By Dana Wormald | Editor
Good morning, New Hampshire, and welcome to Thursday. Today, William Skipworth reports on Planned Parenthood’s efforts to oust the Executive Council’s Republican majority. In the Thursday commentary, a look at what the results of Tuesday’s primary elections reveal about this current New Hampshire political moment. And, from Ethan DeWitt, a breakdown of the primary turnout numbers. Thank you for reading, and enjoy the day. — Dana
Nicole Clegg, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, speaks during a Sept. 3, 2026, event in Concord as Executive Council candidates Melanie Levesque (center) and Lisa Sheldon (right) look on. (Photo by William Skipworth/New Hampshire Bulletin)
By William Skipworth
After years of being stonewalled on state contracts by Republicans on the Executive Council, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, via its affiliated PAC, is trying to boost a slate of Democratic council candidates more sympathetic to its cause. Four Democrats — Lisa Sheldon, of Portsmouth; Luz Bay, of Dover; Jim O’Connell, of Manchester; and Melanie Levesque, of Brookline — are running to unseat each of the four Republicans on the council. Karen Liot Hill, the one Democratic incumbent, is running for reelection against Republican nominee Tobin Menard. Planned Parenthood’s affiliated PAC — the Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund — has endorsed each of those five Democrats in their respective races.
A voter fills out a ballot at Manchester Memorial High School, the poll location for Manchester Ward 8, during the primary election on Sept. 8, 2026. (Photo by Maya Mitchell/New Hampshire Bulletin)
COMMENTARY
By Dana Wormald
“In the end, these were not quixotic efforts. They were messages, and they will only grow louder in the second half of this current presidential administration. The question is, will the Democratic establishment still listen now that the left flank is back on the electoral sidelines?”
By Ethan DeWitt
Across the state, Democratic state primary voters outnumbered Republican voters, results from the Associated Press indicated Wednesday afternoon. In the statewide U.S. Senate primaries, Democrats made up 58.53% of the total voters and Republicans 41.47%, an analysis by the Bulletin shows.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Trump’s Canadian trade war stirs up trouble for Republican candidates | Kevin Hardy, Stateline
Trump administration aims to exclude many noncitizens from the census | Ariana Figueroa
DiLorenzo secures GOP nomination in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District | William Skipworth
Pappas and Sununu prevail in primaries, setting up expensive fight for U.S. Senate | Ethan DeWitt and Maya Mitchell
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