Republican incumbent Andy Sanborn beat Democratic hopeful Lee Nyquist for the state Senate District 9 seat.
Sanborn picked up about 17,073 votes, or 53 percent, while Nyquist collected about 14,727 votes, or 46 percent.
“As always, elections are hard fought, and for me, well won now,” Sanborn said. “Now it’s time to govern.”
This marks Nyquist’s third unsuccessful attempt to oust Sanborn from the seat.
“Andy supports lower taxes, policies that will stimulate economic growth, personal-property rights and freedom,” said Frank Edelblut, who is from Wilton and narrowly lost to fellow Republican Chris Sununu in the primary election.
Edelblut said he has sponsored bills with Sanborn, which makes it “easier to vote for him.”
Sam Bouchie, of Rindge, also supported Sanborn.
“Andy is a level-headed guy. If you call him up, he will take care of you,” Bouchie said. “He is conservative, but very generous.”
Standing outside the voting booth in Peterborough on Tuesday, Nyquist said he was feeling confident the race would tip his way.
“I knocked on about 3,000 doors personally, and there’s about 10,000 votes at stake. I feel I have a strong message about New Hampshire families that’s going to carry the day here in District 9,” Nyquist said.
Supporters, too, said they were confident Nyquist could pull ahead while votes were being cast.
“I know that he has run before, he is committed and I think he has shown that by his consistency each year in trying to take on Andy Sanborn,” said Alison Rossiter, who lives in Hancock.
She said she feels like his “heart is in the right places.”
“I think he is very honest, which Andy Sanborn wasn’t with his most recent posters that indicate Lee had voted to support the pipeline,” Rossiter said, alluding to mailers and posters that said Nyquist supported pipelines, claims that the campaign said were unfounded.
Republican incumbent Kevin Avard was able to hold on to his state Senate District 12 seat.
Avard narrowly edged out Democrat Peggy Gilmour, who secured the seat in 2012 but was overcome by Avard in 2014.
Avard gathered 15,915 votes to Gilmour’s 15,070, or a margin of 845 votes.
“I am grateful,” he said after the race was called on Wednesday. “This was a tough race, there were mean attacks on me, but the voters spoke.”
He said the voters spoke for eminent domain protection.
“I am going to continue fight hard for those rights,” Avard said.
He said right now he is breathing a sigh of relief.
“Peggy is a very, very solid fighter,” Avard said.
Gilmour spoke to a group of Mascenic high schoolers while ballots were being cast on Tuesday.
“It’s a privilege to run for office. And if you don’t vote, you can’t complain, that’s what I say,” Gilmour said.
“I’m ready to get back to work,” Avard said after the election.
Republican Ruth Ward handily beat Democratic opponent John Garvey for the state Senate District 8 seat.
Ward collected 15,574 votes, or about 53 percent. Garvey took home about 13,643 votes, or 47 percent.
Ward has unsuccessfully attempted to win the seat; once in 2012 and again in 2014.
Republican incumbent Gary Daniels handily beat his Democratic opponent for the state Senate District 11 seat.
Daniels took away about 56 percent of the votes, while opponent Roger Tilton collected about 43 percent.
Before ballots were cast on Tuesday, the state Senate was considered a battleground chamber, meaning enough seats were up for grabs that the Democrats had a chance to reconfigure a Republican controlled majority although they were unable to do so.
Abby Kessler can be reached at 924-7172, ext. 234 or akessler@ledgertranscript.com.