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.
Sunflowers are my absolute FAVORITE flowers. I truly feel like they have magical uplifting abilities. Hence, why I’ve always kept fresh sunflowers in my house, brightening up my kitchen table or even my TV stand.
Obviously, it was a dream of mine to have my maternity photos taken in a sunflower field. They reflect sunshine and exude happiness.
Not to mention, one of my favorite quotes is about sunflowers! “Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It’s what sunflowers do.” Helen Keller
A beautiful reminder to keep an optimistic outlook on life and not dwell on the negative.
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So, you can imagine the joy I felt when I learned that New Hampshire had its very own Sunflower Festival at Coppal House Farm in Lee!
Coppal House Farm via FacebookCoppal House Farm via Facebook
About the Sunflower Festival:
During the summer, the farm transforms into a sea of golden blooms, giving visitors the chance to wander through thousands of sunflowers, snap photos, enjoy local food vendors, artisan crafts, listen to live music, and experience one of New Hampshire’s most beautiful summer traditions.
Other unique activities on the itinerary? Sip-n-snip! Guests can enjoy a cocktail or mocktail of their choice and cut their own fresh bouquet of flowers.
Coppal House Farm via FacebookCoppal House Farm via Facebook
Or maybe you’re a yoga fan? You can join a 60-minute sweat session from Lee, New Hampshire yoga instructors right in the heart of the flower field.
And because the farm grows oilseed sunflowers for culinary oil (which they harvest in the fall months), the flowers only stay at their peak for a brief window, making the festival a limited-time experience, according to the festival organizers…
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What makes this event even more special is the reason behind it. The festival started as a way to share the beauty of the sunflower fields, but it has grown into something much bigger. Organizers say the event has raised more than $90,000 for Make-A-Wish New Hampshire over the years and now shares a portion of its proceeds with several local nonprofit organizations serving the Seacoast community.
Anyone who knows me knows that paying it forward is something that’s incredibly important to me. It’s right up there with my love of sunflowers because both fill my cup in the best way. So, when I found out this festival celebrates my favorite flower and gives back to the community, I knew I had to share it.
Sunflower Festival Details:
This festival only runs from Saturday, July 25th until Sunday, August 2nd. You can get the full list of activities and more on the Coppal Farm website.
Daily Field Hours
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10:00 AM – 6:30 PM (last admission at 6PM because fields close at 6:30) Weekend Tickets (prepurchased online – day before) $12 per person ages 13 & older $10 per person ages 5-12 $10 per person Seniors (65+) & Military 4 yrs & under are always free Weekend Tickets (purchased day of – online or at farm): $16 per person ages 13 & older $14 per person ages 5-12 $14 per person Seniors (65+) & Military 4 yrs & under are always free includes: access to sunflower fields, craft fair, food vending area, tented shade area, picnic area, farm animals, & live music
Weekday Tickets (prepurchased online – day before) $8 per person ages 13 & older $6 per person ages 5-12 $6 per person Seniors (65+) & Military 4 yrs & under are always free
Weekday Tickets (purchased day of – online or at farm) $12 per person ages 13 & older $10 per person ages 5-12 $10 per person Seniors (65+) & Military 4 yrs & under are always free
What tickets include: Access to sunflower fields, food vending area, tented shade area, picnic area, and farm animals
READ MORE: A Classic Fairy Tale Comes To Life At Portsmouth’s Prescott Park This Summer
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This festival might just leave you smiling long after you leave the fields!
What Flowers Thrive in New England
See what flowers thrive in New England weather: Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.
Gallery Credit: Logan
14 of the Best New Hampshire Farms Offering Locally Grown Strawberries
14 of the Best New Hampshire Farms Offering PYO Strawberries
Ed. Note: If this was you and you are interested, please email [email protected] so I can put you in touch with OP.
“Dear PoPville,
I was biking home from a doctor appointment a little before noon on Friday, and stopped at a red light on New Hampshire & L st nw. There was a woman across the street who was looking fine in her dark blue (I think they were) scrubs. I might be crazy, but it felt like we kept checking each other out. By the third time,
if we were in a romcom, one of us would have waved. Sorry I didn’t, but if you are reading this and date men, reach out to the Prince if you are interested in that man on the bike. Have a great weekend!”
Ed. Note: If this is you, please email [email protected] so I can put you in touch with OP. PoPville is not affiliated with either party, please proceed with any potential connection at your own risk using caution as you would any online encounter. For those curious about past missed connections, many have been made and when possible I’ll try to update when/if more are made.
A New Hampshire motorcyclist who had been missing since the Fourth of July was found dead in Shelburne late Thursday night.
State police say they received a request from the Berlin Police Department just after 7:30 p.m. Thursday for help locating 41-year-old Wesley Grondin — the Berlin man was last seen riding his motorcycle on Saturday, July 4, and had been reported missing.
Troopers received a call a couple of hours later, around 10:10 p.m. Thursday, from a concerned resident who had been out looking for Grondin along Route 2 in Shelburne. The person told police they had found Grondin dead, along with his Harley Davidson.
According to state police, a preliminary investigation determined that Grondin was riding his Harley on Route 2 westbound in Shelburne when, for reasons that remain under investigation, he crossed over into the opposing lane, struck a post, and came to a final rest in the wood line.
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The crash is believed to have occurred just before midnight on July 4. At this time, police say there’s no indication that another vehicle or person was involved.
All aspects of the crash remain under investigation, however. Anyone with information that may assist investigators is asked to contact Trooper Hunter Newsham at Hunter.P.Newsham@dos.nh.gov.
