NH Senate race joins 13 battlegrounds as polls open in Manchester

Polls across New Hampshire opened at varying times today, with municipalities required to have polls open by 11 a.m. And close no earlier than 7 p.m. Residents in Manchester, Nashua, and Concord are heading to the polls to decide the state's open U.S. Senate seat and the governor's race. The state also has every U.S. House seat on the ballot, along with state and local offices and measures that vary by county.

The New Hampshire Senate race is one of 13 battlegrounds identified by Ballotpedia for the 35 seats up for election. The Associated Press notes that Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas faces former Republican Sen. John E. Sununu for the seat vacated by retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. In the 2024 presidential election, New Hampshire voted for Kamala Harris by a margin of 2.8 percent, making it a competitive contest in this midterm cycle.

New Hampshire voters are also choosing a governor, with incumbent Republican Kelly Ayotte running for re-election. The Associated Press identifies New Hampshire as one of two states where Republicans defend governorships in areas that Kamala Harris won in 2024. The other such state is Vermont. Democrats hope to hold a majority of governorships for the first time in two decades, a position Republicans have held since 2010.

The election is being viewed as a referendum on President Donald Trump's second term. Voters are described 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 about seven in 10 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.

Republicans currently hold 53 Senate seats, while Democrats hold 45 seats plus two independents who caucus with Democrats. Democrats need a net gain of four seats to take control of the Senate. Republicans can afford to lose only two seats. One or two seats could tip the chamber, with Republicans bracing to lose the House and fighting to hold the Senate.

Of the 35 seats up for election, 33 are regular elections and two are special elections for the remainder of the terms held by Marco Rubio in Florida and JD Vance in Ohio. Eleven senators, four Democrats and seven Republicans, are not running again. Winners of these races will begin six-year terms on January 3, 2027. The Trump administration filed a lawsuit in Alaska related to the certification of the Senate result.

In the U.S. House, all 435 seats are up for election. Republicans hold 218 seats and Democrats 214, with one independent and vacancies. Democrats need a net gain of three districts for a majority, while Republicans can lose no more than two. Ballotpedia counts 46 battleground districts, with 25 held by Democrats and 21 by Republicans. The Associated Press notes that 21 Democratic-held districts voted for Trump in 2024, while nine Republican-held districts voted for Kamala Harris.

The 2026 elections are likely to be the most expensive in history. Republican committees outraised and outspent Democratic committees, aided by Trump-affiliated groups and Elon Musk. However, at the candidate level, Democrats outraised their opponents. An 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. This includes more than $850 million in areas where he won by 10 points or more.

RNC Chairman Joe Gruters stated that everything depends on turnout, adding that if they turn out their voters, they win. DCCC Chair Rep. Suzan DelBene said the American people are angry and want change. In Salina, Kansas, President Trump held a rally Sunday where he told voters to pretend he was on the ballot. His schedule included stops in Mississippi, South Carolina, and Texas, though many Republican candidates kept their distance.

A federal judge temporarily barred the Trump administration from carrying out a plan to prevent noncitizen voting. The administration is also facing legal challenges regarding the segregation of ballots cast by people on lists of suspected noncitizens in California. The U.S. Postal Service added hours, staff, and special lines to ensure mail ballots are counted on time. Reuters notes that Wall Street is watching the results for potential impacts on investor concerns about AI spending and debt ceiling negotiations.

Voters in New Hampshire should check their specific municipality's poll hours, as they vary by town. Anyone in line when polls close is entitled to vote, according to USA.gov. ID rules vary by state, and voters are advised to check local rules before going. The state's ballot also includes a constitutional amendment to eliminate the office of the register of probate.