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Incumbent Chris Sununu (R) defeated Molly Kelly (D) and Jilletta Jarvis (L) in the 2018 general election for governor of New Hampshire.
Sununu was first elected in 2016, winning by a 2-point margin. That same year, Hillary Clinton (D) won New Hampshire in the presidential election by a 0.4-point margin.
Before Sununu, New Hampshire's last Republican governor was elected in 2002. Gov. Craig Benson (R) served one two-year term and lost his 2004 re-election bid.
The winner of this election stood to influence the state's redistricting process following the 2020 census. In New Hampshire, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the state legislature. These lines are subject to veto by the governor.
New Hampshire was one of 36 states that held an election for governor in 2018. Democrats gained seven previously Republican-held seats, and Republicans gained one previously independent-held seat. Heading into the 2018 elections, there were 16 Democratic governors, 33 Republican governors, and one independent governor. In 2018, 26 of the 33 states with a Republican governor held a gubernatorial election, while nine out of the 16 states with a Democratic governor held a gubernatorial election. Seventeen of the 36 seats up for election were open seats (four Democratic, 12 Republican, and one independent), meaning that the sitting governor was not seeking re-election.
New Hampshire Governor 2018, Sununu (R) v. Kelly (D) v. Jarvis (L)
| Poll | Molly Kelly (D) | Chris Sununu (R) | Jilletta Jarvis (L) | Other/Undecided | Margin of error | Sample size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Granite State Poll, University of New Hampshire November 1-4, 2018 | 46% | 46% | 2% | 6% | +/-3.9 | 604 |
| Granite State Poll, University of New Hampshire October 10-18, 2018 | 39% | 50% | 4% | 7% | +/-4.4 | 499 |
| Saint Anselm College October 10-15, 2018 | 39% | 49% | 1% | 12% | +/-4.6 | 454 |
| AVERAGES | 41.33% | 48.33% | 2.33% | 8.33% | +/-4.3 | 519 |
New Hampshire Governor 2018, Sununu (R) v. Kelly (D)
| Poll | Molly Kelly | Chris Sununu | Undecided | Margin of Error | Sample Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emerson College October 27-29, 2018 | 43% | 51% | 5% | +/-4.9 | 441 |
| American Research Group September 21-26, 2018 | 44% | 49% | 7% | +/-3.5 | 800 |
| New Hampshire Governor 2018 (Sununu vs. Marchand vs. Jarvis hypothetical matchup) | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll |  Steve Marchand |
 Chris Sununu |  Jilletta Jarvis | Undecided/Other | Margin of error | Sample size | ||||||||
| University of New Hampshire (April 13-22, 2018) | 27% | 49% | 2% | 22% | +/-5.0 | 379 | ||||||||
| New Hampshire Governor 2018 (Sununu vs. Kelly vs. Jarvis hypothetical matchup) | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Molly Kelly |
Chris Sununu | Jilletta Jarvis | Undecided/Other | Margin of error | Sample size | ||||||||
| University of New Hampshire (April 13-22, 2018) | 24% | 51% | 2% | 23% | +/-5.0 | 379 | ||||||||
| New Hampshire Governor 2018 (Sununu vs. Marchand hypothetical matchup) | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Steve Marchand (D) | Chris Sununu (R) | Undecided/Other | Sample Size | ||||||||||
| University of New Hampshire (January 28 - February 10, 2018) | 28% | 42% | 30% | 379 | ||||||||||
| New Hampshire Governor 2018 (Sununu vs. Van Ostern hypothetical matchup) | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Colin Van Ostern (D) | Chris Sununu (R) | Undecided/Other | Sample Size | ||||||||||
| University of New Hampshire (January 28 - February 10, 2018) | 31% | 41% | 27% | 380 | ||||||||||
| New Hampshire Governor 2018 (Sununu vs. Connolly hypothetical matchup) | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Mark Connolly (D) | Chris Sununu (R) | Undecided/Other | Sample Size | ||||||||||
| University of New Hampshire (January 28 - February 10, 2018) | 29% | 41% | 30% | 380 | ||||||||||
The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, and Sabato's Crystal Ball. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage. Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.
Race ratings: New Hampshire gubernatorial election, 2018
| Race tracker | Race ratings | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 5, 2018 | October 30, 2018 | October 23, 2018 | October 16, 2018 | |
| The Cook Political Report | Lean Republican | Lean Republican | Likely Republican | Likely Republican |
| Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales | Lean Republican | Lean Republican | Lean Republican | Lean Republican |
| Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball | Lean Republican | Lean Republican | Lean Republican | Lean Republican |
Chris Sununu defeated Colin Van Ostern, Max Abramson, Jilletta Jarvis, and Bill Fortune in the New Hampshire governor election.
New Hampshire Governor, 2016
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican |  Chris Sununu |
48.88% | 307,342 | |
| Democratic | Colin Van Ostern | 46.91% | 294,946 | |
| Libertarian | Max Abramson | 4.21% | 26,483 | |
| Independent | Jilletta Jarvis | 0.00% | 0 | |
| Independent | Bill Fortune | 0.00% | 0 | |
| Total Votes | 628,771 | |||
| Source: The New York Times | ||||
In the 2014 gubernatorial election, incumbent Maggie Hassan (D) defeated challenger Walter Havenstein (R).
Governor of New Hampshire, 2014
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Maggie Hassan Incumbent |
52.5% | 254,659 | |
| Republican | Walter Havenstein | 47.3% | 229,596 | |
| Nonpartisan | Scattering | 0.2% | 907 | |
| Total Votes | 485,162 | |||
| Election results via New Hampshire Secretary of State | ||||
On November 6, 2012, Maggie Hassan won election to the office of Governor of New Hampshire. She defeated Ovide Lamontagne and John Babiarz in the general election.
Governor of New Hampshire, 2012
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Maggie Hassan |
54.6% | 378,934 | |
| Republican | Ovide Lamontagne | 42.5% | 295,024 | |
| Libertarian | John Babiars | 2.8% | 19,251 | |
| N/A | Other | 0.1% | 666 | |
| Total Votes | 693,875 | |||
| Election results via New Hampshire Office of the Secretary of State. | ||||
On November 2, 2010, John Lynch won re-election to the office of Governor of New Hampshire. He defeated John Stephen and John Babiarz in the general election.
Governor of New Hampshire, 2010
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Lynch Incumbent |
52.6% | 240,346 | |
| Republican | John Stephen | 45% | 205,626 | |
| Libertarian | John Babiarz | 2.2% | 10,089 | |
| N/A | Other | 0.1% | 685 | |
| Total Votes | 456,746 | |||
| Election results via New Hampshire Office of the Secretary of State. | ||||
On November 4, 2008, John Lynch won re-election to the office of Governor of New Hampshire. He defeated Joseph Kenney and Susan Newell in the general election.
Governor of New Hampshire, 2008
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Lynch Incumbent |
70.2% | 479,042 | |
| Republican | Joseph Kenney | 27.6% | 188,555 | |
| Libertarian | Susan Newell | 2.2% | 14,987 | |
| Total Votes | 682,584 | |||
| Election results via New Hampshire Office of the Secretary of State. | ||||
On November 7, 2006, John Lynch won re-election to the office of Governor of New Hampshire. He defeated James Coburn and Richard Kahn in the general election.
Governor of New Hampshire, 2002
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Lynch Incumbent |
74% | 298,761 | |
| Republican | James Coburn | 25.8% | 104,288 | |
| Libertarian | Richard Kahn | 0.1% | 323 | |
| N/A | Other | 0.1% | 308 | |
| Total Votes | 403,680 | |||
| Election results via New Hampshire Office of the Secretary of State. | ||||
On November 2, 2004, John Lynch won election to the office of Governor of New Hampshire. He defeated Craig Benson in the general election.
Governor of New Hampshire, 2004
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | John Lynch |
51.1% | 340,299 | |
| Republican | Craig Benson Incumbent | 48.9% | 325,981 | |
| Total Votes | 666,280 | |||
| Election results via New Hampshire Office of the Secretary of State. | ||||
On November 5, 2002, Craig Benson won election to the office of Governor of New Hampshire. He defeated Mark Fernald and John Babiarz in the general election.
Governor of New Hampshire, 2002
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Craig Benson |
58.6% | 259,663 | |
| Democratic | Mark Fernald | 38.2% | 169,277 | |
| Libertarian | John Babiarz | 2.9% | 13,028 | |
| N/A | Other | 0.2% | 1,008 | |
| Total Votes | 442,976 | |||
| Election results via New Hampshire Office of the Secretary of State. | ||||
On November 7, 2000, Jeanne Shaheen won re-election to the office of Governor of New Hampshire. She defeated Gordon Humphrey, Mary Brown, and John Babiarz in the general election.
Governor of New Hampshire, 2000
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jeanne Shaheen Incumbent |
48.7% | 275,038 | |
| Republican | Gordon Humphrey | 43.8% | 246,952 | |
| Independent | Mary Brown | 6.4% | 35,904 | |
| Libertarian | John Babiarz | 1.1% | 6,446 | |
| Total Votes | 564,340 | |||
| Election results via New Hampshire Office of the Secretary of State. | ||||
Demographic data for New Hampshire
| New Hampshire | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|
| Total population: | 1,330,111 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 8,953 | 3,531,905 |
| Gender | ||
| Female: | 50.7% | 50.8% |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 93.7% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 1.3% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 2.4% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 0.2% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 1.8% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 3.2% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 92.3% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 34.9% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $66,779 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 9.9% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in New Hampshire. | ||
As of July 2016, New Hampshire's three largest cities were Manchester (pop. est. 111,196), Nashua (pop. est. 88,341), and Concord (pop. est. 43,019).
