Well, New Hampshire. That escalated quickly.
Grab a cup of coffee in for the first (and last…more on that below 👀) email edition of the State House Skinny. Featuring an election recap, and a little announcement of our own.
If there's one thing we know about Granite State politics, it's that you should never get too comfortable with the status quo. But even by New Hampshire standards, yesterday was something else entirely…
The much-anticipated national blue wave didn't just make a stop in New Hampshire. It crashed into Concord, dramatically reshaping the political landscape and setting the stage for what could be one of the most interesting legislative sessions in recent memory.
Democrats swept our congressional races, flipped control of both legislative chambers, and appear to have secured every seat on the Executive Council. Meanwhile, Republican Governor Kelly Ayotte managed to buck the statewide trend and win reelection - an impressive stat given what we saw in the national landscape.
A Democratic legislature. A Republican governor. A whole lot of new faces under the gold dome. The plot has officially thickened.
And while we're still processing the sheer magnitude of yesterday's results, let's break down WTF actually happened, what it means, and why you should care.
New Hampshire didn't just participate in the national blue wave. We made some history of our own.
Chris Pappas is headed to the U.S. Senate. The Manchester native defeated former Senator John E. Sununu to succeed retiring Senator Jeanne Shaheen, becoming the first openly gay man ever elected to the U.S. Senate. A major milestone for representation and one that puts New Hampshire in the national history books.
Meanwhile, Maggie Goodlander secured another term representing NH's 2nd Congressional District, and Stefany Shaheen won the open 1st District seat.
The result? An entirely Democratic federal delegation representing New Hampshire in Washington.
But perhaps one of the most interesting outcomes was closer to home. Governor Kelly Ayotte secured reelection while the state otherwise trended decisively Democratic.
That brings us to our first observation: Granite State voters remain comfortable splitting their tickets amid a push toward a down-ballot approach. Anyone interpreting yesterday's results as a simple endorsement of one political ideology might be missing a much more interesting story.
Concord is getting a makeover. Let's put the scale of this shift into perspective.
Heading into Election Day, Republicans controlled the New Hampshire House, Senate, Executive Council, and Governor's Office.
Come January? The political landscape will look almost unrecognizable.
Here's the early breakdown:
NH House: Democrats are projected to hold a supermajority in the 400-member chamber, a remarkable reversal of power.
NH Senate: Democrats are projected to control 15 of 24 seats, just one shy of the two-thirds threshold needed to override a gubernatorial veto.
Executive Council: Democrats appear to have swept all five seats, gaining control of the body responsible for approving many key state contracts and appointments.
Governor's Office: Republican Kelly Ayotte returns for a second term.
What does this actually mean? For starters, we're looking at a fundamentally different power dynamic in Concord. Democratic leadership will have significantly more influence over which bills move forward, how the state budget takes shape, and which issues receive attention.
Meanwhile, Governor Ayotte retains her veto authority, setting up an interesting political balancing act.
A quick civics refresher: A two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers can override a governor's veto. While Democrats may have the numbers in the House, the projected Senate makeup means they'd need at least one Republican vote to reach that threshold if all senators participate.
Translation? Relationships, negotiations, and finding common ground are about to matter. A LOT.
Will we see compromise? Gridlock? Unexpected political alliances? Probably some combination of all three.
Pass the popcorn 🍿
One of the more fascinating trends nationally was the significant shift among younger voters toward Democrats compared with 2024. But before anyone declares a permanent political realignment, let's remember how quickly the pendulum can swing.
Young people aren't necessarily looking for a political party to believe in. They're looking for a future they can afford. That's a distinction worth paying attention to.
Here in New Hampshire, we hear it constantly. Housing costs are pushing young people to their limits. Childcare access and affordability are forcing families into impossible decisions. The ability to build a stable, fulfilling life in the Granite State is becoming increasingly difficult - the results reflect that.
These aren't new challenges, and they certainly didn't disappear overnight because the balance of power changed.
Elections change who's making decisions. They don't automatically change the circumstances facing the people those decisions affect.
Which is why we're particularly interested in what happens next.
But the same challenges remain.
Fresh off the launch of Stay Work Play's new strategic plan and brand, we're entering 2027 with renewed energy, a bold vision, and a sharpened advocacy agenda.
Our focus? Housing affordability and childcare access for ALL.
Why these two issues? Our research and conversations across New Hampshire consistently point to them as some of the greatest barriers preventing young people from staying, working, and thriving here.
Our 2025 Quality of Life Survey found that 67% of young respondents believe housing affordability has gotten worse, while 85% said the same about childcare affordability.
Those numbers aren't partisan…they're personal and extremely enlightening for our collective task at hand.
They're the young couple wondering whether they'll ever afford a home. The parent weighing whether returning to work makes financial sense. The recent graduate who loves New Hampshire but can't find a place to live. With a new legislature comes an opportunity to revisit conversations, build relationships, and advance meaningful solutions.
We'll be at the table, working across the aisle and making sure young people's voices are part of the conversation.
Being ‘Bound by Common Ground’ isn't about agreeing on everything. It's about recognizing what matters, even when we disagree about how to get there.
Speaking of new chapters…👀
You didn't think we'd let the State House have ALL the fun with a major transformation, did you?
After years of bringing you the latest political happenings through this newsletter, The State House Skinny is officially becoming a PODCAST!
Starting in January 2027, my colleague Courtney and I are taking our conversations about New Hampshire politics off the page and into your earbuds.
Think less political punditry, more kitchen-table conversation.
We'll be breaking down what's happening in Concord, talking through the policies shaping our everyday lives, inviting some of New Hampshire's most plugged-in political personalities to pull up a chair and spill a little tea.
Expect candid conversations, insider perspectives, thoughtful debate, some laughs, and probably a few hot takes.
No political science degree required. No party playbook. Just two colleagues and professional yappers making sense of the issues and personalities shaping New Hampshire's future.
Politics is more than just what's happening in Concord. It's what's happening in your neighborhood, in your bank account (ouch), and in your everyday life.
We'll be sharing more details, guest announcements, and ways to tune in over the coming weeks. Until then, stay curious, stay engaged, and don't be a stranger to the political conversation.
I'll leave you with one final thought: Elections are about who gets a seat at the table. Governing is about what happens once they're there.
New Hampshire has made its choices…now comes the important part.
And you better believe we'll be paying attention.
See you in January!
Stay Work Play has your back…
The State House Skinny exists to keep you in the loop in a way that’s digestible, hopefully even a bit fun. It’s also why we’ve championed a policy agenda since 2019 that’s rooted in the causes you care about, backed by real data from YOU, the young people of NH.
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The more young people stay informed, the more power we have to shape the future of the 603.
