2014 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

The 2014 New Hampshire gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 2014, to elect the Governor of New Hampshire, concurrently with the election to New Hampshire's Class II U.S. Senate seat, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

2014 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

November 4, 2014

Nominee Maggie Hassan Walt Havenstein Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 254,666 229,610 Percentage 52.4% 47.4%

Results by municipality

Governor before election Maggie Hassan Democratic Elected Governor Maggie Hassan Democratic

Incumbent Democratic Governor Maggie Hassan ran for re-election to a second term in office. She defeated the Republican nominee, businessman Walt Havenstein. As of 2020, this is the last time a Democrat was elected Governor of New Hampshire.

Background

Incumbent Democratic Governor John Lynch decided to retire in 2012, rather than seek re-election to a fifth term in office. The Democratic nominee, former State Senate Majority Leader Maggie Hassan, defeated the Republican nominee, attorney and 1996 gubernatorial nominee Ovide M. Lamontagne, 55% to 43%.

New Hampshire and Vermont are the only states in the country whose governors are elected every two years. On only one occasion since 1926 has a first-term governor of New Hampshire been defeated for re-election to a second term: in 2004, when Lynch beat incumbent Republican Governor Craig Benson.[1][2]

Hassan also had and continues to have high approval ratings. An April 2014 WMUR/University of New Hampshire poll found that 57% of registered voters approved of the job she was doing, 58% had a favorable opinion of her, and 70% thought the state was going in the right direction.[3] For these reasons, Hassan was not considered vulnerable going into the election. The Cook Political Report,[4] Daily Kos Elections,[5] Governing[6] and Sabato's Crystal Ball[7] all considered the race "likely Democratic" and RealClearPolitics[8] and The Rothenberg Political Report rated the race "safe Democratic".[9]

Democratic primary

Declared

• Ian Freeman, radio show host[10]
• Maggie Hassan, incumbent Governor[11]
• Clecia Terrio, candidate for the State House in 2012[12]

Hassan won the Democratic Party primary, held on September 9, 2014, with 94.3% of the votes cast.[13]

Republican primary

Declared

• Daniel J. Greene[14]
• Walt Havenstein, businessman[15]
• Andrew Hemingway, businessman, Tea Party activist and candidate for Chairman of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee in 2013[16][17]
• Jonathan Smolin[14]

Havenstein won the Republican Party primary, held on September 9, 2014, with 55.6% of the votes cast.[13]

Declined

• William Harrison Binnie, industrialist, investment banker and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2010[18]
• Jeb Bradley, Majority Leader of the New Hampshire Senate and former U.S. Representative[19]
• Brad Cook, attorney[20][21]
• Jeanie Forrester, state senator[18]
• Ted Gatsas, Mayor of Manchester[22]
• Frank Guinta, former U.S. Representative (ran for NH-01)[23][24]
• Gary Lambert, former state senator (ran for NH-02)[25]
• George Lambert, state representative[26]
• Ovide Lamontagne, businessman, candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2010 and nominee for Governor in 1996 and 2012[27]
• Chuck Morse, state senator[22]
• Bob Odell, state senator[18]
• John Reagan, state senator[28][29]
• Chuck Rolecek, businessman and candidate for the Executive Council of New Hampshire in 2012[18]
• Andy Sanborn, state senator[30]
• Kevin H. Smith, conservative activist, former State Representative and candidate for Governor in 2012[1][31]
• John Stephen, former Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services and nominee for Governor in 2010[22]
• Christopher Sununu, Executive Councillor, son of former Governor John H. Sununu and brother of former U.S. Senator John E. Sununu (ran for re-election)[32]
• John E. Sununu, former U.S. Senator[33]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bill Binnie	Ted Gatsas	Daniel Greene	Walt Havenstein	Andrew Hemingway	George Lambert	Chuck Morse	Jonathan Smolin	Other	Undecided
Suffolk	June 14–18, 2014	419	±4.8%	—	—	3.82%	12.89%	6.92%	—	—	1.67%	—	74.7%
Vox Populi Polling	May 14–15, 2014	?	±5.2%	—	—	—	12%	12%	—	—	—	—	76%
Suffolk	Feb. 27–Mar. 5, 2014	426	± ?	8.45%	15.02%	—	—	1.88%	1.88%	7.04%	—	—	65.72%

General election

Debates

• Complete video of debate, October 22, 2014

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[34]	Lean D	November 3, 2014
Sabato's Crystal Ball[35]	Lean D	November 3, 2014
Rothenberg Political Report[36]	Likely D	November 3, 2014
Real Clear Politics[37]	Tossup	November 3, 2014

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Maggie Hassan (D)	Walt Havenstein (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	November 1–3, 2014	1,690	± 2.4%	51%	46%	—	3%
WMUR/UNH	October 29–November 2, 2014	757	± 3.6%	47%	43%	1%	9%
New England College	October 31–November 1, 2014	1,526	± 2.51%	51%	43.7%	2.4%	2.9%
Rasmussen Reports	October 29–30, 2014	940	± 3%	51%	42%	—	7%
Vox Populi Polling	October 27–28, 2014	638	± 3.9%	44%	47%	—	7%
WMUR/UNH	October 19–22, 2014	555	± 4.2%	52%	37%	1%	11%
American Research Group	October 19–22, 2014	600	± 4%	48%	46%	—	6%
New England College	October 24, 2014	1,132	± 2.91%	47.2%	46.9%	2.2%	3.7%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov	October 16–23, 2014	1,042	± 4%	47%	38%	1%	13%
American Research Group	October 19–22, 2014	600	± 4%	53%	43%	—	4%
Public Policy Polling	October 20–21, 2014	764	± ?	53%	43%	—	4%
CNN/ORC	October 18–21, 2014	645 LV	± 4%	51%	45%	—	4%
		877 RV	± 3.5%	54%	40%	—	5%
UMass Lowell	October 15–21, 2014	643 LV	± 4.5%	49%	45%	—	7%
		900 RV	± 3.8%	49%	40%	—	11%
Suffolk/Boston Herald	October 16–19, 2014	500	± ?	49.4%	39.2%	—	11.4%
New England College	October 16, 2014	921	± 3.23%	50.7%	42.5%	2.6%	4.2%
New England College	October 9, 2014	1,081	± 2.98%	48.7%	43.5%	2.7%	5.1%
High Point University	October 4–8, 2014	824	± 3.4%	50%	42%	4%	4%
WMUR/UNH	September 29–October 5, 2014	532	± 4.2%	46%	36%	2%	16%
New England College	October 3, 2014	1,286	± 2.73%	51.4%	41.3%	3%	4.4%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov	September 20–October 1, 2014	1,260	± 3%	49%	39%	0%	12%
New England College	September 26, 2014	1,331	± 2.69%	47.9%	44.1%	2.9%	5.1%
American Research Group	September 27–29, 2014	600	± 4%	55%	40%	—	5%
New England College	September 19–20, 2014	1,494	± 2.54%	52%	39.6%	3.8%	4.6%
Public Policy Polling	September 18–19, 2014	652	± 3.8%	52%	43%	—	4%
Vox Populi Polling	September 15–16, 2014	550	± 4.2%	47%	43%	—	10%
American Research Group	September 12–15, 2014	544	± 4.2%	48%	40%	—	12%
New England College	September 10–11, 2014	630	± 3.98%	51.3%	36.2%	3.9%	8.6%
Rasmussen Reports	September 10–11, 2014	750	± 4%	51%	40%	3%	6%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov	August 18–September 2, 2014	1,159	± 4%	51%	34%	3%	13%
WMUR/UNH	August 7–17, 2014	609	± 4%	49%	32%	1%	18%
National Research/RGA	August 10–13, 2014	600	± 4%	42%	37%	1%	18%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov	July 5–24, 2014	1,246	± 2.9%	53%	38%	2%	7%
WMUR/UNH	June 19–July 1, 2014	669	± 3.8%	58%	29%	1%	10%
Suffolk/Boston Herald	June 14–18, 2014	800	± 3.5%	50.63%	19%	2.88%[38]	27.5%
American Research Group	June 14–18, 2014	540	± 4.2%	45%	32%	—	23%
Vox Populi Polling	May 14–15, 2014	707	± 3.6%	43%	30%	—	27%
Rockefeller Center	April 21–25, 2014	412	± 4.8%	40%	19.2%	—	40.8%
WMUR/UNH	April 1–9, 2014	387	± 5%	49%	19%	2%	30%

Results

2014 New Hampshire gubernatorial election[39]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Maggie Hassan (incumbent)	254,666	52.38%	-2.23%
	Republican	Walt Havenstein	230,610	47.43%	+4.91%
	Write-in		907	0.19%	+0.09%
Total votes			486,183	100.00%	N/A
	Democratic hold

References

1. "Poll: Job approval ratings rise for Hassan". WMUR. July 31, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
2. Schweitzer, Sarah (November 4, 2004). "Defeated after 1 term, N.H. governor fades out". The Boston Globe. Retrieved on February 6, 2011.
3. "APPROVAL OF HASSAN AND LEGISLATURE REMAINS HIGH, MOST THINK NH IS ON RIGHT TRACK" (PDF). WMUR/UNH. October 24, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 21, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
4. "Ratings". Retrieved September 6, 2013.
5. "Daily Kos Elections gubernatorial race ratings: Initial ratings for 2013-14". Retrieved November 22, 2013.
6. Jacobson, Louis (July 18, 2013). "Handicapping the 2013-2014 Governors Races: The Tossups". Governing.com. Archived from the original on October 14, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
7. "Ratings". Retrieved September 6, 2013.
8. "2014 Governors Races".
9. "Ratings". Retrieved September 6, 2013.
10. Dan Tuohy (June 12, 2014). "Liberty Activist, Free Stater Running for Governor as a Democrat". Salem Patch. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
11. Mackin, Jean (May 30, 2014). "Gov. Hassan announces she is running for reelection". WMUR-TV. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
12. "OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE - ELECTION DIVISION DEMOCRATIC CUMULATIVE FILING AS OF 07/22/2014". New Hampshire Secretary of State. July 22, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2014.
13. "New Hampshire Gubernatorial Election, 2014". October 29, 2014. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
14. Tuohy, Dan (June 30, 2014). "Ballot Law Commission Confirms Havenstein Candidacy". Nashua Patch. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
15. John DiStaso (April 2, 2014). "Republican Walt Havenstein running for governor". New Hampshire Union Leader. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
16. Ronayne, Kathleen (January 30, 2014). "Entrepreneur, political activist Andrew Hemingway to challenge Hassan for governor". Concord Monitor. Retrieved January 31, 2014.
17. Scott Conroy (July 1, 2014). "Andrew Hemingway: A Millennial Governor in N.H.?". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
18. Pindell, James (September 10, 2013). "The list: which Republicans could run for major office next year". WMUR. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
19. Pindell, James (September 3, 2013). "Bradley rules out running for statewide office next year". WMUR Political Scoop. Archived from the original on September 4, 2013. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
20. DiStaso, John (September 11, 2013). "John DiStaso's Granite Status: GOP Manchester attorney Brad Cook confirms eyeing a run for governor". New Hampshire Union Leader. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
21. DiStaso, John (January 29, 2014). "Conservative activist Andrew Hemingway plans run for NH governor". New Hampshire Union Leader. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
22. Pindell, James (November 9, 2012). "Political Standing for Nov. 9, 2012". WMUR Political Scoop. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
23. Toeplitz, Shira (November 29, 2012). "New Hampshire: Guinta Opens Door to Senate, Comeback Bids". Roll Call. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
24. Cahn, Emily (September 24, 2013). "Ex-Congressman Launches Rematch Bid With Bipartisan Tone". Roll Call. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
25. "Former NH state GOP sen. Gary Lambert to announce House bid against Democrat Annie Kuster". Associated Press. Daily Journal. September 4, 2013. Archived from the original on September 4, 2013. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
26. Landrigan, Kevin (June 11, 2013). "Socially liberal, fiscally conservative Litchfield GOP Rep. Lambert may run for governor". Nashua Telegraph. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
27. Lessard, Ryan (April 15, 2013). "Ovide Lamontagne Takes Major Anti-Abortion Job In D.C." nhpr.org. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
28. Pindell, James (February 13, 2014). "NH Sen. Reagan being encouraged to run for governor". WMUR Political Scoop. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
29. John DiStaso (April 4, 2014). "NH State Sen. John Reagan (R) ..." Twitter. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
30. Pindell, James (September 27, 2013). "GOP state Sen. Andy Sanborn will not run for governor". WMUR Political Scoop. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
31. Brennan, Kevin (January 25, 2013). "Smith Considering Another Gov. Run in N.H." National Journal. Archived from the original on May 7, 2013. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
32. DiStaso, John (July 18, 2013). "John DiStaso's Granite Status: Chris Sununu won't run for Gov, US House or US Senate in '14; plans to seek reelection to Executive Council". New Hampshire Union Leader. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
33. DiStato, John (April 12, 2013). "Exclusive: Former Sen. John E. Sununu won't run for office in 2014". New Hampshire Union Leader. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
34. "2014 Governor Race Ratings for November 3, 2014". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
35. "The Crystal Ball's Final 2014 Picks". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
36. "2014 Gubernatorial Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
37. "2014 Elections Map - 2014 Governors Races". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
38. Max Abramson (L)
39. "Governor - 2014 General Election". New Hampshire Secretary of State. Retrieved November 22, 2014.

External links

• New Hampshire gubernatorial election, 2014 at Ballotpedia
• Campaign contributions at FollowTheMoney.org

Official campaign websites

• Maggie Hassan for Governor incumbent
• Walt Havenstein for Governor
• Andrew Hemingway for Governor
• Libertarian Candidates for 2014