Four U.S. House primaries are contested in New Hampshire this year—the most in the last 10 years

This year’s filing deadline for candidates running for Congress in New Hampshire was June 14, 2024.

Twenty-four candidates are running for New Hampshire’s two U.S. House districts, including four Democrats and 20 Republicans. That’s an average of 12 candidates per district. There was an average of 9.5 candidates per district in 2022, 6.0 candidates per district in 2020, and 12.5 in 2018.

Here are some other highlights from this year’s filings:

• The 2nd Congressional District is the only open district this year. Incumbent Rep. Annie Kuster (D-02) is retiring from public office. This is the second time in the last 10 years in which a district was open in New Hampshire.
• Fifteen candidates—two Democrats and 13 Republicans—are running in the open 2nd Congressional District, the most candidates running in a district this year.
• Four primaries are contested this year—the most contested primaries in New Hampshire in the last 10 years.

• Incumbent Rep. Chris Pappas (D-01) is in a contested primary this year. This is the third year in the last 10 years in which an incumbent in New Hampshire was in a contested primary.
• Democratic and Republican candidates filed to run in both districts, meaning neither district is guaranteed to either party.

New Hampshire and two other states—Delaware and Rhode Island—are holding primary elections on September 10.

In New Hampshire, the winner of the primary election is the candidate who receives the highest number of votes, even if they do not win more than 50 percent of the vote.