New Hampshire voters decide Senate seat and House margins

Voters in Manchester, Nashua, and Concord are heading to polling places on Election Day to decide the composition of the U.S. House of Representatives and the state’s U.S. Senate seat. Polling hours in New Hampshire vary by municipality, with polls required to open by 11 a.m. And unable to close before 7 p.m. Local time. Residents can locate their specific polling place through vote.gov or their local election office. The state is holding elections for both of its U.S. House seats, the U.S. Senate, and the governor’s office, alongside various local measures.

The U.S. Senate race is particularly significant because it is an open seat with no incumbent running, following the retirement of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. The contest is between Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas and former Republican Sen. John E. Sununu. New Hampshire voted for Kamala Harris by a margin of 2.8 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election, marking it as a competitive battleground. The outcome will influence the balance of power in the Senate, where Republicans hold 53 seats and Democrats hold 45, plus two independents who caucus with the Democrats.

Locally, the state is also electing a governor, with incumbent Republican Kelly Ayotte on the ballot. The Associated Press notes that Republicans are defending two governorships in states that Harris won in 2024, including New Hampshire and Vermont. The gubernatorial race is part of a nationwide contest where 36 governorships are up for election. Democrats currently hold 24 governorships and Republicans hold 26, with each party holding 18 of the offices on the ballot in this cycle. The result will determine if Democrats can achieve a nationwide majority of governorships, a status they have not held since 2010.

Nationally, the election is being framed as a referendum on President Donald Trump’s second term. The Associated Press describes voters as struggling with high prices and anger over an unpopular war with Iran. AP-NORC polling indicates that 35 percent of U.S. Adults approve of Trump’s job performance, while 25 percent approve of his handling of the economy. Approximately seven in 10 Americans say the country is heading in the wrong direction. More than 57 million people had already voted as of Monday, surpassing early vote totals from four years ago in many closely watched states.

The U.S. House of Representatives is the central focus of the national race, with all 435 seats up for election. Republicans currently hold 218 seats and Democrats hold 214, with one independent and vacancies remaining. Democrats need a net gain of three districts to secure a majority, while Republicans can afford to lose no more than two seats. Ballotpedia counts 46 battleground districts, including 25 held by Democrats and 21 held by Republicans. Twenty-one districts held by Democrats voted for Trump in 2024, while nine districts held by Republicans voted for Kamala Harris.

The margin for control of the House is extremely thin, with the Associated Press noting that one or two seats could tip the chamber. Republicans were bracing to lose the House and fighting to hold the Senate, while Democrats described themselves as cautiously optimistic. The election results will determine who controls Congress for the final two years of Trump’s term. If Democrats win even one chamber, investigations and possible impeachment proceedings become likely. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has outlined a 100-day agenda focused on the cost of living and oversight if his party takes control.

In New Hampshire, the state’s congressional districts are part of this national calculation. The state’s two House seats are on the ballot, and the outcome will contribute to the national tally. Republicans tried to beat the typical midterm pattern, where a president’s party almost always loses seats, by utilizing redistricting. However, new districts in states like Florida and elsewhere may not vote as they were drawn. The national picture remains tight, with the potential for significant shifts in control depending on turnout in key states.

The mood among voters is influenced by economic concerns and political frustration. The Associated Press quotes voter James Moore, a 57-year-old librarian in Raleigh, North Carolina, who stated that he is paying more taxes and more for healthcare. Conversely, voter Mark Barker of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, expressed support for the president, saying he has been following Trump and thinks he is doing an awesome job. These sentiments reflect the divided electorate that is heading to the polls today.

Election administration has faced several legal challenges in the days leading up to the vote. A federal judge temporarily barred the Trump administration from carrying out a plan intended to prevent noncitizen voting, with critics arguing it risks disenfranchising eligible voters. The judge also ordered the administration to stop demanding that California election officials segregate ballots cast by people on lists of suspected noncitizens. The U.S. Postal Service added hours, staff, and special lines to ensure mail ballots are counted on time, a measure that supports the high volume of early voting seen across the country.

The financial aspect of the election is also notable, with the 2026 elections likely to be the most expensive in history. Republican committees outraised and outspent Democratic committees, aided by Trump-affiliated groups and Elon Musk, while Democrats outraised their opponents at the candidate level. The Associated Press analysis of AdImpact data shows that 88.1 percent of Republican general election TV ad spending went to states and districts Trump won in 2024, including more than $850 million in states where he won by 10 points or more. This spending strategy highlights the focus on retaining seats in areas that were already favorable to the Republican party.