate (2024 - present); Representative, NH House of Representatives (2014 - 2018); former Assistant Majority Leader; former Selectman, City of Manchester; Director, Freedom Staffing

District 19

Democrat
no photo provided generic silhouette
Michelle Moge    
Democrat

Republican
Regina M. Birdsell (incumbent)  
Republican

Senator, NH Senate (2014 - present); Representative, NH House of Representatives (2010 - 2014); Veteran, U.S. Coast Guard; High Tech Recruiter

District 20

Democrat
Patrick "Pat" Long (incumbent)  
Democrat

Senator, NH Senate (2024 - present); Representative, NH House of Representatives (2006 - 2024); Retired Union Ironworker; Alderman, City of Manchester (15th year); former member, Manchester Board of School Committee

no photo provided generic silhouette
Matthew Ping    
Democrat

Principal Broker and owner, Ledgeview Commercial Partners

Republican
no photo provided generic silhouette
Patrick Binder    
Republican

District 21

Democrat
Rebecca Perkins Kwoka
Rebecca Perkins Kwoka (incumbent)  
Democrat

"Rebecca has a long legacy of public service, from her 2 years with the Peace Corps in Senegal to her two terms on the Portsmouth City Council and service on Rockingham Planning Commission, the Planning Board, Workforce Housing Coalition, and as a Commissioner of the Portsmouth Housing Authority. She has been a workforce and affordable housing advocate for over a decade, starting the 603 Initiative to help keep thriving young people in New Hampshire. By day, Rebecca is General Counsel at a solar company. She is a graduate of Leadership New Hampshire and Leadership Seacoast, a member of the class of 40 under 40, and has been featured in New Hampshire Business Review and on NHPR's The Exchange."

District 22

Democrat
no photo provided generic silhouette
Chris Tardif    
Democrat

Republican
Daryl A. Abbas (incumbent)  
Republican

Senator, NH Senate (2022 - present); Representative, NH House of Representatives (2018 - 2022); Attorney, Upper Charles Law Group LLC

District 23

Democrat
no photo provided generic silhouette
David Childs    
Democrat

Republican
Bill Gannon
William "Bill" Gannon (incumbent)  
Republican

Senator, NH Senate (2016 - 2018, 2020 - present); Representative, NH House of Representatives (2014 - 2016); Construction/Contractor; Attorney; member, Sandown Planning Board

District 24

Democrat
Debra Altschiller (incumbent)  
Democrat

Senator, NH Senate (2022 - present); Representative, NH House of Representatives (3 terms); current member, NH Suicide Prevention Council; current member, Oversight Committee for Education Freedom Accounts; current member, National Alliance for Mental Health Public Policy Committee; 2024 Legislator of the Year, NAMI NH; 2024 Champion for Gun Safety Legislator; 2023 Legislative Champion Award, National Coalition on Adult Basic Education; 2021 Unity Award, General Federation of Women’s Club’s NH

Republican
Lou Gargiulo
Lou Gargiulo    
Republican

CEO & Founder, Great North Property Management; former U.S. Army Officer

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