A Democrat flipped a Republican seat in Trump’s New Hampshire House of Representatives, another local ripple that could herald a national blue wave.
Bobbi Boudman defeated Dale Fincher in a special election on Tuesday after the Republican who held the seat moved out of the district.
Democrats won about 52% of the vote and Republicans 48%. More than 4,000 people voted in the district, located in rural Carroll County near the Maine border.
Bobby Budman wins a special election for a seat in the New Hampshire state House. /Bobbi Boudman for NH/Facebook
The result marked a major break from tradition. Trump won the district in 2024, with double-digit margins in some towns.
On the ballot, Boardman, a Democrat, twice attempted to seize the state House seat from Republicans. She failed both times.
Her victory Tuesday fits a larger trend. The party has flipped 28 seats nationwide since Trump returned to the White House in 2024, according to the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee.
Betting markets gave U.S. President Donald Trump a boost on March 11 after he criticized Rep. Thomas Massie during a visit to his Kentucky district. Trump’s previous ability to boost his candidate’s odds through endorsements is slipping. /Andrew Harnick/Andrew Harnick/Getty Images
“Tuesday was a headache for state Republicans across the country as they suffered one shocking defeat after another,” DLCC President Heather Williams said in a statement. “These victories are not blips, and together they tell a story of undeniable Democratic momentum as voters reject Republicans and blame them for soaring costs.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Daily Beast.
Trump should be focusing on affordability, but he has repeatedly called the issue a hoax. /Win McNamee/Getty Images
Boardman’s messaging on the campaign trail also hits areas where Trump is doing poorly in national polls. She focuses on affordability, education and fiscal responsibility. On Boardman’s website, she wrote that New Hampshire government leaders have a responsibility to “be fiscally conservative.”
A poll released this week showed 62% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the economy. The same poll showed that 48% of registered voters believe Trump’s policies are hurting the economy.
Finch presented himself to voters as “a mediator in this tumultuous time of political polarization.”
Defeated Republican candidate Dale Finch. / Dalefinchernh.com
Another bright spot for Democrats is the cash (or lack thereof) needed to flip seats. According to political newsletter The Downballot, Boardman raised $12,000 for her campaign with few outside donors. In addition to the $25,000 he raised himself, the Republican received $30,000 from outside groups.
The Democratic victory also took place against the backdrop of a state government led entirely by Republicans.
Republicans control the statehouse and governor’s mansion. Republican Kelly Ayotte defeated former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig in the 2024 gubernatorial race.
CNN data expert Harry Enten reported this week that Democrats have a 46% chance of taking control of the House and Senate. “What we see is that the chances of Democrats doing that just keep going up, up, up the stairway to heaven, my dear friend,” Enten said. “It’s not yet 50%, but it’s clearly rising.”
As the midterm elections approach, New Hampshire is also emerging nationally as one of the best chances for Republicans to retain control of the Senate.
Democratic incumbent Jeanne Shaheen is not seeking re-election. Two former Republican senators, Scott Brown and John Sununu, are running for the seat.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is not seeking re-election, giving Republicans an opportunity to vie for the seat. /Anna Money Tree/Getty Images
On the Democratic side, Congressman Chris Pappas is leaving to face progressive scientist Karishma Manzur for the nomination.