Republicans make Gains in New Hampshire State House

 Cross posted on Grizzly Groundswell

Not all was lost for conservatives in New Hampshire. Sure we re-elected the teflon governor, the executive council remained in Democrat control by the same 3-2 margin, and the state senate remained in Democrat by the same 14-10 margin. The fact that the state senate did not see further Republican losses was a small victory. But there was one other victory that wasn’t quite as small.

 In the New Hampshire house, Republicans won back 17 seats. This is a pretty good sign, it would have been a better sign but house Republicans are still a 224-176 minority. But as this article states it could giver New Hampshire Republicans the template to make further gains in the next election.

There was also a bright spot that could provide a blueprint for a future comeback. A patchwork of localized efforts by various Republican activists and groups produced a 17-seat GOP pick-up in the state House of Representatives. It isn’t much, but the solution to the larger problem could lie in a more coordinated, better-funded effort along those lines, focusing on the Democratic-led spending at the State House.

 The issue that New Hampshire Republicans need to hammer home is the out of control spending that has hurt our state since Lord Teflon (John Lynch) became governor.

Where the Republicans did pick up seats, they focused on spending and the impending huge revenue shortfall. Republicans on the ground feel that with a more coordinated effort, and more money, the House could have been won back. We’ll never know, but 2010 is just around the corner.

 In an election cycle where there wasn’t anything positive if you are a Republican, at least New Hampshire Republicans can hang their hats, and their hopes, on the outcomes of these 17 seats and move forward more organized with a clear message and take back this state.