By DAMIEN FISHER, InDepthNH.org
Call it a Blue Wave or a Red Bloodbath, it hit the Granite State hard Tuesday night as Democrats appeared likely to keep control of the federal delegation, take the majority in the State House, and looked to flip the Executive Council.
Manchester’s Democratic Congressman Chris Pappas easily won the Senate seat left open by Democrat stalwart U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s retirement. Pappas thumped former Republican Sen. John E, Sununu, with the Associated Press calling the race at 8:20 p.m. Pappas called out the negative campaign tactics used against him.
“Across the state, Granite Staters are showing the fighting spirit, the resilience and determination that we’re known for. And despite all the negative attacks, and the lies, it’s nice to know that love and truth prevail tonight,” Pappas said.
Pappas becomes the first openly gay man in U.S. history to win a Senate seat. He saw his relationship with his husband used as fodder for negative ads by Sununu’s team.
Sununu, who lost his job in the Senate to U.S. Jeanne Shaheen in another Blue Wave election, took the defeat in stride.
“This has been an incredible campaign, but it is not our night. I called Chris to congratulate him a few minutes ago. He ran a good race and more importantly we ran a good race,” Sununu said, adding how much he enjoyed it.
Granite Staters are tired of the way President Donald Trump and the Republicans in the House and Senate have operated, and they want real change, Pappas said.
“We must be committed to renewing the purpose of American democracy, and working with persistence and urgency each and every day. I’ll be honored to stand with the people of New Hampshire shoulder-to-shoulder in that work, and I’ll work with anyone who can deliver a better life for Granite Staters, and I will stand up to anyone who will take us back,” Pappas said.
The New Hampshire Senate seat is one of the key races Democrats need to win in order to fulfill their hopes of taking control of the U.S. Senate. In the House, Democrats are expected to win a sizable majority, and U.S. Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-2nd District) declared victory around 9 p.m., before any outlets had called the race, though she was easily beating Lily Tang Williams 62 percent to 35 percent with 25 percent of the votes counted.
“I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart…This is just amazing,” Goodlander told supporters Tuesday night. “I was just reading some amazing words today from an Englishman. It’s a weird way to start this speech but here goes. ‘Gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder’ and that’s exactly what I’m feeling tonight happiness and a lot of wonder.”
There was some confusion at Lily Tang Williams’s headquarters at Goodlander’s victory remarks as the race hadn’t been called.
Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s race against Democrat Cinde Warmington was close with the two trading leads throughout the night, and the vote counting continuing.
Stefany Shaheen Wins
Democrat Stefany Shaheen had a comfortable lead over Republican Anthony DiLorenzo in the race for the 1st Congressional District seat, beating him 59 percent to 41 percent with 45 percent of the votes counted. And the race was soon called for her.
She praised her four children, her husband and her mother Sen. Jeanne Shaheen saying they inspired her, and thanked them and all of the people who helped in her campaign.
Of her children, Stefany Shaheen said: “They are my source of inspiration. They give me incredible pride every day.”
She spoke passionately about the needs of New Hampshire people, including affordable childcare, affordable housing, “public education for every kid,” a woman’s right to make her own healthcare decisions, fair wages that can support a family, clean air and water free from cancer causing chemicals and “innovation that lifts us all up.”
“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, New Hampshire,” Shaheen said.
The Executive Council races showed Democrats in the lead in all five contests with results still being counted. If that holds, that means the four Republican Executive Councilors, Joe Kenney in District 1, Janet Stevens in District 3, John Stephen in District 4, and Dave Wheeler in District 5 will all be booted from their positions. Incumbent Karen Liot Hill, (D-District 2) is expected to keep her seat.
House Majority Leader Jason Osborne’s committee released the following news release about Democrats winning the state House:
“Democrats Won the House. Now They Own Every Tax Hike.“
“Democrats spent this campaign hiding from their own record. This spring they put the largest tax hike in New Hampshire history on the House floor. They voted against requiring a two-thirds vote before anyone can raise your taxes. And they have already filed bills to create new taxes next session. That is the majority New Hampshire just elected.
“So let’s be clear about what comes next. Every time this majority reaches for your paycheck, your property tax bill or your wallet at the register, Republicans will be there, and we will make sure every voter knows who voted for it. Every roll call. Every member. Every town.
“Not one Republican will vote for an income tax. Not one Republican will vote for a sales tax. Not one Republican will vote to gut the property tax cap. If Democrats want to tax New Hampshire, they will own it alone,” the release said.
Damien Fisher, Zach Laird, Nancy West, Paula Tracy, and Katharine Webster all contributed to this report.