New Hampshire is known for its independent streak, especially when it comes to elections. Nonetheless, the Granite State has voted blue since 1992 with one exception in 2000. In 2020, President Joe Biden won the state’s four electoral votes by 7% over former President Donald Trump.
A woman leaves a voting booth in the presidential primary election at Windham High School on Jan. 23, 2024, in Windham, New Hampshire. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
The Washington Examiner is following the key issues voters care about as they prepare to vote for the next president of the United States. The specific issues being tracked are Social Security, crime, abortion, the economy, and immigration.
These concerns were chosen with the help of the Associated Press’s issues tracker. The Washington Examiner subsequently compared five of the key matters in Google Trends on a state-by-state basis, revealing which ones are most important to voters in swing-state contests.
Here, you can track how important these various concerns are to the voters in New Hampshire on a rolling 30-day basis.
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Social Security
Social Security took the top spot for New Hampshire voters. The state has a median population of 43.1 years old, and approximately 20.8% of the state is 65 or older. The state is the second oldest state, tied with Vermont. By 2030, it’s estimated that there will be more adults over 65 than children, placing a shifting population right in line with social security’s potential insolvency.
With an aging population, the state’s total eight Social Security Administration locations might wind up being slightly outnumbered. Concerns over the administration’s longevity and accessibility seem right in place in the makeup of this state.
Crime
Crime followed social security in importance to New Hampshire voters even though the state ranks 49th out of 50 for violent crime rate. Violent crime occurs at a rate of 126 out of 100,000 and when compared to the national average of 381, equates to a 65% decrease. New Hampshire’s property theft rate is 50% lower than the national average, and the Granite State has the lowest rates of burglary and motor theft in the nation.
Overall, New Hampshire is one of the safest states in the country, and it isn’t surprising that the residents might want to keep it that way.
Abortion
Abortion was the third most searched topic in New Hampshire, where the procedure is accessible but does not have legal protection. Their law does state that abortion after 24 weeks is illegal and a parent or guardian must be notified before care is provided. However, a minor can petition a judge for permission without parental notice.
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Abortion is never mentioned in the state’s laws or protections. However, it is enshrined in the state’s Constitution that an individual’s right to privacy from governmental intrusion is essential. The state has never clarified whether that involves the right to abortion, but there have been no moves made to block access to the procedure.
Economy
Concerns over the economy aren’t too bad with the issue coming in fourth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics and Bureau of Economic Analysis found New Hampshire’s unemployment rate has consistently been below the national average for the last five years; the state’s current unemployment rate is 2.3% placing it sixth in the nation.
The gross domestic product in the third quarter of 2023 was $112.5 billion in goods and services and its growth was 4.5%. New Hampshire accounted for 0.7% of the nation’s economy, ranking 40th in economy size.
New Hampshire’s mining, oil, and gas extraction saw a 13.4% increase with a GDP of $129 million, and the construction industry had a 19% increase, bumping it up to $3.3 billion. The highest GDP of any industry was in real estate with $15.73 billion. New Hampshire’s educational services also saw a 10% increase in growth, resulting in a GDP of $2.67 billion.
Immigration
Immigration came in last for the Granite State’s concerns. The immigrant population isn’t large in New Hampshire with the American Immigration Council reporting that 5.9% of its population being foreign born and 2.2% of its residents having at least one immigrant parent. Immigrants in New Hampshire are most likely to have India or China as their country of origin.
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About 7% of New Hampshire’s workforce is immigrants- 11.3% of the manufacturing workforce is immigrants, and 13.4% of STEM workers are immigrants. More immigrants than U.S.-born residents have graduate degrees, and 3,767 international students contribute $161.3 million to the state’s economy.
Immigrants in New Hampshire had a total spending power of $3.3 billion and paid $1.1 billion in taxes in 2022. Of the immigrants in the state, 61.1% are naturalized, 12,700 are eligible for naturalization, and 11.6% of immigrants are undocumented.
CONCORD – While Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte has said she opposes increasing highway toll rates across the state, the Senate voted Thursday to increase rates for out-of-state license plate holders.
It now goes to the House for consideration.
This would be a $1 increase for those who have out of state plates going through the tolls at Hooksett, Hampton and Bedford for out-of-state plates, a 75 cent hike for those taking Hampton’s Exit 2 and on the Spaulding turnpike at Rochester, and a 50 cent hike for those taking the exit off I-93 to Hooksett.
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An analysis in the bill shows that this would increase toll revenue by $53.3 million in fiscal year 2027 and go up each year to generate $81.4 million a year in 2036.
Senate Bill 627 passed on a voice vote with two Republicans, Senators Regina Birdsell of Hampstead and William Gannon of Sandown opposing.
Senator Mark E. McConkey, R-Freedom, moved to take the bill off the table and offered an amendment. He said the last time there was a systemwide increase to the turnpike toll was 19 years ago.
“I am sure we could all agree the cost of operations…has continued to escalate when revenue is not rising with it,” and he noted that with an enterprise fund, the state can only spend what it takes in.
The state has just completed a 10-year highway plan and there was a $400 million shortfall in projects that could not be paid for under the current income.
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McConkey said the measure would not increase tolls for New Hampshire drivers with a state license plate.
“Why don’t we ask our neighbors,” to pay a toll increase. “We are getting the best of all worlds,” by passing the bill, he said, including “protecting our residents” and having resources for improvements to the turnpike system.
Sen. Gannon, R-Sandown, asked McConkey if there are any studies on impacts near the border on businesses.
If implemented, McConkey said the state will be the 27th lowest in per mile cost still. McConkey said the bill would also increase from seven to 14 days the amount of time for those with NH license plates to pay for a toll adding there are other states that also have different rates for out-of-state users.
The Hampton toll cost would go from $2 to $3, while Hooksett and Bedford would rise from $1 to $2 for out-of-state plates.
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New Hampshire currently has the lowest rate per mile among states with tolls roads. The governor said she does not support a toll increase.
“We are not going to put a burden on drivers for a toll increase,” Ayotte said. “Families are struggling.”
WILTON, N.H. (WHDH) – A woman died in a Wilton, New Hampshire, house fire Wednesday morning, according to the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office.
At 9:08 a.m., Wilton firefighters responded to Burns Hill Road after a caller said their home was filling up with smoke. When they arrived, a single-family home was on fire and they found out two people were still inside on the second floor.
A man and a woman were both taken out of the house by firefighters and taken to Elliott Hospital. The woman was pronounced dead and the man is in serious condition.
Officials have not released the name of the victim at this time.
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At this time, investigators are looking into the cause of the fire and are trying to determine if a power outage in the area played a factor. The fire is not currently considered suspicious.
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