NEW HAMPSHIRE
     Nov. 8, 2016 Governor

Gov.
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+Chris Sununu (R)
354,040
48.84%
Colin Van Ostern (D)
337,589
46.57%
Max Abramson (L)
31,243
4.29%
scatter
1,991


724,863

Plurality 16,451 votes (2.27 percentage points).
 NH Sec. of State


Notes:
Not only was New Hampshire the second closest state in the presidential race, but there were close contests for governor, U.S. Senate and U.S. House. The governor's seat was open due to Gov. Maggie Hassan's bid for U.S. Senate, and featured two young candidates, Executive Councilor Chris Sununu (R), age 42, and Executive Councilor Colin Van Ostern (D), age 36. Democrats had held the governorship since Jon Lynch was elected in 2004. A bit of pendulum swing from the long Democratic stretch and the Sununu name probably helped the Republican candidate carry the day.

Sununu and Van Ostern both won competitive primaries on Sept. 13.  Sununu edged out state Rep. Frank Edelbut by 30.68% to 29.79% and 20.53% for Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas and 17.72% for state Sen. Jeanie Forrester. Van Ostern obtained 51.99% to 25.29% for former Portsmouth Mayor Steve Marchand and 20.47% for former Deputy Sec. of State Mark Connolly.

Sununu and Van Ostern debated four times:

Sept. 21 - on NHPR from the NHIOP at St. Anselm College (>).
Oct. 5 - on NECN at New England College.
Oct. 26 - in NH1 studios (>).
Nov. 1 - on WMUR-TV with the Union Leader at NHIOP (>).

According to FollowTheMoney.org, candidates received contributions totaling $5.3 million, including in the competitive primaries (>).  Outside groups, led by the Democratic Governors' Association, the NHDP, and the Republican Governor's Association invested millions more in the race.  According to NHPR, TV ad spending on the Democratic side totaled $6.5 million compared to $2.4 million on the Republican side (>).


Campaign Managers:
Chris Sununu:  Paul Collins

Senior advisor on Gov. John Kasich's NH primary campaign from May 2015. Campaign manager on Dan Innis' 2014 Republican primary campaign in the 1st CD. Campaign manager on Ovide Lamontagne's 2012 campaign for governor. Consultant on Jon Huntsman's 2011-12 NH primary campaign. In the 2010 cycle he served as senior political strategist on businessman Bill Binnie's U.S. Senate campaign for about four months, then managed Sean Mahoney's unsuccessful bid for the 1st CD seat in the Sept. 2010 primary. Executive director of the NH Republican Party, 1999.  Managed John E. Sununu's congressional and Senate campaigns, 1996 through Jan. 2009.  Managed Pete Wilson's brief NH primary effort (summer 1995), then when he withdrew served as state director on Steve Forbes NH campaign (from Oct. 1995). District director to Rep. Charlie Bass to July 1995. During the Administration of President George H. W. Bush, when John H. Sununu was chief of staff, he served as Deputy Director of the Office of National Service (1,000 points of light) and then Special Assistant to the President for Political Affairs. Worked for John H. Sununu starting in 1982, serving key roles on his three campaigns for governor and as a gubernatorial aide. NH political director on Pete du Pont's NH primary campaign.

Colin Van Ostern:  Pat Devney
Campaign manager on Chris Bell's run for Mayor of Houston in 2015. Campaign manager for U.S. Rep. Ann McLane Kuster's re-election in 2014. Special projects director for U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono (HI), 2012-13.
  Campaign manager on Nathan Granger for State Senate (LA), Feb. 2011.  Field director on Charlie Melancon's campaign in Louisiana, Nov. 2009-Nov. 2010.  Field organizer on the Virginia Democratic Coordinated Campaign, Aug.-Nov. 2009.  Intern for U.S. Rep. Melancon, Feb.-June 2009.  Field organizer on the Obama campaign, June-Nov. 2008.  Degree in political science, crimnal justice from St. Louis University, 2008.







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