Bill aiming to move state primary date heads to closely divided House
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Mar. 19—CONCORD — A closely divided House of Representatives will decide whether New Hampshire moves the state primary election three months forward to June in 2026, after a key committee split on the issue among party lines.
All 10 Republicans on the House Election Law Committee endorsed the change, days after outgoing Gov, Chris Sununu confirmed that he favored the June primary bill (SB 380) to an August alternative (HB 115) that the House passed two months ago.
"I have voted August in the past, I have voted June in the past. August means defeat. I want to get something done," said committee chairman and state Rep. Ross Berry, R-Manchester.
Secretary of State David Scanlan has advised lawmakers they should consider moving the primary up from the second Tuesday in September to avoid being out of compliance with federal law in future elections.
All states must get absentee ballots to military or overseas voters at least 45 days before a general election.
Scanlan said he preferred the option of moving the primary up three weeks to the third Tuesday in August, which the House endorsed, 239-141.
Sununu said the August vote would interfere with the end of the summer tourist season and could lead to lower voter turnout.
Rep. Angela Brennan, D-Bow, said a June primary would saddle local election officials and state lawmakers with year-round campaigning.
"I am asking all of you to please consider the real-world impact of moving our state primary to June because it will affect our constituents," Brennan said.
The earlier date was geared toward the "top of the ballot" candidates those running for governor, Executive Council or major federal office, Brennan said.
"I understand it would be better for those candidates, but what about our citizen legislature that we are so proud of here?" Brennan asked.
"Does it not make it more difficult for them to run and serve in the Legislature when in the second year of the biennium they would be in the middle of legislative work when they would be expected to sign up and run in a campaign? That's a lot for (a salary of) $100 a year."
Critic: 'Incumbent protection'
Berry pointed out very few of the 424 state legislators lose in a party primary and major office candidates already are running year-round.
The Granite State's eight-week general election season, one of the shortest in the country, is an "incumbent protection," system, said Berry who alluded to the fact that Democratic incumbents in this swing state have won the past nine of 10 congressional elections.
"I am about ending the incumbent protection plan. June is the option; June is the way forward," Berry said.
Once two newly elected House Democrats are sworn in March 27, the House GOP will hold a 201-197 edge, with two independents originally elected as Democrats. Two seats are vacant.
In 2022, Sununu vetoed a bill that would have moved the state primary up a full month to earlier in August.
As expected, the House panel voted unanimously to recommend the House kill a Senate-passed change to add the first-in-the-nation presidential primary to the state Constitution (CACR 22).
The House rejected a similar proposal last year after leaders in both parties said the first-primary state law is enough protection, and the primary does not deserve to be elevated to a constitutional right along with freedom of speech or the right to bear arms.
