16 recounts for New Hampshire House races underway

After last week’s dramatic elections, 16 candidates called for recounts in their state House races.

The results saw major gains for Democrats and a radically shifted New Hampshire State House. Before Election Day, Republicans held a 215-177 majority; that will shift to a 291-108 Democratic majority with the new Legislature. However, that’s pending the recounts, which could swing that split slightly. 

In the state Senate, where Democrats gained seven seats to take a 15-9 majority, no candidates requested recounts. 

With 424 seats between the House and Senate, New Hampshire has the largest state legislature in the United States. Many House districts overlap with one another, and in some towns, voters pick more than one candidate each.

State law allows candidates who lose the initial count by 20% or less of the total votes to request a recount by the Friday following an election. Some lost by as few as two votes.

On Monday, a team of Secretary of State’s Office employees and volunteers convened at the State Archives building in Concord to recount the ballots. Additionally, poll watchers from both parties arrived to observe the process. If any watcher takes issue with the way a ballot was counted, they can take it up with the state’s Ballot Law Commission.

Secretary of State David Scanlan said he anticipates recounts taking two weeks. He said they’ll work every weekday except Wednesday, which is Veterans Day. Two recounts had been completed as of Tuesday afternoon.

Here are the races being recounted, per the Secretary of State’s Office:

• In a district that includes Barrington, New Durham and Strafford, Republican Michael Harington defeated Thom Flynn, 4,677 votes to 4,649, in the first count.
• In a district that includes Loudon, Boscawen and Canterbury, Democrat Harold Tuttle defeated Republican Alvin See, 4,908 to 4,792, in the first count.
• In a district that includes Grafton, Alexandria and Hebron, Republican Jake Abuhav defeated Democrat Roger Larochelle Jr., 1,130 to 1,137, in the first count.
• In a Farmington four-way race, Republicans Andy Dow and Packy Campbell won in the first count. However, Campbell earned 1,167 votes — just two ahead of Democrat Brian Beaverstock’s 1,165 votes. That recount has already been completed and it reaffirmed the winners.
• In a district that includes Moultonborough, Brookfield and Tamworth, there was another four-way race for two seats. There, Republican Colin Mitchell and Democrat George Randell won the two seats in the first count. However, Randell earned 5,070 votes — again only two more than the third-place candidate Republican Tammy Garthwaite’s 5,068 votes. That recount has also been completed and reaffirmed the winners.
• In Franklin Wards 1, 2 and 3, there was a four-way race for two seats. There, Democrat Scott Burns (1,571 votes) and Republican Michael Visconti (1358) won the two seats in the first count. However, Democrat Vivian Marie Hall came within three votes at 1355.
• In Kingston, there was a three-way race for two seats. There, Republican Ken Weyler (2,159 votes) and Democrat Paul Paone (2,086 votes) defeated Republican Pam Brown (2,084) in the first count — another two-vote difference.

  

• In Salem, there was a 12-way race for nine seats. There, Republicans Lorie Ball (7,235 votes), Joe Sweeney (6,929), Susan Vandecasteele (6,849), John Sytek (6,705), John Janigan (6,644), Valerie McDonnell (6,443), George Kassas (6,392), Dennis Mannion (6,116) and Democrat Donna Loranger (5,954) won in the first count. However, Republican Edward Huminick fell just shy of Loranger with 5,947 votes.
• In Derry, there was a 20-way race for 10 seats. There, Democrats Kristine Trow (5,876 votes), Jamie Carreau (5,757), Matthew Glavin (5,745), Hollie Hesse (5,602), Jim Marshall (5,570), Haley Carreau (5,537), David Provencher (5,520), and Paula Mahon d’Entremont (5,360) as well as Republicans Charles Foote (5,583) and Brian Chirichiello (5,370) won the first count. However, Republican Jodi Nelson came just two votes short of a seat with 5,358 votes. 
• In a district that includes Littleton, Sugar Hill and Lyman, there was a six-way race for three seats. There, Democrat Linda Massimilla (2,526 votes) and Timothy Egan (2,351) as well as Republican Andrew Dorsett (2,226) won the three seats in the first count. Democrat Joseph Goderic Beaulieu earned 2,209 votes.
• In a district that includes Andover, Danbury and Webster, there was a four-way race for two seats. There, Democrats Thomas Ware (2,939 votes) and Lorna Carlisle (1,926) won the two seats. Republican Louise Andrus earned 1,910 votes.
• In a district that includes Gilmanton, Gilford and part of Laconia, there was an eight-way race for four seats. There, Democrats David Nagel (3,492), Bob McLean (3,436) and Lisa Rivard (3,283) as well as Republican Jade Wood (3,353) won the first count. Republican Priscilla Bean won 3,259 votes.