What will the makeup of state houses across New England look like next year, and as a result, what shifts in priorities may or may not be coming? While the legislative session has yet to conclude in Massachusetts, with New England’s last candidate filing deadline in New Hampshire now behind us, the answer is that we’re well on our way to finding out. We look across New England to update you on what we know and give you an idea of what might happen in November.
101 – Things To Know
Consider several timelines and deadlines if you want to follow the process closely. For this edition, we’ll focus on two leading up to the general election on November 5th.
Candidate Filing Period
The process varies by state; however, all have some form of timeline by which each candidate for state office must declare their candidacy through their Secretary of State. In New England, the latest filing deadline is in New Hampshire, which runs from June 5-14, following which, much like other states, the state parties can fill any remaining candidate vacancies.
State Primary Dates
Some states have different dates for their state primaries. Maine had the earliest state primary in New England on June 11th, bookended by New Hampshire and Rhode Island, both of which will hold it on September 10th.
New Hampshire
State Primary Election: September 10th
Objectively speaking, no state in New England has more potential for a drastic shift in control over the state house than New Hampshire. From the governor not seeking reelection to the unique dynamics looming in both chambers of the state legislature, there are many Granite State stories and trends to follow as we head into the fall.
Governor
Governor Chris Sununu is retiring after a historic fourth term, during which he enjoyed broad bipartisan support, rivaling not only the previous highwater mark but also landing him a spot among the nation’s most popular governors on numerous occasions. The Governor leaves the corner office having guided the state through the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic and with several signature accomplishments over his governorship, from full-day kindergarten to paid family medical leave and progress on addressing the state’s housing challenges.
His successor will ultimately be decided in November, with contests to replace him currently trending towards former U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R) and the former Mayor of Manchester Joyce Craig (D), whom Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey endorsed.
State Senate
With three open seats heading into the fall and several contested races, there are going to be changes coming to New Hampshire’s State Senate. These changes are headlined by the announcement earlier this year that Senate President Jeb Bradley (R) will not be seeking reelection, ending a 15-year tenure in the chamber for the former U.S. Congressman. A notoriously avid bipartisan coalition-builder who spearheaded numerous compromises in the Senate led to the coined term “Bradley-special.” Both conferences will be different following the election in the fall, not only because of Bradley’s departure but also because Manchester Democrat Lou D’Allesandro, “the Lion of the Senate,” who, after over a quarter-century of service in the chamber, announced his retirement this year.
House of Representatives
Over the past two years, New Hampshire’s 400-seat House of Representatives has been closely divided. Republicans initially retained a majority by two seats, which turned into a five-seat margin by session end. There has always been a prevailing sentiment around the New Hampshire House of Representatives that the fate of a bill was “a turnout game,” but it perhaps has never been truer than it has been over the past two years.
For some added perspective, in February, a constitutional amendment sought to enshrine the right to an abortion up to 24 weeks in the state constitution. It received a majority by nine votes but fell short of the 3/5 margin needed to move on. In May, a unanimously passed Senate bill that would have doubled the contribution of annual real estate transfer tax revenue contributions to the state’s affordable housing fund was voted down in the House 180-176.
Rhode Island
State Primary Date: September 10th
This year continues a unique 10-year trend in Rhode Island. 2024 marks a new high-water mark for uncontested primary races in the state, with upwards of 90% of all primaries seeing no competitive challenger and about half of all general election matchups. A recent analysis by the Rhode Island Current dug into the state’s uniquely situated trend.
Massachusetts
State Primary Date: September 3rd
Massachusetts is in an entirely different position from its neighbors. While control in neither chamber is realistically up for grabs, the departure of several high-profile members who have left their mark on the Commonwealth during their tenure will lead to changes in leadership and on committees in both chambers.
State Senate
State Senator Marc Pacheco announced earlier this year that he will not seek re-election. The longest-serving member of the chamber, Senator Pacheco, has been a vocal advocate for aggressive action to curb the effects of climate change.
The Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Revenue, Susan Moran, is also not seeking reelection. The Falmouth Democrat is instead running for Barnstable County Superior Court Clerk. Her replacement will, in all likelihood, come down to a general election matchup between State Representative Dylan Fernandes (D), whom the Governor and Lieutenant Governor have endorsed, and the winner of the Republican primary.
House of Representatives
In the Massachusetts House, 15 members are not seeking reelection to the chamber, with four deciding instead to run for other elected offices. Rep. Fernandes and Rep. Muratore are running for the vacant Plymouth and Barnstable seat. Rep. Carey is running for Hampshire County Clerk of Courts, and Rep. Driscoll is running for the vacant Norfolk Plymouth and Bristol seat.
Beyond whatever changes the Speaker of the House may decide, the fall will bring new majority and minority leadership members. Second Assistant Majority Leader Sarah Peake, Third Division Chair Ruth Balser, and Third Assistant Minority Leader Jay Barrows will retire.
Vermont
State Primary Date: August 13th
Elections in Vermont are somewhat differently situated. In addition to Republican and Democratic candidates, the state’s Progressive party, tracing its origins to Bernie Sanders’s 1981 Burlington Mayoral win, is also fielding candidates. Governor Phil Scott, one of the nation’s most popular governors, is running for a fifth term. While unopposed in the primary, the governor will face an opponent in the fall. Scott has governed with Democratic supermajorities in the legislature and the Democratic and Progressive parties’ member David Zuckerman, the Lieutenant Governor, who is also running for reelection.
Connecticut
State Primary Date: August 13th
Some changes are coming to the membership of Connecticut’s 187-seat General Assembly. With several members retiring in the House and Senate, there will be over a dozen primaries before the general election in the fall. One such contest will be to replace Majority Whip At-Large and Vice Chair of the chamber’s Environment Committee, Christine Palm. An environmental advocate, Palm, announced in January that she would not seek a fourth term. State Senator Marilyn Moore, Deputy President Pro Tempore, is also retiring. The lifelong Bridgeport resident had announced at the end of the last session that she would not be seeking reelection.
Maine
While the earliest primary in New England, Maine’s June 11th primary election date is among several June primaries nationwide. With the primary election concluded in Maine, we are a step closer to finding out the makeup of both chambers. One noticeable change when the legislature returns after the fall general election will be the absence of current State Senate President Troy Jackson, who did not seek reelection due to term limits. The Fort Kent native was elected in 2016 and previously served from 2008 until 2014.
With 33 open House seats and six open Senate seats, not to mention contested races featuring incumbents, Augusta will see changes.
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