Redistricting in NH could figure into election results Tuesday

Political parties vying for control of New Hampshire’s government in Tuesday’s election have vastly different approaches on issues including taxation, gun violence prevention, education funding, reproductive rights and more.

But success at the ballot box goes beyond policy stances. Another factor is the way the Republican-controlled state Legislature drew Senate and Executive Council districts after the 2020 Census.

A minority of these districts favor the Democratic party, while a majority lean Republican, Keene Mayor Jay Kahn, a former Democratic state senator, said Thursday.

University of New Hampshire political science Prof. Dante Scala said the same thing two years ago after an election in which the Republican party emerged with 14-10 control over the Senate and a 4-1 majority on the Executive Council.

A Princeton University project that looks at partisan gerrymandering at a state-by-state level gave the Senate map an “F” for partisan fairness and said it reflects a significant Republican advantage.

Republican Gov. Chris Sununu, who isn’t running for reelection, told reporters two weeks ago that he believes his party will continue its present majorities on the Executive Council and in the Senate. Sununu predicted the N.H. House will remain about evenly split.

Meanwhile, polls show Republican Kelly Ayotte, a former U.S. senator, locked in a tight race for governor against Democrat Joyce Craig, the former mayor of Manchester.

Kahn said Democrats might be able to pick up two Senate seats now held by Republicans in the southern part of the state, where the population has grown and elections have become tighter.

Whatever Tuesday’s voting yields, it is clear that each political party has different priorities.

Kahn sees Democrats’ support for public education as a main difference from their Republican opponents.

“People are attracted to our state because of the quality of public schools and historically that has been true, but local property taxes are bearing the brunt of that,” he said.

“There’s a concern that the state has not done enough to support its public schools because it has been distracted by public money going to private education.”

Many New Hampshire Democratic candidates say the state’s school voucher system, also known as the Education Freedom Accounts program, siphons badly needed dollars from public education.

The program uses taxpayer funds to help defray parents’ costs for sending their kids to private, religious or home schools. Republicans say it provides important education choices for children who don’t thrive in public schools.

Democrats have also lamented Republican-backed cuts in taxes on corporate profits and interest and dividends. This, they say, helps the wealthy, but further burdens local property taxpayers, especially since federal pandemic relief funds are drying up and school funding needs are increasing.

Republicans, by contrast, say tax cuts stimulate business growth and help residents.

Rep. Stephen Smith, R-Charlestown, is a strong supporter of Education Freedom Accounts.

He said in a recent opinion piece in the Union Leader that the program should be expanded. However, he said overall state spending should be reduced responsibly.

“The EFA program has already proven to be wildly successful in providing families with the resources they need to choose educational options that align with their child’s needs,” he said.

“By expanding education choice opportunities, reducing taxes, alleviating burdensome regulations, and protecting parental rights, we can build a better future for all New Hampshire residents.”

Smith is vying for an eighth House term in a four-way race for three seats in Sullivan District 3.

On other issues, the Republican-controlled Senate, without debate, killed a bipartisan bill the House passed this year to tighten gun-purchase background checks.

Republicans have also opposed putting reproductive rights in state law or in the constitution.

For the past few years, Republicans on the Executive Council, which approves state contracts, have rejected state health officials’ requests for funding for family planning centers, including Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, which has a clinic in Keene.

Republican councilors have voiced concerns that the money could be used for abortions, even though this would violate state and federal law and state auditors said this has not occurred.

For more information on local elections, visit sentinelsource.com/vote

Rick Green can be reached at 603-352-1234, extension 1435, or RGreen@KeeneSentinel.com

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