Democrats Lead Key New Hampshire Races in Poll
The final 2026 Granite State Poll from the University of New Hampshire Survey Center shows Democratic leads across several statewide and congressional contests.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Elections
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The University of New Hampshire Survey Center released final 2026 Granite State Poll results on Sunday night. Democrats hold leads in races for Executive Council, State Senate, and State House, while incumbent Republican Governor Kelly Ayotte is statistically tied with Democrat Cinde Warmington.
Why it matters
The poll offers a snapshot of voter sentiment in New Hampshire ahead of the November election, with affordability and inflation identified as the most important issues to likely voters. Results across statewide and congressional races shape expectations for the state's political balance.
The survey of 2,182 New Hampshire residents, including 2,040 likely general election voters, carries a margin of sampling error of +/- 2.1 percent for the full sample and +/- 2.2 percent for likely voters. Each congressional district carries a margin of +/- 3.1 percent, and the governor's race remains within the margin of a tie.
The players
University of New Hampshire Survey Center
The academic polling center at the University of New Hampshire that conducts the Granite State Poll and publishes regular surveys of state voter opinion.
Chris Pappas
A Democratic U.S. Representative from New Hampshire who is running for the U.S. Senate seat against Republican John E. Sununu.
John E. Sununu
A former Republican U.S. Senator from New Hampshire who is the Republican nominee challenging Democrat Chris Pappas in the Senate race.
Kelly Ayotte
The incumbent Republican Governor of New Hampshire who is seeking re-election and is statistically tied with Democratic challenger Cinde Warmington in the poll.
Cinde Warmington
The Democratic challenger running against incumbent Republican Governor Kelly Ayotte in New Hampshire's gubernatorial race.
The details
Respondents completed the survey online between October 27 and October 31, 2026, drawn largely from Granite State Panel members who received email invitations, with 325 residents completing it after a text message invitation. Democrat Chris Pappas leads Republican John E. Sununu in the U.S. Senate race, Democrat Maggie Goodlander holds a comfortable lead over Republican Lily Tang Williams in the Second Congressional District, and Democrat Stefany Shaheen leads Republican Anthony DiLorenzo in the First Congressional District.
Timeline
October 27 to October 31, 2026: Survey fielding period for the Granite State Poll.
November 1, 2026: UNH poll released Sunday night.
Season Trajectory
The final 2026 Granite State Poll extends the University of New Hampshire Survey Center's long-running series of pre-election readings in the state. Its results show Democratic leads in several races while the governor's contest remains closely contested heading into the general election.
Voters weighing affordability and inflation can use these leads and close margins to gauge where candidates stand before the November election. The narrow governor's race in particular signals that turnout and last-minute shifts could determine the outcome.
The takeaway
Polling margins of this size mean leads can shift quickly, so voters should compare results across the full range of races before drawing conclusions.
Further reading
For more on the state's contests, see Elections coverage across New Hampshire.
Source note: This article includes information reported by InDepthNH.
Live Poll
Do you think affordability in New Hampshire is getting better or worse for your household?
