GOP wins control of New Hampshire House, 1 race unsettled

CONCORD, New Hampshire (AP) — The New Hampshire House of Representatives will have an overwhelming Republican majority next week, with one of 400 seats remaining undecided after the recount devolved into a disputed tie.

Election night results showed Republicans leading 203 to 197, but the State Electoral Law Commission confirmed on Monday the results of a recount that saw Democratic incumbent Eamon Kelly take the Berlin seat. The committee also had to hear an appeal over a stalled election in Rochester and a controversy in Manchester that ended in court, but the candidate dismissed the appeal. This leaves us with a breakdown of 201-198 and one race remains when MPs take office on December 7th.

In the Rochester election, Republican David Walker defeated incumbent Democrat Chuck Grassi by a single vote, but the score ended in a 970–970 tie. Both filed an appeal but decided to take the case to the legislature, the candidates said on Monday. You can vote for yourself and choose a winner, let the candidates split the seats with half the votes each, or return the issue to the community for a special election.

Grassi and Walker both said they were campaigning during the holidays, which means they probably won’t sit until the end of January, but opted for the latter.

Both Grassi and Walker said they would prefer the latter, even if it meant campaigning over the holidays and probably not sitting out until the end of January. Grassi and Walker said they would prefer the latter, even if it means campaigning over the holidays and probably not before the end of January.

Also on Monday, the committee instructed the secretary of state to count 27 absentee ballots that were accidentally shelved in Brentwood. The new tally boosted Democratic candidate Eric Tourer’s chances of winning.

Dick Chamberlain, who has been the city’s moderator for more than 40 years, said he made a mistake by suspending absentee ballot processing to help older women at the polling station. Her willingness to take charge earned her praise from Commissioner Cathy Sullivan.

“I think you have an excellent track record, so I hope you continue to do what you are doing,” he said. “If this is the first mistake in years, congratulations.”