By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD – Saying he was “sidelined by the Republican Party,” state Representative David Nagel of Gilmanton announced Wednesday he is leaving them and joining the Democratic party in the New Hampshire State House.
And with that, there are now 177 Democrats in the House and 216 Republicans.
Nagel represents Gilmanton, Gilford and Laconia’s Ward 2 voters.
A physician and author whose specialty is treating patients with chronic pain, Nagel is in his second term. He was the only doctor on the House Health and Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee when he was stripped of that seat in 2025 by Republican leadership after he voted on a vaccine related bill.
He will now join Rep. Charlie St. Clair, D-Laconia, as lone two Democrats in the entire Belknap County delegation.
House Democratic Leader Alexis Simpson, D-Exeter, welcomed the news during a video press conference Wednesday.
“For years, Republicans in New Hampshire have embraced a toxic brand of politics, and it should come as a shock to no one that their own members are fleeing the party. The lies of the NHGOP precede them.
“Let’s not forget, they campaigned on making life less expensive for Granite Staters, and instead, Jason Osborne and his Republican followers have raised costs at every turn as they cut funding for health care, housing, and public education.
“When sitting Republicans can no longer defend what their party has become, that should set off alarm bells. We welcome leaders like Rep. Nagel, who are ready to stand up for Granite Staters rather than kowtowing to GOP dysfunction,” Simpson said.
Nagel said he could not wait to change his party affiliation to the next election and said the Republican leadership is the reason for his decision to defect.
Nagel has sponsored 17 bills this year, mostly related to health issues and had three sponsored bills signed by the governor last year.
Last year, he told InDepthNH.org he was removed from his committee assignment because he refused to vote along party lines. He voted against ending the NH Vaccination Administration on the House floor which narrowly passed 189-181 (HB 524).
Nagel was endorsed by Citizens for Belknap County in both of his runs for office. It was formed by citizens from across the political spectrum with the common purpose of restoring reasonable, responsible and representative government to our county, according to its website.
Nagel ran on a campaign theme to “return to sensibility” and of the four selected to represent Belknap County District 6 he was the second highest vote getter behind Rep. Harry Bean, R-Gilford who received 4,979 votes in November, 2024 and Nagel received 4,731.
New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley released the following statement:
“Another day, another L for Jason Osborne and his GOP lap dogs. From DC to Concord, the GOP’s wildly out-of-touch, extremist agenda is wreaking havoc on Granite Staters, so much so that their own members are starting to jump ship.”
The House Republican Party did not immediately respond to a request for comment.