The 2020 New Hampshire Senate elections took place as part of the biennial 2020 United States elections. New Hampshire voters elected state senators in all of the state's 24 senate districts. State senators serve two-year terms in the New Hampshire Senate, with all of the seats up for election each cycle. The primary elections on September 8, 2020, determined which candidates will appear on the November 3, 2020, general election ballot.
Following the 2018 election, Democrats had control of the New Hampshire Senate with 14 seats to Republicans' 10 seats. Following the 2020 election, the Republicans flipped four seats and thus control of the chamber alongside flipping the New Hampshire House of Representatives.[1][2][3][4]
^ abcNot seeking reelection, therefore this seat is open.
Outgoing incumbents[]
Retiring[]
Martha Hennessey (D–Hanover), representing District 5 since 2016, announced in May 2020 that she would be retiring at the end of her term to spend more time with her family.[5]
Martha Fuller Clark (D–Portsmouth), representing District 21 since 2012 (and from 2004 to 2010), announced in May 2020 that she would be retiring from the legislature.[6]
Seeking another office[]
Dan Feltes (D–Concord), representing District 15 since 2014, is not seeking reelection to the Senate in order to run for governor of New Hampshire. Feltes won the primary and faced incumbent Chris Sununu in the general election.
Defeated in primary[]
David Starr (R–Franconia), representing District 1 since 2018, was defeated in the Republican primary by New Hampshire House of Representatives member Erin Hennessey.[7]
State Senate District 2 general election, 2020 [2]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Bob Giuda (incumbent)
17,661
55.83
Democratic
Bill Bolton
13,974
44.17
Total votes
District 3[]
Candidates[]
Republican
Jeb Bradley, incumbent state senator since 2009, former Majority Leader (2010-2018), former U.S. Representative from New Hampshire's 1st congressional district (2003-2007)
Democratic
Theresa Swanick, Effingham elected official and candidate for state representative in Carroll District 5 in 2016 and 2018
Results[]
State Senate District 3 general election, 2020 [3]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Jeb Bradley (incumbent)
22,086
61.50
Democratic
Theresa Swanick
13,826
38.50
Total votes
District 4[]
Candidates[]
Democratic
David H. Watters, incumbent state senator since 2012
Republican
Frank Bertone, former Libertarian candidate for state representative Strafford District 4 in 2018
Results[]
State Senate District 4 general election, 2020 [4]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
David H. Watters (incumbent)
19,218
61.35
Republican
Frank Bertone
12,106
38.65
Total votes
District 5[]
Candidates[]
Democratic
Beatriz Pastor, former state representative for Grafton District 12 (2008-2014)
Sue Prentiss, former Lebanon Mayor, current Lebanon councilwoman and paramedic
State Senate District 5 general election, 2020 [5]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Sue Prentiss
20,393
66.46
Republican
Timothy O'Hearne
10,293
33.54
Total votes
District 6[]
Candidates[]
Republican
James Gray, incumbent state senator since 2016
Democratic
Christopher Rice, Rochester councilman
Results[]
State Senate District 6 general election, 2020 [6]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
James Gray (incumbent)
17,290
57.77
Democratic
Christopher Rice
12,638
42.23
Total votes
District 7[]
Candidates[]
Republican
Harold F. French, incumbent state senator since 2016
Democratic
, former state representative for Belknap District 3 (February–December 2018)
Results[]
State Senate District 7 general election, 2020 [7]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Harold F. French (incumbent)
17,978
58.66
Democratic
Philip Spagnuolo Jr.
12,672
41.34
Total votes
District 8[]
Candidates[]
Republican
Ruth Ward, incumbent state senator since 2016
Democratic
Jenn Alford-Teaster, researcher and candidate for District 8 in 2018
Results[]
State Senate District 8 general election, 2020 [8]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Ruth Ward (incumbent)
18,903
55.57
Democratic
Jenn Alford-Teaster
15,114
44.43
Total votes
District 9[]
Candidates[]
Democratic
Jeanne Dietsch, incumbent state senator since 2018
Republican
Denise Ricciardi, Bedford councilwoman
Results[]
State Senate District 9 general election, 2020 [9]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Denise Ricciardi
17,920
50.58
Democratic
Jeanne Dietsch (incumbent)
17,508
49.42
Total votes
District 10[]
Candidates[]
Democratic
Jay Kahn, incumbent state senator since 2016
Republican
Dan LeClair, businessman and candidate for District 10 in 2018.
Results[]
State Senate District 10 general election, 2020 [10]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Jay Kahn (incumbent)
18,853
62.55
Republican
Dan LeClair
11,289
37.45
Total votes
District 11[]
Candidates[]
Democratic
Shannon Chandley, incumbent state senator since 2018
Republican
Gary Daniels, former state senator from District 11 (2016-2018)
Results[]
State Senate District 11 general election, 2020 [11]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Gary Daniels
17 457
50.29
Democratic
Shannon Chandley (incumbent)
17 259
49.71
Total votes
34,716
100
District 12[]
Candidates[]
Democratic
Melanie Levesque, incumbent state senator since 2018
Republican
Kevin Avard, former state senator from District 12 (2014-2018)
Results[]
State Senate District 12 general election, 2020 [12]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Kevin Avard
17,449
51.22
Democratic
Melanie Levesque (incumbent)
16,619
48.78
Total votes
34,068
100
District 13[]
Candidates[]
Democratic
Cindy Rosenwald, incumbent state senator since 2018
Republican
Mariellen MacKay, former Democratic state representative for Hillsborough District 30 (2012-2018), Republican candidate for Hillsborough District 30 in 2018
Results[]
State Senate District 13 general election, 2020 [13]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Cindy Rosenwald (incumbent)
15,434
58.49
Republican
Mariellen MacKay
10,952
41.51
Total votes
26,386
100
District 14[]
Candidates[]
Republican
Sharon Carson, incumbent state senator since 2008, former President pro tempore of the New Hampshire Senate (2014-2018)
Democratic
Nancy Hendricks, former Londonderry School Board chair
Results[]
State Senate District 14 general election, 2020 [14]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Sharon Carson (incumbent)
19,082
58.87
Democratic
Nancy Hendricks
13 330
41.13
Total votes
32 412
100
District 15[]
Candidates[]
Democratic
Candace Bouchard, former Concord councilwoman and former state representative for Merrimack District 18 (1998-2014)
State Senate District 17 general election, 2020 [17]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
John Reagan (incumbent)
20,250
60.07
Democratic
Nancy Fraher
13,462
39.93
Total votes
33,712
100
District 18[]
Candidates[]
Democratic
Donna Soucy, incumbent state senator since 2012, incumbent Senate President since December 2018
Republican
George Lambert, former state representative for Hillsborough District 44 (2010-2014), former candidate for Governor (2014), candidate for District 18 in 2018.
Ross Terrio, former Manchester School Board member (2013-2020), former state representative for Hillsborough District 14 (2010-2012)