Lakes Region voters support Webber for NH Senate District 2

Voters in Belknap County’s Senate District 2 have chosen a new leader as part of a larger, national trend dubbed the “Blue Wave,” electing former Green Beret and nonprofit founder Kurt Webber to a two-year seat in the New Hampshire Senate on Tuesday.

He defeated incumbent Tim Lang (R-Sanbornton) after a decade in public office.

Supported by voters in Gilford (2,183), Laconia (3,546) and New Hampton (686), the turnout was exciting for him, Webber said. He campaigned heavily by meeting neighbors face-to-face while knocking on doors.

“I think the results yesterday were way more encouraging than anybody had thought. It was a clear sign from voters in District 2, and throughout NH and the nation, that we need change,” he said Wednesday. “I think people want to see bipartisanship and cooperation and civility again. That’s what I’m gonna do” in office.

Webber ran on a platform of more affordable housing and improved education funding, advocating heavily for compromise between parties. This notion, he believes, is imperative to making real change.

“The way to get stuff done is to build relationships with the folks you’re working with, find common ground, and work toward solutions everyone can live with,” he said.

In a previous interview with The Daily Sun, Webber referenced a need to build relationships with the other 23 senators he’ll serve with. It’s something he’s already started, not even a full day after Granite Staters cast their ballots in the General Election.

“I already started. I talked to a couple [senators] this morning,” he said, adding respectful dialogue and finding common ground despite party lines should be priority. “I’m already working on [relationship-building], because that’s exactly what I think.”

Webber grew up in Florida, and is a third generation graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, from which both of his sons have also graduated. After higher education, he served 23 years in the U.S. Army, in Infantry and Special Forces (Green Beret) units. After 9/11, he volunteered to return to active duty, and served in Iraq, in 2005. After his service, he co-founded Camp Resilience locally, which has held over 150 free therapy retreats for active military members, veterans, first responders, and their loved ones dealing with depression or post-traumatic stress.

This was Webber’s first time running for Senate, after two unsuccessful campaigns for a Statehouse seat in 2022, when he ran as an independent, and 2024. This election season, he ran as a Democrat, albeit a moderate one, and believes it helps reach more Granite Staters, given the number of undeclared voters.

National and statewide election trends largely saw a flipped majority and a new wave of Democrats taking office. Dubbed by the creative internet, editorial cartoonists and media outlets as the “Blue Wave” or “Blue Tsunami,” the Republican reversal echoes a strong civilian demand for better housing affordability, an improved cost of living, and better camaraderie and agreement among those elected.

Webber, as part of that movement, already has plans for the next two years. One of his ideas includes hosting two town halls a year in each community in his district, as a way to keep the community informed.

Lang led in Belmont (1,735), Center Harbor (330), Meredith (1,860) and Sanbornton (925), but was shy of the necessary votes to win. After 10 years representing Lakes Region residents in both the Statehouse and Senate, he took to Facebook to notify his longtime supporters of his loss.

“So I lost. I thank the voters who showed up, I have loved serving my communities,” the post reads. As of late Wednesday, dozens lamented his loss in the comments section.

“I think we saw it was a national and statewide trend. I’m not taking it personally,” Lang said Wednesday, while picking up road signs throughout the region. “It was the will of the people. I think we’ll be in for a rough two years though, in my personal opinion.”

He will still be seen around Sanbornton as an active member of the community, serving as town moderator and more.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with the correct vote total for Kurt Webber in Laconia: 3,546.

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Delaney Nickerson contributed to this article. Katlyn Proctor can be reached at katlyn@laconiadailysun.com or by calling 603-524-0150.