Red State or Blue State?
New Hampshire is a light blue state — Democratic-leaning at the presidential level but genuinely competitive downballot. It has gone Democratic in every presidential race since 2004, yet margins have stayed inside single digits and Republicans routinely win the governorship, making it the most volatile of the early states.
Democratic in six of the last seven presidential elections
New Hampshire 2028 Primary Outlook
Because undeclared voters can pull either ballot, a lopsided contest on one side pushes independents toward the other, which historically compresses frontrunner margins. Retail events and town halls matter more here per voter than anywhere else on the calendar.
Democratic field
| Candidate | Support |
|---|---|
| Gavin Newsom | 21% |
| Gretchen Whitmer | 19% |
| Josh Shapiro | 17% |
Republican field
| Candidate | Support |
|---|---|
| J.D. Vance | 29% |
| Glenn Youngkin | 14% |
| Ron DeSantis | 13% |
New Hampshire 2028 General Election Outlook
Four electoral votes, but a persistent tossup in close national environments. Both parties will spend here in the general, and a campaign that overperforms in the primary usually banks lasting organizational advantage.
Recent Presidential Results
| Year | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Democratic | D +2.8 |
| 2020 | Democratic | D +7.4 |
| 2016 | Democratic | D +0.4 |
| 2012 | Democratic | D +5.6 |