N.H. Senate And House Results Show Democrats Take House; Republicans Take Senate

A lot is still unknown about the composition of New Hampshire’s next legislature — and what it will mean for New Hampshire’s economy.  As many as 60 recounts could be necessary to determine who will make up the state’s 400 House members and 24 Senators. 

Nevertheless, preliminary results point to a Democratic majority in the House, with a margin of 221:178. As political scientist Dante Scala told Laura Knoy on NHPR’s The Exchange this morning, “Speaker O’Brien won’t be the Speaker if he doesn’t have a majority to lead.”  Although O’Brien will remain in the House, his absence as Speaker could have a moderating affect on the Republican party in general. Scala says this big question remains: who are the Republicans who are going to return to the legislature, and are they less conservative than the 2010 version?”

In the state Senate, Republicans are looking at either a 13:11 majority, with likely recounts in two very close districts — Districts 16 (Boutin/Kelley) and 9 (Sanborn/Nyquist). Both districts went to GOP candidates by fewer than 500 votes.