Plaistow, Rockingham County, NH
Plaistow Fish and Game Club
18 May Ray Ave.
Plaistow, NH 03865
United States
145 Main Street
Plaistow, NH 03865
United States
US President
NH Governor
US Senate (2 seats)
US House NH District 1
NH Executive Council District 3
NH Senate District 22
NH House Rockingham 20 (3 seats)
NH House Rockingham 36 (Floterial)
2026 NH Gubernatorial Primary
Voting Date:
Democrat
Newmarket Town Council; Zoning Board of Adjustment; small business owner
After losing the Democratic primary for governor in 2024, Jonathan Kiper launched a 2026 campaign as an independent candidate. However, after many months without a Democratic challenger for Ayotte, in September 2025 Kiper announced he was going to run as a Democrat again. He wrote, "I'm running for governor to address the three most pressing issues in our state which are: unsustainable property tax increases, a lack of affordable housing and the unconstitutional system of funding public education which sees the poorest towns in our state, paying the most and the rich paying the least towards public education."
Republican
Governor of NH (2025 - present); Senator, US Senate (2011 - 2016); NH Attorney General (2004 - 2009)
Kelly Ayotte has vowed to keep New Hampshire on the "Sununu path." Like former Governor Chris Sununu, she has bucked her party on some hot issues. For example, she vetoed a bill that would have allowed some spaces to segregate based on biological sex (HB 148). That independent streak makes her more appealing to voters in the middle, and so far no Republicans are challenging her reelection. She has also focused on law-and-order issues in her first year as governor, tightening bail laws and restoring retirement benefits to law enforcement.
2026 US Senate Primary
Voting Date:
Democrat
Medical scientist; nonprofit leader
Karishma Manzur made a splash when she announced a challenge from the left for Democrat Pappas, who has represented New Hampshire in Washington since 2018. On her website Manzur proclaims, "As the first female PhD scientist ever elected to the U.S. Senate, Karishma will bring scientific leadership to strengthen our economy, protect public health, and keep America at the forefront of medical research."
Representative, U.S. House of Representatives (2018 - present); Executive Councilor (2012 - 2018); Representative, NH House of Representatives (2002 - 2006); Co-Owner, Puritan Backroom Restaurant; Treasurer, Hillsborough County
Chris Pappas has served as a U.S. Representative since 2018 and previously served on New Hampshire’s Executive Council. (His family is also known for their world-famous chicken tenders at the Puritan Backroom Restaurant in Manchester.) In Congress, Pappas has positioned himself as a moderate, occasionally breaking with his party on high-profile votes such as the Laken Riley Act and the Middle Class Borrower Protection Act. In 2024, Pappas won reelection to the U.S. House. He is now seeking to move up to the U.S. Senate in 2026.
Representative, NH House of Representatives (2022 - present); Real Estate Economist, CBRE; Head of Research, Bridge Industrial; Self-Employed, Real Estate Consulting & Development Firm; "This is my first experience in politics."
Jared Sullivan is a current state representative from the North Country. When asked on WMUR why he chose to challenge Chris Pappas, Rep. Sullivan said, "I'm trying to give an alternative, somebody who actually is willing to stand up and fight and use their voice. And I don't think he's done that."
Republican
U.S. Senator from Massachusetts 2010-2012, Senator MA State Senate 2004-2010, Representative MA House of Representatives 1998-2004, Selectman for Town of Wrentham, Lieutenant Colonel MA National Guard, attorney
Scott Brown, a former U.S. Senator from Massachusetts and U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand, is mounting a political comeback in New Hampshire. “I’m running for the United States Senate to restore common sense, keep our border secure, and fight for our New Hampshire values,” Brown said. He previously ran for Senate in New Hampshire in 2014 but lost to Jeanne Shaheen.
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
Dan Innis is a three-term Republican state senator from Bradford, a former UNH professor and dean, and the owner of Trails End Farm. He previously ran in the 2014 and 2016 GOP primaries for New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District. Announcing his 2026 Senate bid, Innis said, "People need information to make good decisions, and they need to pick the candidate that's going to deliver the most value to them. That candidate is me."
Sen. Innis dropped out of the race in September 2025 and threw his support behind John E. Sununu - a candidate who has yet to enter the race.
Representative, U.S. House of Representatives (1997 - 2003); Senator, U.S. Senate (2003 - 2009)
John E. Sununu, a former Republican U.S. Senator and three-term congressman, hopes to win back the Senate seat he once held. First elected to the Senate in 2002 after defeating then-Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, he later lost to her in their 2008 rematch. In launching his 2026 campaign, Sununu said Congress has become “loud, dysfunctional, even angry,” and that he wants to “help calm the waters.” After nearly two decades in the private sector, Sununu is emphasizing civility, fiscal discipline, and practical problem-solving as he seeks to re-enter public service.
2026 US House Primary
Voting Date:
District 1
Democrat
Vice Chair, Hampton Select Board; Assistant Director of Undergraduate Studies in Religion, Harvard College; adjunct lecturer
Carleigh Beriont serves on the Hampton selectboard and teaches at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. She is running for Congress in 2026 with a focus on social and environmental justice. “A lot of mornings, I wake up angry,” Beriont said. “I wake up angry that we don’t have paid parental leave, that we don’t have Medicare for all. I wake up angry about the way that corporate polluters are treating our planet.”
Board Member and Treasurer, American Coalition for Ukraine; Executive Director, Dattalion (2022 - 2023); Educator/Guide, Gaia Education Outreach Institute (2020 - 2022)
Sarah Chadzynski, a nonprofit director and former teacher from Lyndeborough, launched her 2026 campaign outside the Strafford County jail—home to New Hampshire’s only ICE detention facility. She described her campaign as "a movement," and called on voters to stand united for basic human rights. Chadzynski previously ran for the state House in 2024.
Representative, NH House of Representatives (2022 - present); Strafford County Delegation Executive Committee (2022-Present)
Heath Howard, age 25, is a two‑term Democratic state representative from Strafford who entered the race emphasizing universal health care, free college tuition, affordable housing, and a living wage. A teenager when he suffered a debilitating back injury, Howard says the disabled community “needs younger voices in Washington, D.C.” who understand firsthand how policy affects people's lives.
Portsmouth City Council (2014 - 2016); Chair, Portsmouth Police Commission (2019 - 2024); Co-Founder and President, Good Measures (2011 - present); author
Stefany Shaheen is a former Portsmouth city councilor and daughter of U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. “For 15 years I’ve been a fierce fighter for medical research and innovation in health care to help people like my daughter, Elle, battling chronic, life-threatening diseases, like diabetes,” she said. Shaheen framed her run as a response to proposed federal cuts: “When I see Donald Trump crushing medical research and slashing health care… I have to fight back.”
Former Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs; U.S. Marine Corps veteran
Maura Sullivan is a former Marine and Obama administration official who previously ran for Congress in 2018. She is running again in 2026, saying, “The First Congressional District needs a member of Congress who will help usher in a new generation of leadership focused on lowering costs, investing in economic innovation, and helping to create a sense of security and stability.”
Attorney; Captain, Army National Guard; former Special Counsel at the Pentagon; Director - Community Policy, Airbnb
Christian Urrutia is an executive at Airbnb, a former attorney in the Biden administration, and a Captain in the New Hampshire Army National Guard. He grew up in Hudson and now lives in Moultonborough. In his campaign announcement, Urrutia criticized both Republican and Democratic leaders for favoring insiders over working families, saying, “Insiders profit — everyday people pay the price. I’m not running for Congress to join that game. I’m running against it.”
Republican
Vice Chair, Bedford GOP Committee
Melissa Bailey is a banking and finance professional turned stay-at-home mom and vice chair of the Bedford Republican Committee. She has said one of her top issues is helping expand federal school-choice policies. Bailey is a New Hampshire native who recently returned to the state after living and working around the country.
Representative, NH House of Representatives (2022 - present); member, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee; CEO, JC International; Chairman, Manchester Republican Committee; Chairman, Common Sense Conservatives PAC
Brian Cole is a two-term Republican state representative from Manchester’s Ward 7, serving on the House Commerce Committee and formerly chairing the Manchester Republican Committee. He runs JC International, a Manchester-based wholesaler. In his announcement, he said he wants to lower the cost of living, secure the border, and rebuild New Hampshire's industrial base. “Under President Trump’s leadership, America’s officially back,” Cole said in his announcement, adding, “We need allies in Washington who won’t fold under pressure,” and pledging to prioritize “family, faith, and freedom” in Congress.
Owner, Key Auto Group
Anthony DiLorenzo is a prominent seacoast businessman who has worked behind the scenes supporting Republicans for many years. He wrote on Facebook, "The greatest decision I ever made in business was choosing to build my life in New Hampshire. This state has given me a lot, but I am deeply concerned that the next generation will not have the same opportunities to live their American Dream as I did. While the people struggle, Washington is divided; stuck on the wrong issues, and lacking common sense. I am running to change that."
Former President, New Hampshire Federation of Republican Women
Elizabeth Girard was head of the New Hampshire Federation of Republican Women until 2023, when she endorsed Donald Trump. She later served as co-chair of Trump's New Hampshire campaign. That could give her a boost among Trump supporters, but Girard's endorsement broke tradition for the Federation of Republican Women and created local rifts.
Owner, Novel Iron Works; Captain, U.S. Army Reserve (8 years); registered nurse
Hollie Noveletsky is a business owner and former U.S. Army reservist. Her website states, "My experiences as a CEO, nurse, Army Reserves veteran, and policy advocate for Buy American initiatives have prepared me to fight for our values in Washington. I know what it takes to grow jobs, strengthen American industry, and stand up for working families." She also ran for Congress in 2024.