United States House of Representatives elections in New Hampshire, 2008

The 2008 congressional elections in New Hampshire will be held on November 4, 2008 to determine who will represent the state of New Hampshire in the United States House of Representatives. New Hampshire has two seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 111th Congress from January 4, 2009 until January 3, 2011. The election coincides with the 2008 U.S. presidential election. The primary election was held on September 9, 2008.

District 1

This district covers the southeastern and eastern portions of New Hampshire. The district consists of three general areas: Greater Manchester, the Seacoast and the Lakes Region.

Democrat Carol Shea-Porter squeaked into Congress by a 51% to 49% margin against incumbent Republican Jeb Bradley in one of the greatest upsets of the 2006 election cycle. In January 2007, Bradley announced his intent to seek a rematch in 2008. He faced and defeated Former Assistant Attorney General and Department of Health and Human Services commissioner John Stephen in a close Republican primary. Shea-Porter did not face a primary challenge. George W. Bush narrowly won this district with 51% to 49% for John Kerry in 2004 (CPVI=R+0). CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Leans Democratic'; The Rothenberg Political Report ranks the race as 'Toss Up/Tilts Democratic'; The Cook Political Report lists the race as a 'Toss Up'.

Republican Primary

Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Jeb Bradley
votes = 18,559
percentage = 51.04%
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = John Stephen
votes = 16,766
percentage = 46.11%
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Geoff Michael
votes = 534
percentage = 1.47%
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Dave Jarvis
votes = 414
percentage = 1.14%
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Independent (politician)
candidate = Other
votes = 89*
percentage = 0.24%
change = Election box turnout
votes = 36,362
percentage = 100%
change =
* This includes 46 votes for incumbent Democratic Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter.

General Election

Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Jeb Bradley
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Carol Shea-Porter (Incumbent)
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Libertarian Party (United States)
candidate = Robert Kingsbury
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box turnout
votes =
percentage =
change =

Opinion Polling

The University of New Hampshire's Granite State Poll conducted in July found that incumbent Representative Carol Shea-Porter had a +3% net favorability rating in the district (35% favorable, 32% unfavorable, 9% neutral, and 24% did not know enough about her) while Former Representative Jeb Bradley had a net favorability rating of +21% (48% favorable, 27% unfavorable, 8% neutral, and 17% did not know enough about him). The majority of Republicans supported Bradley, Democrats supported Shea-Porter, and Independents were leaning toward Bradley (40% to 26%). Shea-Porter led among women (46% to 36%) and Bradley led among men (56% to 34%).

In September, the fall Granite State Poll found that Shea-Porter's net favorability had increased to +13% (44% favorable, 31% unfavorable, 5% neutral, and 20% did not know enough about her), while Bradley's favorability has fallen to +7% (36% favorable, 29% unfavorable, 14% neutral, and 21% did not know enough about him). The majority of Republicans supported Bradley, Democrats supported Shea-Porter, and Independents were leaning toward Bradley (44% to 38%). Shea-Porter continued to lead among women (50% to 39%) and Bradley maintained his lead among men (52% to 32%).

Current Candidate Websites
* Carol Shea-Porter (D) of Strafford - Incumbent ( [http://sheaporter.com/ campaign website] )
* Jeb Bradley (R) of Wolfeboro ( [http://www.jebforcongress.com/ campaign website] )
* Bob Kingsbury (L) of Laconia ( [http://www.bobkingsbury.org/ campaign website] )

Former Candidate Websites
* John Stephen (R) of Manchester ( [http://www.johnstephen.com/ campaign website] )
* Geoff Michael (R) of Merrimack ( [http://geoffmichael.com/ campaign website] )
* Dave Jarvis (R) of Hooksett ( [http://davejarviscongress.com/ campaign website] )
* Peter Bearse (I) of Fremont ( [http://www.peterbearseforcongress.com/ campaign website] )

District 2

This district consists of the western and northern portions of the state, including New Hampshire's capital city, Concord, and the state's second-largest city, Nashua. In 2006, Democrat Paul Hodes upended Republican incumbent Charlie Bass with a 53% to 45% victory. In 2008, Jennifer Horn, a radio talk show host, [ [http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/departments/newsroom/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003697086 mediainfo.com] ] won the Republican primary against former Congressional Aide Grant Bosse, State Senator Bob Clegg, businessman Jim Steiner and Alfred L'Eplattenier. [Brooks, Scott [http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Horn+tops+3+foes+in+Republican+race&articleId=b7ade4ce-bbb6-4781-b82a-d32fa4cc4e8d Horn tops 3 foes in Republican race] "New Hampshire Union Leader, September 10, 2008] John Kerry narrowly won the district with 52% of the vote in 2004 (CPVI=D+3). CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Democrat Favored'.

Republican Primary

Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Jennifer Horn
votes = 12,667
percentage = 40.29%
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Bob Clegg
votes = 10,731
percentage = 34.13%
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Jim Steiner
votes = 4,561
percentage = 14.51%
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Grant Bosse
votes = 2,944
percentage = 9.36%
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Alfred L'Eplattenier
votes = 540
percentage = 1.72%
change = Election box turnout
votes = 31,443
percentage = 100%
change =

* 97% of precincts reporting (9/10/08).

General Election

Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Jennifer Horn
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Paul Hodes (Incumbent)
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Libertarian Party (United States)
candidate = Chester L. Lapointe, II
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box turnout
votes =
percentage =
change =

;Current candidates:Paul Hodes (D) - Incumbent ( [http://www.hodesforcongress.com/ campaign website] ):Jennifer Horn (R) ( [http://www.jenniferhorn.org/ campaign website] ):Chester L. Lapointe, II (L) ( [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=35540888 campaign website] );Former candidates:Grant Bosse (R) ( [http://bosse2008.com/ campaign website] ):Robert Clegg, Jr. (R) ( [http://cleggforcongress.com/ campaign website] ):Jim Steiner (R) ( [http://www.joinjim2008.com/ campaign website] ):Alfred L'Eplattenier (R) ( [http://www.borderssecure.com/ campaign website] )
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-NH-02 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=NH02&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

References

External links

* [http://www.sos.nh.gov/electionsnew.html Election Division] from the "New Hampshire Secretary of State"
* [http://www.votesmart.org/election_congress_state.php?state_id=NH&go33.x=6&go33.y=8 U.S. Congress candidates for New Hampshire] at Project Vote Smart
* [http://www.2008racetracker.com/page/New+Hampshire New Hampshire U.S. House Races] from "2008 Race Tracker"
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/election.php?state=NH Campaign contributions for New Hampshire congressional races] from "OpenSecrets.org"
** [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=NH01&cycle=2008 District 1 campaign contributions] from "OpenSecrets.org"
** [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=NH02&cycle=2008 District 2 campaign contributions] from "OpenSecrets.org"
* [http://www.unionleader.com/channel.aspx/Politics?channel=483ae2ee-1a2c-4acb-a4d0-af74b0d4b553 Politics] from "New Hampshire Union Leader";Race rankings
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-NH-01 District 1 race ranking and details] from "CQ Politics"
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-NH-02 District 2 race ranking and details] from "CQ Politics"
* [http://cookpolitical.com/races/house/chart.php House rankings] from "The Cook Political Report"
* [http://rothenbergpoliticalreport.blogspot.com/2008/04/2008-house-ratings.html 2008 House Ratings] from "Rothenberg Political Report"

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list= United States House elections in New Hampshire 2008
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