What's at stake on primary day

Good morning, New Hampshire, and welcome to primary day. Today, Ethan DeWitt talks with election observers and experts about the current moment in New Hampshire politics ahead of today’s primary election. Also, William Skipworth looks at the drama-free gubernatorial primary races. And, from Stateline’s Kevin Hardy, why the rise of unions is different from one state to another. Thank you for reading, and enjoy the day. — Dana

By Ethan DeWitt

Left-leaning Democratic candidates are hoping they can interrupt the New Hampshire Democratic establishment playbook on Tuesday. For Republicans vying for their party’s nomination for U.S. Senate and Congress, another question looms: How much does President Donald Trump matter in 2026? The Bulletin spoke to a number of strategists and political scientists about what they’ll be watching during primary day.

By William Skipworth

Today, Granite Staters will cast their votes in one of two gubernatorial primaries, but those votes are unlikely to have much impact. Former Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington is the only name on the Democratic ballot. And incumbent Gov. Kelly Ayotte does not face a serious primary challenge. Shaun Fife, of Gilmanton, and Bob Wayne McClory, of Goffstown, have filed to challenge Ayotte in the Republican primary, but neither has mounted a campaign likely to make a dent in Ayotte’s chances.

By Kevin Hardy

Labor union membership continues to climb in the United States, though the increase remains sharply divided by the politics of individual states. Last year, the nation added more than 411,000 union members — the largest annual growth since 2008, according to a study published just ahead of the Labor Day holiday by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. At the end of last year, more than 14.6 million American workers belonged to a union — about 10% of the workforce, the study said.