2020 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

Summary

The 2020 New Hampshire gubernatorial election was held on November 3,[1] 2020, to elect the governor of New Hampshire. Incumbent Republican Governor Chris Sununu was re-elected to a third two-year term in office, defeating his opponent Dan Feltes, the Majority Leader of the Senate.[2] Nine governors ran for re-election in this cycle and all nine were re-elected. Sununu's win marked the first time since 1986 that a Republican was elected to a third term as governor, in which his father, John H. Sununu was reelected for his third and final term. The elder Sununu chose not to seek reelection in 1988, instead becoming George H. W. Bush's chief of staff in 1989.

2020 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

← 2018 November 3, 2020 2022 →
 
Nominee Chris Sununu Dan Feltes
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 516,609 264,639
Percentage 65.1% 33.4%

Sununu:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Feltes:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      >90%
     No votes

Governor before election

Chris Sununu
Republican

Elected Governor

Chris Sununu
Republican

Sununu became the first person ever to get more than half a million votes in a New Hampshire gubernatorial election, making him the top vote-getter in the history of statewide elections in the state.

Republican primary edit

Candidates edit

Nominee edit

Eliminated in primary edit

  • Nobody, activist formerly known as Rich Paul[4]
  • Karen Testerman, Franklin city councilor[5]

Declined edit

Polling edit

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[a]
Margin
of error
Chris
Sununu
Karen
Testerman
Other Undecided
University of New Hampshire August 28 – September 1, 2020 703 (LV) ± 3.7% 82% 15% 1%[b] 2%
Robocent/Free Keene August 24, 2020 1,219 (RV) ± 2.8% 79% 5% 16%[c]
Saint Anselm College August 15–17, 2020 475 (RV) ± 4.5% 82% 7% 3%[d] 8%

Results edit

 
Results by county:
  Sununu—80–90%
  Sununu—≥90%
Republican primary results[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Chris Sununu (incumbent) 130,703 89.67%
Republican Karen Testerman 13,589 9.32%
Republican Nobody 1,239 0.85%
Democratic Dan Feltes (write-in) 3 0.002%
Democratic Andru Volinsky (write-in) 93 0.063%
Total votes 145,757 100.0%

Democratic primary edit

Candidates edit

Nominee edit

Eliminated in primary edit

Declined edit

Endorsements edit

Dan Feltes
Local and state politicians
Labor unions

Polling edit

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[a]
Margin
of error
Dan
Feltes
Andru
Volinsky
Other Undecided
University of New Hampshire August 28 – September 1, 2020 839 (LV) ± 3.4% 36% 38% 4%[e] 22%
Saint Anselm College August 15–17, 2020 498 (RV) ± 4.4% 22% 19% 13%[f] 46%

Results edit

 
Results by county:
  Feltes—50–60%
  Volinsky—50–60%
Democratic primary results[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dan Feltes 72,318 50.90%
Democratic Andru Volinsky 65,455 46.06%
Republican Chris Sununu (write-in) 4,276 3.00%
Republican Karen Testerman (write-in) 39 0.03%
Republican Nobody (write-in) 6 0.01%
Total votes 142,094 100.0%

Other candidates edit

Libertarian Party edit

Nominee edit

  • Darryl W. Perry, author and candidate for U.S. president in 2016[20][21]

Independent edit

Did not qualify for the ballot edit

General election edit

Predictions edit

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[23] Safe R October 23, 2020
Inside Elections[24] Likely R October 28, 2020
Sabato's Crystal Ball[25] Likely R November 2, 2020
Politico[26] Likely R November 2, 2020
Daily Kos[27] Safe R October 28, 2020
RCP[28] Likely R November 2, 2020
270towin[29] Likely R November 2, 2020

Endorsements edit

Dan Feltes (D)
Local and state politicians
Darryl W. Perry (L)
Politicians
  • Ken Armstrong, 2020 Libertarian candidate for president/vice president[30]
  • Caleb Q. Dyer, former state representative and House Libertarian Caucus leader[30]

Polling edit

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[a]
Margin
of error
Chris
Sununu (R)
Dan
Feltes (D)
Other /
Undecided
American Research Group October 26–28, 2020 864 (LV) ± 4.6% 51% 46% 3%[g]
University of New Hampshire October 24–28, 2020 1,889 (LV) ± 2.3% 60% 36% 3%[h]
Saint Anselm College October 23–26, 2020 1,018 (LV) ± 3.1% 60% 35% 6%[i]
YouGov/UMass Amherst October 16–26, 2020 757 (LV) ± 4.5% 59% 36% 5%[j]
University of New Hampshire October 9–12, 2020 899 (LV) ± 3.2% 62% 37% 1%[k]
Suffolk University October 8–12, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 55% 31% 14%[l]
Saint Anselm College October 1–4, 2020 1,147 (LV) ± 2.9% 58% 35% 7%[m]
Emerson College September 30 – October 1, 2020 700 (LV) ± 3.6% 55% 40% 5%[n]
American Research Group September 25–28, 2020 600 (LV) ± 4% 52% 44% 4%[o]
University of New Hampshire September 24–28, 2020 972 (LV) ± 3.1% 55% 37% 5%[j]
YouGov/UMass Lowell September 17–25, 2020 657 (LV) ±  4.6% 60% 34% 7%[p]
University of New Hampshire August 28 – September 1, 2020 1,889 (LV) ± 2.3% 57% 33% 9%[q]
University of New Hampshire July 16–28, 2020 1,893 (LV) ± 2.2% 59% 28% 13%[r]
University of New Hampshire June 18–22, 2020 932 (LV) ± 2.8% 62% 23% 15%[s]
We Ask America June 13–15, 2020 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 59% 20% 21%[t]
University of New Hampshire May 14–18, 2020 788 (LV) ± 3.2% 61% 21% 18%[u]
University of New Hampshire February 19–25, 2020 576 (LV) ± 4.1% 56% 27% 18%[v]
Emerson College September 6–9, 2019 1,041 (RV) ± 3.0% 53% 37% 10%[w]
Hypothetical polling
with Andru Volinsky
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size[a]
Margin
of error
Chris
Sununu
(R)
Andru
Volinsky
(D)
Other /
Undecided
University of New Hampshire August 28 – September 1, 2020 1,889 (LV) ± 2.3% 58% 32% 8%[x]
University of New Hampshire July 16–28, 2020 1,893 (LV) ± 2.2% 58% 29% 13%[r]
University of New Hampshire June 18–22, 2020 932 (LV) ± 2.8% 62% 22% 16%[y]
University of New Hampshire May 14–18, 2020 788 (LV) ± 3.2% 61% 20% 19%[z]
University of New Hampshire February 19–25, 2020 576 (LV) ± 4.1% 54% 29% 16%[aa]

Results edit

2020 New Hampshire gubernatorial election[31]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Chris Sununu (incumbent) 516,609 65.12% +12.34%
Democratic Dan Feltes 264,639 33.36% -12.38%
Libertarian Darryl W. Perry 11,329 1.43% 0.00%
Write-in 683 0.09% +0.04%
Total votes 793,260 100.0%
Turnout 814,449 68.16%
Registered electors 1,194,843
Republican hold
By county
County Chris Sununu
Republican
Dan Feltes
Democratic
Darryl Perry
Libertarian
Write-in Margin Total
votes
# % # % # % # % # %
Belknap 28,074 73.68 9,491 24.91 500 1.31 38 0.10 18,583 48.77 38,103
Carroll 22,119 67.20 10,428 31.68 348 1.06 20 0.06 11,691 35.52 32,915
Cheshire 24,708 56.79 17,973 41.31 781 1.79 49 0.11 6,735 15.48 43,511
Coös 11,409 69.78 4,666 28.54 265 1.62 10 0.06 6,743 41.24 16,350
Grafton 29,174 54.96 23,023 43.38 838 1.58 43 0.08 6,151 11.59 53,078
Hillsborough 150,153 66.29 72,614 32.06 3,524 1.56 200 0.09 77,539 34.23 226,491
Merrimack 56,266 63.16 31,572 35.44 1,145 1.29 106 0.12 24,694 27.72 89,089
Rockingham 134,292 68.17 60,232 30.58 2,337 1.19 135 0.07 74,060 37.59 196,996
Strafford 44,542 61.35 26,791 36.90 1,205 1.66 67 0.09 17,751 24.45 72,605
Sullivan 15,872 65.80 7,849 32.54 386 1.60 15 0.06 8,023 33.26 24,122
Totals 516,609 65.12 264,639 33.36 11,329 1.43 683 0.09 251,970 31.76 793,260
Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Results by congressional district edit

Sununu won both congressional districts, which both elected Democrats.[32]

District Sununu Feltes Representative
1st 66.8% 31.81% Chris Pappas
2nd 63.51% 35.03% Annie Kuster

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c d Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. ^ "Another candidate" with 1%
  3. ^ Listed as "Nobody" - the answer respondents gave when asked towards which candidate they leaned
  4. ^ "Someone else" with 3%
  5. ^ "Another candidate" with 4%
  6. ^ "Someone else" with 13%
  7. ^ Perry (L) with 1%; Undecided with 2%
  8. ^ Perry (L) with 2%; "Another candidate" with <1%; Undecided with 1%
  9. ^ Perry (L) and "Someone else" with 1%; Undecided with 4%
  10. ^ a b "Another candidate" with 1%; Undecided with 4%
  11. ^ Perry (L) with <1%; Undecided with 1%
  12. ^ Perry (L) with 4%; "Refused" with 2%; "Other" with no voters; Undecided with 8%
  13. ^ Perry (L) with 2%; "Someone else" with 1%; Undecided with 5%
  14. ^ "Someone else" with 3%; Undecided with 2%
  15. ^ Perry (L) with 0%; Undecided with 3%
  16. ^ "Another candidate" with 1%; Undecided with 6%
  17. ^ Perry (L) with 1%; Undecided with 8%
  18. ^ a b "Another candidate" with 1%; Undecided with 12%
  19. ^ "Another candidate" with 2%; Undecided with 13%
  20. ^ Undecided with 21%
  21. ^ "Another candidate" with 0%; Undecided with 18%
  22. ^ "Another candidate" with 4%; Undecided with 14%
  23. ^ Undecided with 10%
  24. ^ Perry (L) with 1%; Undecided with 7%
  25. ^ "Another candidate" with 2%; Undecided with 14%
  26. ^ "Another candidate" with 0%; Undecided with 19%
  27. ^ "Another candidate" with 3%; Undecided with 13%

References edit

  1. ^ "New Hampshire gubernatorial election, 2020 (September 8 Republican primary)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  2. ^ "Sununu: 'We're coming out of winter, we're coming out of COVID'". March 13, 2021.
  3. ^ DiStaso, John [@jdistaso] (May 14, 2019). "BREAKING: .@GovChrisSununu announces he's seeking a third term as #nhgov - #nhpolitics #WMUR" (Tweet). Retrieved May 14, 2019 – via Twitter.
  4. ^ "Nobody". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  5. ^ "Conservative Activist Testerman To Primary Gov. Sununu". Concord, NH Patch. June 9, 2020.
  6. ^ Steinhauser, Paul (April 4, 2019). "Choices loom for Sununu, Ayotte ahead of 2020 election". Concord Monitor. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  7. ^ a b Pisani, Madelaine (April 8, 2019). "Republicans Await Sununu's 2020 Decision". National Journal. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  8. ^ "2020 State Primary Republican State Primary". New Hampshire Department of State. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  9. ^ DiStaso, John; Sexton, Adam (September 3, 2019). "Promising to put working-class families first, Democrat Dan Feltes announces run for governor". WMUR 9. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  10. ^ Landrigan, Kevin (October 23, 2019). "Volinsky makes official his 2020 Democratic bid for governor". New Hampshire Union Leader. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  11. ^ a b c Steinhauser, Paul (January 23, 2019). "Andru Volinsky considering 2020 run for governor". Concord Monitor. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  12. ^ Lahut, Jake (October 1, 2019). "Molly Kelly to sit out 2020 NH governor's race". The Keene Sentinel. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  13. ^ DiStaso, John (June 20, 2019). "NH Primary Source: Democrat Mindi Messmer says, 'I'm running' for Executive Council". WMUR. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm dn do dp dq dr ds dt du dv dw dx dy dz ea eb ec ed ee ef eg eh ei ej ek el em en eo ep "Senator Feltes Endorsed By Over 75 State Representatives". nhlabornews.com.
  15. ^ a b c d John DiStaso (October 31, 2019). "NH Primary Source: Energy, environmental leaders, activists endorse Feltes for governor". wmur.com.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l John DiStaso (September 30, 2019). "NH Primary Source: Amherst's Chandley becomes sixth state senator to endorse Feltes for governor". wmur.com.
  17. ^ a b Dan Feltes. "Thank you, Sen. Kahn and Rep. Myler for all you do as Chairs of the House and Senate Education Committees". facebook.com.
  18. ^ John DiStaso (May 7, 2020). "NH Primary Source: Two Laborers union locals endorse Feltes for governor". wmur.com.
  19. ^ "2020 State Primary Democratic State Primary". New Hampshire Department of State. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  20. ^ Lahut, Jake (December 5, 2019). "Keene Libertarian announces run for governor". The Keene Sentinel. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  21. ^ DiStaso, John (September 3, 2020). "NH Primary Source: It's official: Libertarian Party candidates to be on general election ballot". WMUR. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  22. ^ "2020 Election Information - NHSOS". sos.nh.gov.
  23. ^ "2020 Governor Race Ratings for October 23, 2020". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  24. ^ "2020 Gubernatorial Ratings". insideelections.com. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  25. ^ "2020 Gubernatorial race ratings". Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball. November 2, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  26. ^ "We rated every gubernatorial race in 2020. Here's who we think will win". Politico. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  27. ^ "2020 Governor Race Ratings". Daily Kos. June 1, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
  28. ^ "2020 Governor Races". RealClearPolitics. June 13, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  29. ^ "2020 Gubernatorial Elections Map". 270towin.
  30. ^ a b "Endorsements". February 16, 2020.
  31. ^ "2020 General Election". New Hampshire Department of State. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  32. ^ "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts". Daily Kos. Retrieved August 11, 2020.

External links edit

Official campaign websites
  • Dan Feltes (D) for Governor
  • Darryl W. Perry (L) for Governor
  • Chris Sununu (R) for Governor