A closely watched special election in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region ended with a narrow victory for a Democratic candidate in a district that has historically leaned Republican.
According to results released by the New Hampshire Secretary of State’s Office, Democrat Bobbi Boudman defeated Republican Dale Fincher in Tuesday’s state House race. Boudman received 2,207 votes, or 51.9 percent of the total, while Fincher earned 2,042 votes.
The seat represents communities in Carroll County including Wolfeboro, Ossipee, and Tuftonboro — areas that have traditionally supported Republican candidates. In the 2024 presidential election, the district backed Donald Trump by roughly nine percentage points.
The race was triggered by the resignation of Republican state Rep. Glenn Cordelli in November. Boudman had previously challenged Cordelli in two elections but fell short each time, losing by double-digit margins in both 2022 and 2024.
Her victory Tuesday marks a reversal of that trend and shifts the district’s representation to the Democratic Party.
State Democrats quickly highlighted the result as a sign of changing political dynamics in parts of New Hampshire that have long favored Republican candidates.
House Democratic Leader Alexis Simpson said the outcome demonstrates that no legislative seat should be considered secure ahead of the next election cycle.
“We’re only months away from November, and Democrats are already flipping seats,” Simpson said in a statement.
New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Raymond Buckley also framed the result as a reaction to the policies of the current Republican leadership in state government.
National Democratic organizations took note as well. Heather Williams, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, said the race reflects a broader pattern of state-level victories for Democrats in traditionally conservative districts across the country.
Williams described the result as part of a series of legislative flips that have occurred since the last presidential election.
Despite the shift, Republicans still maintain a substantial majority in the New Hampshire House. Following the special election, the party holds 214 seats compared with 178 for Democrats, along with one independent lawmaker.
Republicans also continue to control the state Senate and the governor’s office.
The outcome nonetheless adds a new Democratic voice to the Legislature and highlights how competitive local races in smaller districts can influence the balance of power at the State House.
