Closest U.S. Senate elections in New Hampshire
The closest U.S. Senate election in New Hampshire history was in 1974, a margin of 0.00 points. Louis C. Wyman beat John A. Durkin, 110,926 to 110,924. Next closest are 2016 (0.14 points) and 1932 (1.1 points).
Every state is ranked together on Closest U.S. Senate elections in history. For every Senate race New Hampshire has held, special elections included, see the New Hampshire U.S. Senate hub.
What is the closest Senate race in New Hampshire history?
The New Hampshire Senate election decided by the narrowest margin was in 1974, 0.00 points. Louis C. Wyman beat John A. Durkin, 110,926 to 110,924. The next closest were 2016 (0.14 points) and 1932 (1.1 points).
How is the margin measured?
As the gap in vote share between the first and second-place finishers, from the certified general-election count. It is not adjusted for recounts, runoffs or later court rulings; the figure is the result as certified.
Does this include special elections?
No. These are the regular general elections for New Hampshire’s two Senate seats. Special elections to fill a vacancy appear on the New Hampshire Senate hub, which lists every race including specials, and in a few states one of those is closer than anything here.
Why does the list start in 1914?
Because senators were chosen by state legislatures before the Seventeenth Amendment. 1914 is the first cycle of the popular-vote era for the Senate, so it is the first New Hampshire election with a popular margin to measure.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1974 | Louis C. Wyman R def. John A. Durkin D | 110,926 – 110,924 | 0.00 points |
| 2 | 2016 | Maggie Hassan D def. Kelly Ayotte R | 354,649 – 353,632 | 0.14 points |
| 3 | 1932 | Fred H. Brown D def. George H. Moses R | 98,766 – 96,649 | 1.1 points |
| 4 | 1944 | Charles W. Tobey R def. James J. Powers D | 110,549 – 106,508 | 1.9 points |
| 5 | 1978 | Gordon J. Humphrey R def. Thomas J. McIntyre D | 133,745 – 127,945 | 2.2 points |
| 6 | 1992 | Judd Gregg R def. John Rauh D | 249,591 – 234,982 | 2.8 points |
| 7 | 1996 | Robert C. Smith R def. Dick Swett D | 242,257 – 227,355 | 3.0 points |
| 8 | 2014 | Jeanne Shaheen D def. Scott P. Brown R | 251,184 – 235,347 | 3.3 points |
| 9 | 1936 | H. Styles Bridges R def. William N. Rogers D | 107,923 – 99,195 | 4.2 points |
| 10 | 1980 | Warren B. Rudman R def. John A. Durkin D | 195,559 – 179,455 | 4.3 points |
| 11 | 2002 | John E. Sununu R def. Jeanne Shaheen D | 227,229 – 207,478 | 4.4 points |
| 12 | 2008 | Jeanne Shaheen D def. John E. Sununu R | 358,438 – 314,403 | 6.3 points |
| 13 | 1914 | Jacob H. Gallinger R def. Raymond B. Stevens D | 42,113 – 36,382 | 7.0 points |
| 14 | 1918 | Henry W. Keyes R def. Eugene E. Reed D | 37,783 – 32,783 | 7.1 points |
| 15 | 1966 | Thomas J. McIntyre D def. Harrison R. Thyng R | 123,888 – 105,241 | 8.1 points |
| 16 | 1938 | Charles W. Tobey R def. Fred H. Brown D | 100,633 – 84,920 | 8.5 points |
| 17 | 2022 | Maggie Hassan D def. Donald C. Bolduc R | 332,490 – 275,631 | 9.1 points |
| 18 | 1942 | H. Styles Bridges R def. Francis P. Murphy D | 88,601 – 73,656 | 9.2 points |
| 19 | 1972 | Thomas J. McIntyre D def. Wesley Powell R | 184,495 – 139,852 | 13.8 points |
| 20 | 2020 | Jeanne Shaheen D def. Corky Messner R | 450,778 – 326,229 | 15.6 points |
| 21 | 1930 | Henry W. Keyes R def. Albert W. Noone D | 72,225 – 52,284 | 16.0 points |
| 22 | 1920 | George H. Moses R def. Raymond B. Stephens D | 90,173 – 65,038 | 16.1 points |
| 23 | 1948 | H. Styles Bridges R def. Alfred E. Fortin D | 129,600 – 91,760 | 17.0 points |
| 24 | 1950 | Charles W. Tobey R def. Emmet J. Kelley D | 106,142 – 72,473 | 17.7 points |
| 25 | 1984 | Gordon J. Humphrey R def. Norman E. D'Amours D | 225,828 – 157,447 | 17.8 points |