New Hampshire

Governor’s races to watch in 2024: North Carolina, New Hampshire and Washington

Published

2 years ago

May 24, 2024

Press Room

Governor’s races to watch in 2024: North Carolina, New Hampshire and Washington

In a crowded election cycle, races at all levels of the ballot matter. Here are the governor’s races we’ve got our eyes on, and why.

While the U.S. presidential election will feature a rematch between Biden and Trump, there are several high-profile races, including 11 governor’s seats, to watch in November’s general election. The majority of the gubernatorial races feature new candidates, giving fresh faces the chance to occupy the governor’s mansion in eight states. Here’s a look at three state races that USA Today is closely monitoring.

Who’s running for North Carolina governor?

The Tar Heel State’s gubernatorial race is at the top of everyone’s watch lists, and for good reason. North Carolina is a swing state rife with contradictions and surprises. Exiting Democratic governor Roy Cooper has stood in stark contrast to the state’s deeply Republican legislature for the past eight years, winning the statewide vote in 2016 and 2020, while the state itself voted for Donald Trump.

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The state’s diversity, rapid population growth, and complex political legacy, ranging from Jesse Helms to Jim Hunt, will all come into play this November. But the scrutiny isn’t just due to North Carolina’s swing-state status – the contest features a showdown between two heavyweights of the state’s political scene, Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein and Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. Millions of dollars are already pouring into the race.

Stein is hoping to ride on Governor Cooper’s popularity and continue the Democratic Party’s long-held dominance of the state’s governorship. Much of the national attention on the race is attributable to Robinson, who has made controversial remarks on topics including abortion, gun rights, and LGBTQ issues, with none of the scandals seeming to slow his momentum.

Who’s running for governor in New Hampshire?

The impending retirement of New Hampshire’s longtime Republican governor Chris Sununu gives Democrats a chance to take the governor’s mansion in the famously libertarian state. The moderate Sununu’s popularity repeatedly foiled Democrats’ attempts to claim the governorship.

The Granite State’s gubernatorial primaries are not until September. On the Democratic side, the front-runners are former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig and New Hampshire Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington, with restaurant owner and author Jonathan Kiper announcing their candidacy as well. On the Republican side, Former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte faces former state Senate President Chuck Morse lead the pack, with Make America Jesus Included founder Shaun Fife in the mix as well.

Who’s running for governor in Washington?

The impending retirement of longtime governor Democrat Jay Inslee has left an opening for Republicans to take the governorship in the Democratic stronghold – Biden won the state by 19 points in 2020.

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

The Republican Party’s hope is largely pinned on the familiar name of Dave Reichert, a moderate Republican who represented Washington for 14 years in a district that leans Democratic. Presently, 28 candidates have filed to compete in Washington’s nonpartisan gubernatorial primary. Reichert’s most significant challenge across the aisle will be Democratic Attorney General Bob Ferguson. Other notable contenders include retired veteran Republican Semi Bird and Democratic state Senator Mark Mullett.

As reported by the Kitsap Sun, the race has already seen plenty of mischief. A local conservative activist contacted some of Washington’s 53 residents named Bob Ferguson, and ultimately helped two of the Bobs to file for August’s Democratic primary, including paying each of the candidate’s nearly $2,000 filing fees. Both alternate Bob Fergusons exited the race after the original Bob, Attorney General Bob Ferguson, sent cease and desist letters and threatened prosecution.

Cy Neff reports on Wyoming politics for USA Today. You can reach him at cneff@usatoday.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @CyNeffNews

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New Hampshire

New Hampshire services respond to 7-car crash

Published

11 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Press Room

New Hampshire services respond to 7-car crash

SPRINGFIELD, N.H. (ABC22/FOX44) – After an icy morning on Interstate 89 that saw multiple cars in a crash in Springfield, New Hampshire, responders say that they are thankful that only one person sustained injuries.

According to Springfield Fire Rescue, they originally were called at 7:40 a.m. on Friday for a reported two-car crash between Exits 12A and 13 – but arrived to find 7 vehicles involved, including 6 off the road.

According to authorities, all of the occupants of the cars were able to get themselves out and only one needed to be taken to the hospital. Their injuries were reported to be non-life-threatening.

“Springfield Fire Rescue would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone to slow down and move over when emergency vehicles are in the roadway. The area where this incident occurred was very icy and we witnessed several other vehicles almost lose control when they entered the scene at too great a speed.”

Responders from New London, Enfield, and Springfield, as well as NH State Police, helped respond to the incident and clear the vehicles from the road, as well as to treat the ice to make the road safe.

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New Hampshire

Man killed in NH snowmobile crash

Published

23 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

An Alton man is dead after a snowmobile crash in New Hampshire’s North Country Thursday afternoon.

The New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game says 63-year-old Bradford Jones was attempting to negotiate a left hand turn on Corridor Trail 5 in Colebrook when he lost control of his snowmobile, struck multiple trees off the side of the trail and was thrown from the vehicle shortly before 3:30 p.m.

Jones was riding with another snowmobiler, who was in the lead at the time of the crash, according to the agency. Once the other man realized Jones was no longer behind him, he turned around and traveled back where he found Jones significantly injured, lying off the trail beside his damaged snowmobile.

The man immediately rendered aid to Jones and called 911 for assistance, NH Fish and Game said. The Colebrook Fire Department used their rescue tracked all terrain vehicle and a specialized off road machine to transport first responders across about a mile of trail to the crash scene.

Once there, a conservation officer and 45th Parallel EMS staff attempted lifesaving measures for approximately an hour, but Jones ultimately died from his injuries at the scene of the crash, officials said.

The crash remains under investigation, but conservation officers are considering speed for the existing trail conditions to have been a primary factor in this deadly incident.

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New Hampshire

The weight of caregiving in NH. Why we need SB 608: Sirrine

Published

1 day ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

The weight of caregiving in NH. Why we need SB 608: Sirrine

Anne Marie Sirrine
| Guest Columnist

Recently, I met with a husband who had been caring for his wife since her Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Her needs were escalating quickly — appointments, medications, meals, personal care — and he was determined to keep her at home. But the cost to his own wellbeing was undeniable. He was sleep‑deprived, depressed, and beginning to experience cognitive decline himself.

As director of the Referral Education Assistance & Prevention (REAP) program at Seacoast Mental Health Center, which supports older adults and caregivers across New Hampshire in partnership with the CMHC’s across the state, I hear stories like his every week. And his experience is far from unique.

Across the country, 24% of adults are family caregivers. Here in New Hampshire, 281,000 adults provide this essential care, often with little preparation or support. Only 11% receive any formal training to manage personal care tasks — yet they are the backbone of our long‑term care system, helping aging parents, spouses, and loved ones remain safely at home. (AARP, 2025)

REAP provides short‑term counseling, education, and support for older adults, caregivers, and the professionals who support them. We address concerns around mental health, substance use and cognitive functioning. After 21 years working with caregivers, I have seen how inadequate support directly harms families. Caregiving takes a serious toll — emotionally, physically, socially and financially. Many experience depression, chronic stress, and increased risk of alcohol or medication misuse.

In REAP’s own data from 2024:

50% of caregivers reported moderate to severe depression
29% reported suicidal ideation in the past two weeks
25% screened positive for at‑risk drinking

Their responsibilities go far beyond tasks like medication management and meal preparation. They interpret moods, manage behavioral changes, ease emotional triggers, and create meaningful engagement for the person they love. Their world revolves around the care recipient — often leading to isolation, loss of identity, guilt, and ongoing grief.

The statistics reflect what I see every week. Nearly one in four caregivers feels socially isolated. Forty‑three percent experience moderate to high emotional stress. And 31% receive no outside help at all.

Compare that to healthcare workers, who work in teams, receive breaks, have coworkers who step in when overwhelmed, and are trained and compensated for their work. Even with these supports, burnout is common. Caregivers receive none of these protections yet are expected to shoulder the same level of responsibility — alone, unpaid, and unrecognized.

Senate Bill 608 in New Hampshire would finally begin to fill these gaps. The bill provides access to counseling, peer support, training, and caregiver assessment for family caregivers of individuals enrolled in two Medicaid waiver programs: Acquired Brain Disorder (ABD) and Choices for Independence (CFI). These services would address the very needs I see daily.

Professional counseling helps caregivers process the complex emotions of watching a loved one decline or manage the stress that comes with it. Peer support connects them with others navigating similar challenges. Caregiver assessment identifies individual needs before families reach crisis.

When caregivers receive the right support, everyone benefits. The care recipient receives safer, more compassionate care. The caregiver’s health stabilizes instead of deteriorating from chronic stress and neglect. And costly options, which many older adults want to avoid, are delayed or prevented.

There is a direct and measurable link between caregiver training and caregiver wellbeing. The spouse I mentioned earlier is proof. Through REAP, he received education about his wife’s diagnosis, guidance on communication and behavior, and strategies to manage his own stress. Within weeks, his depression decreased from moderate to mild without medication. He was sleeping through the night and thinking more clearly. His frustration with his wife dropped significantly because he finally understood what she was experiencing and how to respond compassionately.

The real question before lawmakers is not whether we can afford SB 608. It is whether we can afford to continue ignoring the needs of those who hold our care system together. In 1970, we had 31 caregivers for every one person needing care. By 2010, that ratio dropped to 7:1. By 2030, it is projected to be 4:1. Our caregiver supply is shrinking while needs continue to grow. Without meaningful support, our systems — healthcare, long‑term care, and community supports — cannot function. (AARP, 2013)

Caregivers don’t ask for much. They want to keep their loved ones safe, comfortable, and at home. They want to stay healthy enough to continue providing care. SB 608 gives them the tools to do exactly that.

I urge New Hampshire lawmakers to support SB 608 and stand with the 281,000 residents who are quietly holding our care system together. We cannot keep waiting until caregivers collapse to offer help. We must provide the support they need now — before the burden becomes too heavy to bear.

Anne Marie Sirrine, LICSW, CDP is a staff therapist and the director of the REAP (Referral Education Assistance & Prevention) program at Seacoast Mental Health Center.

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