Divided power in Concord, Washington could benefit the Granite State

New Hampshire Union Leader

Nov. 4--New Hampshire likely will be in good shape politically regardless of whether President Donald Trump or former Vice President Joe Biden emerges from the vote-counting fog to claim the next four years in the White House.

Although state election results aren't yet final, it's known that for the first time in modern history, New Hampshire has an all-Democratic congressional delegation at the same time that Republicans hold all the levers of power in the State House.

So if Trump wins a second term, supporters of all things New Hampshire have as their chief cheerleader Gov. Chris Sununu, the only Republican governor in the Northeast to endorse the incumbent.

At the same time that he can take advantage of Trump's second-term program priorities, Sununu has newly minted majorities on the Executive Council, state Senate and House of Representatives to back his play at home.

If Biden wins, every member of the federal delegation has the new president on speed dial.

They also would have a president predisposed to think fondly of a state that delivered four electoral votes without him setting foot in it in the campaign's final nine months.

In turn, Sununu will at times want to call upon Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, as well as Reps. Chris Pappas and Annie Kuster, all Democrats, to prevail upon the new administration for a New Hampshire request.

"It's not really how anyone planned it, but Chris has shown he can work with the federal delegation to get things done," said House Republican Leader Dick Hinch of Merrimack. "This is why voters like this governor. He's about getting results."

Delegation might need Sununu

With the U.S. Senate still under Republican control, New Hampshire's congressional delegation at times might need to work with Sununu's team to advance state causes.

The closeness of the presidential race underscores the importance of New Hampshire to the outcome, even though for months the state's significance was discounted.

If Trump had won New Hampshire Tuesday, it would have improved his chances of victory.

If Biden had lost the state, it would have further compromised his prospects.

In 2000, the closest presidential election in recent history, George W. Bush narrowly captured the New Hampshire vote, and after a month-long fight, was declared president.

In the same election, Democrat Jeanne Shaheen won a third term as New Hampshire's governor, but control of the Executive Council and both houses of the Legislature remained in Republican hands.

"Independent voters have been for some time the biggest bloc of voters in New Hampshire, and they have often chosen to split their tickets," said state Sen. Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, who formerly represented the state's 1st Congressional District in Washington.

"At the state level, we had a unifying message and a very popular governor who helped carry many of us to victory."

Democratic Party Chairman Raymond Buckley said New Hampshire must rely on its congressional delegation to defend the Affordable Care Act and support abortion rights, among other issues.

"It's clear from last night's results that Granite Staters share Democrats' vision for protecting health care for people with pre-existing conditions, building back better from COVID-19, preserving a woman's right to make her own health care decisions, and addressing the climate crisis with the urgency we need," Buckley said in a statement.

NH blue for 5th time

Tuesday's was the fifth straight presidential election a Democrat has won in New Hampshire.

But as Buckley was fond of saying before Tuesday, presidential elections typically have brought gains -- or at least solid majority holds -- for his party down-ballot.

That didn't happen this time.

"I think what is most surprising to me is how much of a separation there was for many voters between who they want leading them in Washington and who they want leading them in Concord," said Greg Moore, state director of the fiscally conservative Americans for Prosperity chapter in New Hampshire.

"How does Biden win in towns like Bedford and Merrimack, yet Republicans make gains in the Legislature there? That's unique, and many are probably still trying to wrap their heads around everything that happened."

klandrigan@unionleader.com

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