2014 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2014 United States gubernatorial elections.

The 2014 New Hampshire gubernatorial election was held on November 4, 2014, to elect the governor of New Hampshire, concurrently with the election to New Hampshire's Class II U.S. Senate seat, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

2014 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

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Nominee Maggie Hassan Walt Havenstein Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 254,666 229,610 Percentage 52.37% 47.43%

County results Municipality results Congressional district results Hassan:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      >90% Havenstein:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election Maggie Hassan Democratic Elected Governor Maggie Hassan Democratic

Incumbent Democratic governor Maggie Hassan ran for re-election to a second term in office. She defeated the Republican nominee, businessman Walt Havenstein. As of 2025, this is the last time a Democrat was elected Governor of New Hampshire.

Background

Incumbent Democratic governor John Lynch decided to retire in 2012, rather than seek re-election to a fifth term in office. The Democratic nominee, former State Senate Majority Leader Maggie Hassan, defeated the Republican nominee, attorney and 1996 gubernatorial nominee Ovide M. Lamontagne, 55% to 43%.

New Hampshire and Vermont are the only states in the country whose governors are elected every two years. On only one occasion since 1924 has a first-term governor of New Hampshire been defeated for re-election to a second term: in 2004, when Lynch beat incumbent Republican governor Craig Benson.^[1][2]

Hassan had high approval ratings. An April 2014 WMUR/University of New Hampshire poll found that 57% of registered voters approved of the job she was doing, 58% had a favorable opinion of her, and 70% thought the state was going in the right direction.^[3] For these reasons, Hassan was not considered vulnerable going into the election. The Cook Political Report,^[4] Daily Kos Elections,^[5] Governing^[6] and Sabato's Crystal Ball^[7] all considered the race "likely Democratic" and RealClearPolitics^[8] and The Rothenberg Political Report rated the race "safe Democratic".^[9]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Ian Freeman, radio show host^[10]
• Maggie Hassan, incumbent governor^[11]
• Clecia Terrio, candidate for the State House in 2012^[12]

Hassan won the Democratic Party primary, held on September 9, 2014, with 94.3% of the votes cast.^[13]

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Daniel J. Greene^[14]
• Walt Havenstein, businessman^[15]
• Andrew Hemingway, businessman, Tea Party activist and candidate for Chairman of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee in 2013^[16][17]
• Jonathan Smolin^[14]

Havenstein won the Republican Party primary, held on September 9, 2014, with 55.6% of the votes cast.^[13]

Declined

• William Harrison Binnie, industrialist, investment banker and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2010^[18]
• Jeb Bradley, Majority Leader of the New Hampshire Senate and former U.S. representative^[19]
• Brad Cook, attorney^[20][21]
• Jeanie Forrester, state senator^[18]
• Ted Gatsas, Mayor of Manchester^[22]
• Frank Guinta, former U.S. representative (ran for NH-01)^[23][24]
• Gary Lambert, former state senator (ran for NH-02)^[25]
• George Lambert, state representative^[26]
• Ovide Lamontagne, businessman, candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2010 and nominee for governor in 1996 and 2012^[27]
• Chuck Morse, state senator^[22]
• Bob Odell, state senator^[18]
• John Reagan, state senator^[28][29]
• Chuck Rolecek, businessman and candidate for the Executive Council of New Hampshire in 2012^[18]
• Andy Sanborn, state senator^[30]
• Kevin H. Smith, conservative activist, former state representative and candidate for governor in 2012^[1][31]
• John Stephen, former Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services and nominee for governor in 2010^[22]
• Christopher Sununu, Executive Councillor, son of former governor John H. Sununu and brother of former U.S. senator John E. Sununu (ran for re-election)^[32]
• John E. Sununu, former U.S. senator^[33]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Bill Binnie	Ted Gatsas	Daniel Greene	Walt Havenstein	Andrew Hemingway	George Lambert	Chuck Morse	Jonathan Smolin	Other	Undecided
Suffolk[34]	June 14–18, 2014	419	±4.8%	—	—	3.82%	12.89%	6.92%	—	—	1.67%	—	74.7%
Vox Populi Polling[35]	May 14–15, 2014	?	±5.2%	—	—	—	12%	12%	—	—	—	—	76%
Suffolk[36]	Feb. 27–Mar. 5, 2014	426	± ?	8.45%	15.02%	—	—	1.88%	1.88%	7.04%	—	—	65.72%

Results

Republican primary results^[37]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Walter Havenstein	62,766	55.7
	Republican	Andrew Hemingway	42,005	37.3
	Republican	Daniel Greene	5,362	4.8
	Republican	Jonathan Smolin	2,620	2.3
Total votes			112,753	100

General election

Debates

• Complete video of debate, October 22, 2014

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[38]	Lean D	November 3, 2014
Sabato's Crystal Ball[39]	Lean D	November 3, 2014
Rothenberg Political Report[40]	Likely D	November 3, 2014
Real Clear Politics[41]	Tossup	November 3, 2014

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Maggie Hassan (D)	Walt Havenstein (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling[42]	November 1–3, 2014	1,690	± 2.4%	51%	46%	—	3%
WMUR/UNH[43]	October 29–November 2, 2014	757	± 3.6%	47%	43%	1%	9%
New England College[44]	October 31–November 1, 2014	1,526	± 2.51%	51%	44%	2%	3%
Rasmussen Reports[45]	October 29–30, 2014	940	± 3%	51%	42%	—	7%
Vox Populi Polling[46]	October 27–28, 2014	638	± 3.9%	44%	47%	—	7%
WMUR/UNH[47]	October 19–22, 2014	555	± 4.2%	52%	37%	1%	11%
American Research Group[48]	October 19–22, 2014	600	± 4%	48%	46%	—	6%
New England College[49]	October 24, 2014	1,132	± 2.91%	47%	47%	2%	4%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[50]	October 16–23, 2014	1,042	± 4%	47%	38%	1%	13%
American Research Group[48]	October 19–22, 2014	600	± 4%	53%	43%	—	4%
Public Policy Polling[51]	October 20–21, 2014	764	± ?	53%	43%	—	4%
CNN/ORC[52]	October 18–21, 2014	645 LV	± 4%	51%	45%	—	4%
		877 RV	± 3.5%	54%	40%	—	5%
UMass Lowell[53]	October 15–21, 2014	643 LV	± 4.5%	49%	45%	—	7%
		900 RV	± 3.8%	49%	40%	—	11%
Suffolk/Boston Herald[54]	October 16–19, 2014	500	± ?	49%	39%	—	11%
New England College[55]	October 16, 2014	921	± 3.23%	51%	43%	3%	4%
New England College[56]	October 9, 2014	1,081	± 2.98%	49%	44%	3%	5%
High Point University[57]	October 4–8, 2014	824	± 3.4%	50%	42%	4%	4%
WMUR/UNH[58]	September 29–October 5, 2014	532	± 4.2%	46%	36%	2%	16%
New England College[59]	October 3, 2014	1,286	± 2.73%	51%	41%	3%	4%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[60]	September 20–October 1, 2014	1,260	± 3%	49%	39%	0%	12%
New England College[61]	September 26, 2014	1,331	± 2.69%	48%	44%	3%	5%
American Research Group[48]	September 27–29, 2014	600	± 4%	55%	40%	—	5%
New England College[62]	September 19–20, 2014	1,494	± 2.54%	52%	40%	4%	5%
Public Policy Polling[63]	September 18–19, 2014	652	± 3.8%	52%	43%	—	4%
Vox Populi Polling[64]	September 15–16, 2014	550	± 4.2%	47%	43%	—	10%
American Research Group[48]	September 12–15, 2014	544	± 4.2%	48%	40%	—	12%
New England College[65]	September 10–11, 2014	630	± 3.98%	51%	36%	4%	9%
Rasmussen Reports[45]	September 10–11, 2014	750	± 4%	51%	40%	3%	6%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[66]	August 18–September 2, 2014	1,159	± 4%	51%	34%	3%	13%
WMUR/UNH[67]	August 7–17, 2014	609	± 4%	49%	32%	1%	18%
National Research/RGA[68]	August 10–13, 2014	600	± 4%	42%	37%	1%	18%
CBS News/NYT/YouGov[69]	July 5–24, 2014	1,246	± 2.9%	53%	38%	2%	7%
WMUR/UNH[70]	June 19–July 1, 2014	669	± 3.8%	58%	29%	1%	10%
Suffolk/Boston Herald[71]	June 14–18, 2014	800	± 3.5%	51%	19%	3%[72]	28%
American Research Group[48]	June 14–18, 2014	540	± 4.2%	45%	32%	—	23%
Vox Populi Polling[35]	May 14–15, 2014	707	± 3.6%	43%	30%	—	27%
Rockefeller Center[73]	April 21–25, 2014	412	± 4.8%	40%	19%	—	41%
WMUR/UNH[74]	April 1–9, 2014	387	± 5%	49%	19%	2%	30%

Hypothetical polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Maggie Hassan (D)	Bill Binnie (R)	Other	Undecided
Suffolk/Boston Herald[75]	Feb. 27–Mar. 5, 2014	800	± 3.5%	55%	26%	—	20%
Public Policy Polling[76]	January 9–12, 2014	1,354	± 2.7%	51%	31%	—	18%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Maggie Hassan (D)	Jeb Bradley (R)	Other	Undecided
New England College[77]	May 2–5, 2013	807	± 3.27%	55%	24%	—	22%
Public Policy Polling[78]	April 19–21, 2013	933	± 3.2%	52%	38%	—	10%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Maggie Hassan (D)	Brad Cook (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling[79]	September 13–16, 2013	1,038	± 3%	49%	34%	—	17%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Maggie Hassan (D)	Ted Gatsas (R)	Other	Undecided
WMUR/UNH[74]	April 1–9, 2014	387	± 5%	50%	27%	1%	23%
Suffolk/Boston Herald[75]	Feb. 27–Mar. 5, 2014	800	± 3.5%	53%	28%	—	19%
WMUR/UNH[80]	January 21–26, 2014	584	± 4.1%	45%	34%	2%	19%
New England College[81]	October 7–9, 2013	1,063	± 3%	53%	25%	—	22%
Public Policy Polling[78]	April 19–21, 2013	933	± 3.2%	51%	35%	—	15%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Maggie Hassan (D)	Daniel Greene (R)	Other	Undecided
Suffolk/Boston Herald[82]	June 14–18, 2014	800	± 3.5%	53%	13%	4%[72]	31%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Maggie Hassan (D)	Frank Guinta (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling[78]	April 19–21, 2013	933	± 3.2%	54%	36%	—	9%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Maggie Hassan (D)	Andrew Hemingway (R)	Other	Undecided
WMUR/UNH[67]	August 7–17, 2014	609	± 4%	51%	31%	1%	17%
WMUR/UNH[70]	June 19–July 1, 2014	669	± 3.8%	54%	28%	0%	18%
Suffolk/Boston Herald[83]	June 14–18, 2014	800	± 3.5%	51%	17%	3%[72]	29%
Vox Populi Polling[35]	May 14–15, 2014	707	± 3.6%	42%	31%	—	27%
Hickman Analytics[84]	April 24–30, 2014	400	± 4.9%	50%	28%	—	22%
Rockefeller Center[73]	April 21–25, 2014	412	± 4.8%	40%	20%	—	40%
WMUR/UNH[74]	April 1–9, 2014	387	± 5%	49%	22%	1%	28%
American Research Group[48]	March 13–16, 2014	533	± 4.2%	45%	30%	—	25%
Suffolk/Boston Herald[75]	Feb. 27–Mar. 5, 2014	800	± 3.5%	56%	23%	—	21%
WMUR/UNH[80]	January 21–26, 2014	584	± 4.1%	48%	27%	2%	22%
Public Policy Polling[76]	January 9–12, 2014	1,354	± 2.7%	51%	25%	—	23%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Maggie Hassan (D)	George Lambert (R)	Other	Undecided
Suffolk/Boston Herald[75]	Feb. 27–Mar. 5, 2014	800	± 3.5%	55%	22%	—	23%
Public Policy Polling[76]	January 9–12, 2014	1,354	± 2.7%	50%	26%	—	23%
Public Policy Polling[79]	September 13–16, 2013	1,038	± 3%	49%	32%	—	20%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Maggie Hassan (D)	Chuck Morse (R)	Other	Undecided
Suffolk/Boston Herald[75]	Feb. 27–Mar. 5, 2014	800	± 3.5%	56%	23%	—	21%
Public Policy Polling[76]	January 9–12, 2014	1,354	± 2.7%	50%	27%	—	22%
Public Policy Polling[79]	September 13–16, 2013	1,038	± 3%	49%	33%	—	18%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Maggie Hassan (D)	Andy Sanborn (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling[79]	September 13–16, 2013	1,038	± 3%	49%	32%	—	19%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Maggie Hassan (D)	Kevin Smith (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling[78]	April 19–21, 2013	933	± 3.2%	52%	32%	—	16%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Maggie Hassan (D)	Jonathan Smolin (R)	Other	Undecided
Suffolk/Boston Herald[85]	June 14–18, 2014	800	± 3.5%	52%	15%	3%[72]	31%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Maggie Hassan (D)	Christopher T. Sununu (R)	Other	Undecided
Public Policy Polling[78]	April 19–21, 2013	933	± 3.2%	53%	37%	—	10%

Results

2014 New Hampshire gubernatorial election^[86]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Maggie Hassan (incumbent)	254,666	52.37%	−2.24%
	Republican	Walt Havenstein	230,610	47.43%	+4.91%
	Write-in		976	0.20%	+0.10%
Total votes			486,183	100.00%	N/A
	Democratic hold

Counties that swung from Democratic to Republican

• Belknap (largest city: Laconia)
• Hillsborough (largest municipality: Manchester)
• Rockingham (largest municipality: Derry)

By congressional district

Hassan won both congressional districts, including one that elected a Republican.^[87]

District	Hassan	Havenstein	Representative
1st	50.86%	49.14%	Frank Guinta
2nd	54.11%	45.89%	Annie Kuster