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New Hampshire
2024 NH state primary is Tuesday: Here’s our voters guide
The 2024 New Hampshire state primary is upon us. From the governor’s race to U.S. House and state representative battles, the Seacoast will see plenty of contested races on the ballot with the winners advancing to the general election.
Here’s what you need to know.
When is the New Hampshire state primary?
The state primary is on Tuesday, Sept. 10.
How to vote in the primary
New Hampshire residents can vote at their designating polling place on Election Day.
More: Seacoast polling times and places listed here
Registered Democrats and Republicans must vote in their respective party’s primaries. Undeclared voters can choose a Democratic or Republican ballot.
You can find sample ballots here, and you can check your voter information here.
If you are at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, and domiciled in a New Hampshire town or city ward, you may register to vote on Election Day at your polling location. You must fill out a voter registration form and show proof of identity, age, citizenship and having established a domicile. If you don’t have the documents with you on Election Day, you may prove those qualifications by completing an affidavit.
If you meet certain qualifications, you may also vote by absentee ballot.
Here is a guide.
U.S. House primary elections in NH
First Congressional District
The Republican primary for New Hampshire’s First Congressional District features seven candidates: Russell Prescott, Joe Kelly Lavasseur, Chris Bright, Walter McFarlane, Hollie Noveletsky, Andy Martin, and Max Abramson.
The winner will face incumbent Rep. Chris Pappas.
Second Congressional District
Maggie Goodlander and Colin Van Ostern are vying for the Democratic nomination for New Hampshire’s Second Congressional District.
There are 13 candidates on the Republican side. They are Tom Alciere, Gerard Beloin, Michael Anthony Callis, Randall Clark, Casey Crane, Robert D’Arcy, Bill Hamlen, William Harvey, Vikram Mansaramani, Jay Mercer, Jason Riddle, Lily Tang Williams, and Paul Wagner.
What voters need to know: NH races for governor, Congress get heated and personal
NH governor’s races for Democrats and Republicans
There is a contested primary in both the Republican and Democratic primaries for governor.
In the Republican primary, Kelly Ayotte and Chuck Morse lead a crowded field that includes Shaun Fife, Robert Wayne McClory, Richard A. McMenamon II, and Frank Negus Staples.
Whoever wins will face either Joyce Craig, Cinde Warmington, or Jon Kiper, all running in the Democratic primary, in November.
More: NH races for governor, Congress get heated and personal: What voters need to know
NH Executive Council
The Republican primary for Executive Council District 4, which includes Lee and Barrington, features six candidates: Terese Bastarache, Robert Burns, John Reagan, John Stephen, Ryan Terrell, and Ross Terrio. The winner will face Democrat Jim O’Connell in the general election.
Contested NH State Senate race in greater Seacoast
Bill Gannon and Emily Phillips are facing off in the Republican primary for State Senate District 23, which represents Brentwood, Chester, Danville, East Kingston, Epping, Fremont, Kensington, Kingston, Newton, Sandown, Seabrook, and South Hampton. The winner will meet Democrat Brenda Oldak in the November election in a heavily Republican district.
Contested NH House races in greater Seacoast
There are several contested state representative primary races.
In Rockingham County District 6 (Brentwood), Allen Cook and Thaddeus Paul Riley are facing off in the Republican primary for who will take on incumbent Democratic Rep. Eric Turer in November.
In Rockingham County District 32 (Brentwood, Danville, Fremont), Republicans Melissa Litchfield and Scott Wallace are competing for the nomination to face Democrat Diana West.
More: Brentwood Republicans face off in two competitive NH House primaries
In Rockingham County District 10 (Newfields, Newmarket), Democrats Michael Cahill, Ellen Read, Lela Porter Love, and Toni Weinstein are running for three spots. Those who advance will appear on the November ballot with one Republican candidate, Jeanene Cooper.
More: Democratic voters in Newmarket, Newfields have 4 choices for 3 spots in NH House primary
In Rockingham County District 11 (Exeter), Linda Haskins, Julie Gilman, Gaby Grossman, Mark Paige, and Katrina Heinrich are running for four spots in the Democratic primary. The winners will face Republicans Robert Goeman, Brian Griset, and William Smith.
More: Exeter voters: to choose from 5 Democrats running for 4 NH House seats
In Rockingham County District 29 (Hampton), the Republican primary features Nicholas Bridle, David Hagen, Ken Sheffert, Bruce Theriault, and George Attar. The four candidates who garner the most votes will compete against Chris Muns, Mike Edgar, Alan Scott Blair, and Erica de Vries in the general election.
In Rockingham County District 40 (Hampton, Seabrook), Linda McGrath and Richard Sawyer are facing off in the Republican primary. Whoever comes out on top will run against Democrat John Patrick Carty in the general election.
In Rockingham County District 30 (Seabrook), Republicans William Fowler, Jason Janvrin, Aboul Khan, and Matt Sabourin are running for two spots. The winners will face Democrats Bob Albright and Justin Gregory Packard in November.
More: Hampton and Seabrook Republicans face off in competitive NH House primaries
In Strafford County District 10 (Durham), Timothy Horrigan, Loren Selig, Marjorie Smith, Wayne Burton, and Gale Bailey are running for four seats. There are no Republicans running, so the four winners will be unopposed in November.
More: Durham has 5 Democrats to choose from for 4 seats in NH House
In Strafford County District 11 (Dover Ward 4, Madbury, Lee), Democrats Erik Johnson, Thomas Southworth, and Janet Wall are running for three spots in the primary. It is no longer a contested primary after fourth candidate Andrew Kennedy suspended his campaign, but he will still appear on the ballot due to his late exit. They will face Republicans Joe Bazo, Denis Grenier, and Bill Taylor in the general election in November.
More: NH House candidate in Dover area who faced police investigation drops out of race
In Strafford County District 15 (Dover Ward 2), Alice Wade and Lucas Veitch are vying for the Democratic nomination. Whoever wins will face Republican Keith Mistretta.
More: Alice Wade, Lucas Veitch compete for Dover Ward 2 state rep Democratic nomination
In Strafford County District 19 (Rochester Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 6), Daniel Fitzpatrick, John Larochelle, Melena Lugo, and Seph Warren are competing in the Democratic primary. The three who advance to the November primary will be running against Republicans Kelley Potenza, David Walker, and Jenny Wilson.
More: What Rochester voters need to know about 4 Democrats in NH House primary
Strafford County sheriff
Three Democrats seeking to become the next Strafford County sheriff nominee are competing in the primary: Steven Bourque, Tracy Hayes, and Kathryn Mone. Voters will decide which will be on the ballot in November against Republican Scott Tingle.
More: Here are 3 Democrats running for Strafford County sheriff
New Hampshire
Concord celebrates 237 years of Constitution ratification with festivities – Concord Monitor
On June 20, 1788, New Hampshire’s delegates met to debate ratifying the U.S. Constitution. After officially breaking for the day, the delegates met at the Walker House on North Main Street in Concord, where they continued their discussions over drinks.
They met again the next day, this time at the Old North Meeting House, to ratify one of America’s founding documents. With their signatures, New Hampshire became the ninth state to formally approve the Constitution, completing the two-thirds majority needed for it to go into effect.
This Saturday, 237 years later, the Concord Historical Society will host “Liberty and Legacy: Civic Saturday Social” from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. The old-fashioned block party will celebrate New Hampshire’s democratic history in the lead up to America 250 and Concord 300.
The event will kick off at 1 p.m. in front of the Walker House at 276 North Main St. with a toast of sparking cider by Mayor Byron Champlin accompanied by a musket salute courtesy of the Bell’s Company NH 2nd Regiment reenactors. The toast and salute will be repeated at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Outside of the toasts, the Bell’s Company reenactors will be at the Pierce Manse open house for interviews. There will be a historical reenactment of the Declaration of Independence on Sparkey Stage at 2:10 p.m., and a 19th-century magic show at 2:45 p.m. at the Kimball Jenkins Carriage House.
Learn about Concord’s history at the Carriage House with Ward 3 City Councilor Jennifer Kretovic at 1:45 p.m. and 4 p.m., including stories from 1726 to 1776. You can also join Binnie Media at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. for a tour of the historic building where the Constitution was ratified. At 5 p.m., Bob Pollock will talk on the Kimball Jenkins Mansion lawn about some of the historic trees planted along North Main Street.
There will also be multiple exhibitions during the event. A replica of the original Concord Coach will be on show, accompanied by other historic vehicles. The Kimball Jenkins Mansion will have an open house to display the “History Woven Through Time” art exhibition, with 30-minute organ recitals at 3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.
For craftspeople and artists, there will be plenty of activities to enjoy. The Nulhegan Band of Abenaki will present their national needlework project “America’s Tapestry,” and attendees can learn beading and embroidery techniques from those who worked on the tapestry. The Guild of NH Woodworkers will also be hosting a woodworking demo throughout the day.
The Concordia Church Lawn will hold many activities throughout the day, including leather stamping, pottery, face painting, sidewalk chalk and historic games. From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Miles Smith Farm will host their Extreme Cow Experience, where you can interact with their Scottish Highland cows. A Parlor Quoits (Cornhole) Tournament will be held from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., with team and individual sign ups from 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Individuals will be paired as needed, and teams of two will be matched before the tournament begins.
On the Sparkey Stage, the Avaloch Farm Music Institute will hold a performance at 1:15 p.m., and musician Mike Morris will take the stage at 2:30 p.m. for his FreeStyle Folk Music Concert.
Food will be offered throughout the day. Domino’s will be partnering with Made By Us in offering pizza and civic information, and Stacy’s Grill food truck will be right next to Sparkey Stage. New Hampshah’s Mini Donuts and Nice Ice Baby Sno Cones will be available, as well as popcorn, cookies and cotton candy.
Parking will be available at Bennie Media, the Boys and Girls Club, Milestone Construction and the Merrimack County Savings Bank. Handicap parking will be available at the end of Horseshoe Pond Lane.
North Main Street will be closed from Kimball Jenkins Estate to where Horseshoe Pond Lane begins.
BRENTWOOD — A Maine woman was indicted this month on charges that she killed her 88‑year‑old mother‑in‑law in her Exeter apartment in 2025.
Danielle Kelsen, 55, was indicted by a Rockingham County grand jury in June on one count of second‑degree murder for “recklessly” causing the death of Janet Kelsen “by inflicting blunt force injuries.” She was also indicted on a misdemeanor charge of wiretapping and eavesdropping for allegedly recording conversations between the two without consent.
An indictment is not an indication of guilt; it means the grand jury found enough evidence to move the case forward to trial.
Janet Kelsen was found dead in her apartment at 133 Front St. in Exeter on the night of Feb. 9, 2025. An autopsy later revealed the cause of death — and confirmed it was a homicide.
Kelsen was arrested in November of 2025 in Southwest Harbor, Maine, as a fugitive from justice and held without bail in the Hancock County Jail. She initially fought extradition, which forced prosecutors to seek a governor’s warrant to bring her back to New Hampshire.
Benjamin Agati, a senior NH assistant attorney general, previously said the investigation involved a lengthy examination of the physical evidence, interviewing witnesses and verifying statements. An arrest warrant for Danielle Kelsen was obtained only after authorities had sufficient evidence, he said.
The court has sealed the arrest warrant that outlines the evidence in Kelsen’s case.
On March 3, Kelsen made her first in‑state court appearance in Brentwood District Court and was ordered held without bail.
If convicted of second‑degree murder, she faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment without parole or “for such term as the court may order,” according to New Hampshire law.
Kelsen is scheduled to be arraigned in Rockingham Superior Court on June 29 at 10 a.m.
Crime
Autopsies determined both died from gunshot wounds.
Authorities are investigating an apparent murder-suicide after a husband and wife in their 70s were found dead Tuesday inside their home in Keene, New Hampshire, officials announced.
Officers with the Keene Police Department responded to a residence on Hurricane Road at 11:10 a.m. to conduct a welfare check, where they discovered the bodies of two adult residents, according to a statement from New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella’s office.
The victims were identified Wednesday as Donna Fairbanks, 70, and her husband Chandler Fairbanks, 72.
Autopsies were conducted Wednesday at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Concord, New Hampshire, prosecutors said.
Donna Fairbanks died from gunshot wounds to the head and chest, and her death was ruled a homicide. Chandler Fairbanks died from a gunshot wound to the head, and his death was ruled a suicide, according to Formella’s office.
“Based upon the information available at this time, it appears that on June 16, inside their home, Chandler Fairbanks shot and killed his wife Donna Fairbanks and then shot and killed himself,” prosecutors said.
Authorities said there is no threat to the public.
No additional information is expected to be released at this time, according to Formella’s office.
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