Voters turned out across New Hampshire today for a state primary that included several closely-watched races, including the Democratic primary to select a challenger for Governor Sununu, and primaries on both sides in in the 1st Congressional District.
CLICK HERE FOR UPDATED ELECTION RESULTS.
Watch video of NHPR's primary night broadcast, hosted by Laura Knoy:
Live Blog
10:00 PM:
“We don’t live in Donald Trump’s America, this county belongs to all of us,” Pappas tell supporters. pic.twitter.com/9KtvsP5kQb
— Josh Rogers (@joshrogersNHPR) September 12, 2018
9:50 PM:
All cheers and hugs over here as @ChrisPappasNH walks in #nhpolitics pic.twitter.com/t1g1N2YQcD
— Lauren Chooljian (@laurenchooljian) September 12, 2018
9:43 PM:
State senator Andy Sanborn, who's running on the Republican side in the hotly contested CD1 race, is telling his supporters things don't look good for a win this evening.
Sanborn tells supporters "it looks like we're gonna come up a little bit short tonight." #NHpolitics @nhpr pic.twitter.com/k5htA7sE81
— Jason Moon (@jasonmoonNHPR) September 12, 2018
9:26 PM:
Molly Kelly thanks supporters at her campaign headquarters in Keene. Photo by NHPR's Robert Garrova.
Meanwhile, Steve Marchand, who ran a distant second in the gubernatorial primary, concedes at his Manchester camp. Photo by Allegra Boverman.
9:10 PM:
At his campaign headquarters at Penuche's in Manchester, Steve Marchand concedes to opponent Molly Kelly in the Democratic primary for New Hampshire governor.
.@maurasullivan conceding now. "we didn't get the result we wanted" but looking forward to getting out the vote for @ChrisPappasNH in november #NHpolitics pic.twitter.com/5Ls7K0p0EX
— Annie Ropeik (@aropeik) September 12, 2018
“I’ll make a few remarks so we can do some eating and drinking, I think I’ll be doing some drinking,” @marchandsteve says before conceding.
— Josh Rogers (@joshrogersNHPR) September 12, 2018
9:01 PM:
The Associated Press has called the Democratic CD1 primary for Chris Pappas. Pappas, an executive councilor from Manchester, is the first openly gay congressional candidate from New Hampshire.
Cheers at the Puritan as @wmur announces the #nh01 race for @ChrisPappasNH #nhpolitics
— Lauren Chooljian (@laurenchooljian) September 12, 2018
8:45 PM:
The Associated Press has called the Democratic gubernatorial primary for Molly Kelly.
8:41 PM:
NHPR's Robert Garrova is reporting from Molly Kelly's campaign headquarters in Keene. Kelly currently holds a strong lead over Steve Marchand in the Democratic gubernatorial primary.
The Lagace family (3 on right) are a family of teachers in Keene. They say @NHMollyKelly message of support for education has resonated from the get go. @nhpr pic.twitter.com/GYV2NMCIE8
— Robert Garrova (@robertgarrova) September 12, 2018
8:15 PM:
More Molly Kelly supporters arriving at Keene State. Keith Halloran (R) says he’s supporting Kelly because he believes she’s more of a middle of the road progressive. @nhpr pic.twitter.com/Vl03S3RwOL
— Robert Garrova (@robertgarrova) September 12, 2018
8:05 PM:
Polls across the state are now closed. Get live results here: ow.ly/O68u30lMwp2
7:15 PM:
As polls across the state begin to close, campaign staff and supporters are showing up at candidate headquarters. NHPR's reporters are also there, capturing the scenes and reporting from the field.
Early birds at the Andy Sanborn camp are passing the time with some @NHChronicle on the big screens. #NHpolitics pic.twitter.com/HUsNYmot6D
— Jason Moon (@jasonmoonNHPR) September 11, 2018
Polls are starting to close in some NH towns. I’m hanging at the Pappas election night party at the Puritan (where else). Staffers are hoping the Manchester area will come out in full force for @ChrisPappasNH #NHpolitics pic.twitter.com/arqKBsMQQb
— Lauren Chooljian (@laurenchooljian) September 11, 2018
Nice night to be in Manchester pic.twitter.com/ESsKzeFtlA
— Josh Rogers (@joshrogersNHPR) September 11, 2018
6:40 PM:
Ward 3 in Manchester says turnout is average. At 6:30 voters are still registering. Registrar says one voter called the new ID requirements burdensome and left - rest have registered smoothly, including w/electronic pics of pay stubs for address requirement. #NHPolitics
— Sarah Gibson (@schadgibson) September 11, 2018
6:18 PM:
Photographer Allegra Boverman captured a busy voter registration table at the Rines Center in Manchester, the city's Ward 3 polling place.
NHPR's Josh Rogers captures some colorful signage in Manchester.
Know nothing about the candidate but he’s got lots of nice looking signs out on Manchester’s West Side. pic.twitter.com/Kanqn9E9og
— Josh Rogers (@joshrogersNHPR) September 11, 2018
4:42 PM:
Polls are open for another few hours in New Hampshire. Outside of Somersworth City Hall, Doug Watson, a former ward clerk, told NHPR's Annie Ropeik that with so many candidates on the ballot in the 1st congressional district, he’s had to do his own research.
“You’ve gotta hear both sides of the issue, and I think the important thing is to be familiar with all the candidates and what they stand for and what their priorities are,” he said.
Click here to see NHPR's coverage of the CD1 primary race.
3:10 PM:
In Hanover, home of Dartmouth College, poll worker Ann Bradley told NHPR's Britta Greene she's seen many college students and the polls today, and expects more to turn out.
Today's election is the largest yet under a new voter registration law known as SB3, which requires people to show proof they live where they are trying to vote.
"They seem to be bringing what they need, so far," Bradley said. "They have proof of citizenship, and proof of where they live, and they are prepared with a passport and driver's license."
Click here for NHPR's coverage of SB3
2:45 PM:
In Lebanon, voter Wallace Kimura told NHPR's Jason Moon he was inspired to pick up a Democratic ballot because of President Donald Trump, even though he has concerns about the Democratic party's positions on gun control.
"But with the current administration in Washington, I think that the gun control issue vs the incumbent president, I think getting Democrats into congress would be the lesser of two evils," he said.
2:30 PM:
In Durham, UNH students are getting free shuttle rides to the polls from NextGen Climate NH, an evironment-focused PAC.
NHPR's Casey McDermott has been tracking how a controversial new voting law known as SB3 Hampshire could affect the same-day registrations of students hoping to cast ballots in the Granite State. She spoke with Durham's checklist supervisor Ann Shump, who did not have an exact count of same-day registrants, but said it's been steady all day.
"A lot of the students have no paperwork to prove their domicile," Shump said, "but most of them - not all - have been able to come up with something eventually."
Click here for NHPR's coverage of SB3
2:18 PM:
NHPR's Josh Rogers spotted Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig supporting CD1 Democratic candidate Chris Pappas at the city's Ward 1 polls. Pappas is an executive councilor and fourth-generation co-owner of the Puritan Backroom, a popular Manchester restaurant.
Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig and Rich Sigel greeting voters with Pappas sign in Ward 1. pic.twitter.com/xyesR6332G
— Josh Rogers (@joshrogersNHPR) September 11, 2018
2:05 PM
In Manchester, NHPR's Sarah Gibson caught up with Democrat Arthur Bakolas, who accompanied his 91 year-old father to the polls. When she asked Arthur why they turned out to vote, he said, "to stop the mayhem in Washington."
1:30 PM:
NHPR's Britta Greene has been talking to Dartmouth students voting in Hanover.
1/ Lots of Dartmouth students registering to vote for the first time in Hanover today. One student told me she had to show "verifiable, like, proof of residency, or whatever" ... sounds about right.... @nhpr pic.twitter.com/76w3covSSS
— Britta Greene (@brittalhg) September 11, 2018
2/ election workers say students living in dorms have to show a letter from the office of residential life, confirming they live in the dorm they say they do. If they don't have that with them, they have to bring it to the town offices w/i 10 days
— Britta Greene (@brittalhg) September 11, 2018
3/ most students I spoke with thought that was minimally annoying, really no big deal. "I follow the rules, so I’ll do it," said Megan Nalamachu, a freshman and first-time voter, who showed her Kansas driver's license as ID. pic.twitter.com/4laU7ROk6n
— Britta Greene (@brittalhg) September 11, 2018
1:25 PM:
In Lebanon, voter Bruce Garland says he wished he had seen more younger voters coming into the polling station along with him.
"We gotta figure out some way of getting more millennials, not necessarily engaged, but feeling like they have a say," he told NHPR's Jason Moon. "I just think there are a lot of people unfortunately that feel that their vote doesn't count. I think that's wrong but it's really hard to prove the opposite."
Tom Cormen of Lebanon voted on the Democratic side. For governor, he chose former Portsmouth mayor Steve Marchand over former state senator Molly Kelly.
"I appreciated that Marchand has been on this side of the state some of the time," he said. "I feel like this Western side of the state is the forgotten side. You get 15 miles west of 93 and this state doesn't exist to a lot of people, and Marchand has been out here a few times."
Cormen says he has doubts, though, that any Democrat can win against Republican Governor Chris Sununu in November.
1:17 PM:
In Somersworth, turnout is low - counting about 190 voters as of 1 PM. NHPR's Annie Ropeik captured a scene outside the polls there.
1:10 PM:
In Exeter, Democrat May Youngclause voted for Molly Kelly in the gubernatorial primary. She says the two have shared experiences.
“I was a single mother, I worked my way through UNH while I was raising children," she told NHPR's Todd Bookman. "So I’ve walked her shoes and I think she’s impressive.”
Also in Exeter, Scott Earwood tells NHPR he voted for Eddie Edwards in the Republican race for the state's CD1 race.
“I like his message, I like his background, I think he’s a strong conservative. I think he’s going to be a voice for those of us who believe in small government, who believe in protecting our second amendment rights.”
Edwards and State Senator Andy Sanborn are squaring off in that contest. Moderators in Exeter said early turnout was low.
Click for more coverage of Andy Sanborn and Eddie Ewards from NHPR.
1:00 PM:
Nancy Andrews, whose daughter is CD1 Democratic candidate Naomi Andrews, shows her support a the polls in Manchester. Photo by Sarah Gibson for NHPR.
Sarah also spotted Democratic CD1 candidate Mark MacKenzie doing some last minute campaigning in Manchester.
Democratic CD1 candidate Mark MacKenzie visiting polling stations in Manchester on primary day. #nhpoliltics #nh01 pic.twitter.com/31EpPAdAvh
— Sarah Gibson (@schadgibson) September 11, 2018
11:30 AM:
In Portsmouth, voter Trevor Bartlett said he showed up early at his polling place to support candidates up and down the ballot. He says that Democrats are motivated this midterm election. It's time, he said, "to turn things around."
11:03 AM:
NHPR's Jason Moon captures the scene outside Lebanon's Ward 3 polls.
10:53 AM:
NHPR's Todd Bookman spotted CD1 Democratic candidate Maura Sullivan campaigning in Exeter. Sullivan, who recently relocated to New Hampshire, has run a campaign that's largely been financed by out-of-state donations.
Click here for a breakdown of the money race in New Hampshire's closely-watched 1st Congressional District.
Maura Sullivan is in Exeter for some last minute campaigning #nh01 pic.twitter.com/U9NEeN8520
— Todd Bookman (@toddbookman) September 11, 2018
10:29 AM:
Turnout lower than expected in Bow
In Bow, there's a state senate seat up for grabs, but Town Moderator Peter Imse says voter turnout isn't what he expected.
10:15 AM:
CD1 Democratic candidate cast a ballot in Portmouth. He tells NHPR's Dan Tuohy that Donald Trump will motivate voters to head to the polls on Primary Day.
Caught up to @LincolnSoldati after he voted in Portsmouth this morning. I asked him what's motivating voters in today's primary election. In a word: Trump. #nhpolitics #nh01 pic.twitter.com/cPgb9kQb3U
— Dan Tuohy (@tuohy) September 11, 2018
9:58 AM:
NHPR's Robert Garrova is at Ward 6 in Concord, where turnout has been light so far this morning.
9:20 AM:
NHPR's Dan Tuohy captured this photo of Democratic CD1 candidate and former Marine Maura Sullivan speaking at a ceremony commemorating the 9/11 attacks in Portsmouth
Maura Sullivan, speaking at Portsmouth’s 9/11 anniversary event. #nhpolitics pic.twitter.com/Gd98BRJOYr
— Dan Tuohy (@tuohy) September 11, 2018
8:40 AM:
Steve Marchand, who's running in the Democratic primary for governor, cast a ballot in Portsmouth.
In Portsmouth, @marchandsteve just voted—using the new system for visually impaired voters, after an advocate asked him to use and highlight the option. #nhpolitics pic.twitter.com/lzs0CMS0Si
— Dan Tuohy (@tuohy) September 11, 2018
6:30 AM:
Listen to NHPR News Director Dan Barrick talk with Morning Edition's Rick Ganley about what's at stake today: