New Hampshire State Senate District 12
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New Hampshire State Senate District 12 is represented byKevin Avard (R).
As of the 2020 Census, New Hampshire state senators represented an average of57,462 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented55,060 residents.
About the office
Members of theNew Hampshire State Senate servetwo-year terms and are not subject toterm limits. New Hampshire legislators assume office on the first Wednesday of December following the general election.[1]
Qualifications
To be eligible to serve in theNew Hampshire State Senate, a candidate must be:[2]
- At least 30 years of age
- A registered voter
- A resident of the state for seven years immediately preceding the election
- A resident of the district for which the candidate is running
Salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2024[3] | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $100/year | No per diem is paid. |
Vacancies
If there is a vacancy in theNew Hampshire General Court, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat. Thegovernor and executive council must call a special election within 21 days of receiving proof of a vacancy or a request that a vacancy be filled.[4][5][6]
See sources:New Hampshire Cons. Part II, Articles 16 and 34 andNew Hampshire Rev. Stat. Ann. § 661:8
2016 pivot county
This district was one of 710 state legislative districts that, based on boundaries adopted after the 2010 census, intersected with one or morePivot Counties. These 206 Pivot Counties voted forDonald Trump (R) in 2016 after voting forBarack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012.
The 206 Pivot Counties were located in 34 states. Iowa, with 31, had the most such counties. At that time, the partisan makeup ofstate legislative districts intersecting with Pivot Counties was slightly more Republican than theoverall partisan makeup of state legislatures throughout the country.[7]
District map
Redistricting
2020 redistricting cycle
On March 23, 2022, Gov.Chris Sununu (R) signed a new state house map into law. On May 6, Sununu signed a new state senate map into law. These maps took effect for New Hampshire's 2022 elections.
On Jan. 5, 2022, theNew Hampshire House of Representatives voted 186-168 to approve the state House map.[8] On Feb. 16, theNew Hampshire State Senate voted 14-10 to approve the map.[8] On Feb. 16, theNew Hampshire State Senate voted 14-10 to approve the map.[8]
On Feb. 16, the state Senate voted 14-10 to approve the state Senate map. On April 21, the House voted 172-149 to approve the map.[9]
How does redistricting in New Hampshire work? In New Hampshire, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by thestate legislature. These lines are subject to veto by thegovernor.[10]
State law requires that state legislative districts "be contiguous, and maintain the boundaries of towns, wards, or unincorporated places." There are no such requirements in place for congressional districts.[10]
New Hampshire State Senate District 12
until May 5, 2022
Click a district to compare boundaries.
New Hampshire State Senate District 12
starting May 6, 2022
Click a district to compare boundaries.
Elections
2024
See also: New Hampshire State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for New Hampshire State Senate District 12
IncumbentKevin Avard defeatedBen Ming in the general election for New Hampshire State Senate District 12 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Kevin Avard (R) | 55.9 | 19,841 |
 | Ben Ming (D) | 44.1 | 15,643 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 21 | ||
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 35,505 | ||
 = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for New Hampshire State Senate District 12
Ben Ming advanced from the Democratic primary for New Hampshire State Senate District 12 on September 10, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ben Ming | 99.4 | 4,495 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.6 | 27 | ||
| There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 4,522 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for New Hampshire State Senate District 12
IncumbentKevin Avard advanced from the Republican primary for New Hampshire State Senate District 12 on September 10, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kevin Avard | 99.4 | 5,693 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.6 | 37 | ||
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 5,730 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
2022
General election
General election for New Hampshire State Senate District 12
IncumbentKevin Avard defeatedMelanie Levesque in the general election for New Hampshire State Senate District 12 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kevin Avard (R) | 51.2 | 14,314 |
 | Melanie Levesque (D) | 48.8 | 13,626 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 3 | ||
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 27,943 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for New Hampshire State Senate District 12
Melanie Levesque advanced from the Democratic primary for New Hampshire State Senate District 12 on September 13, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Melanie Levesque | 99.6 | 3,391 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.4 | 14 | ||
| There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 3,405 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for New Hampshire State Senate District 12
IncumbentKevin Avard advanced from the Republican primary for New Hampshire State Senate District 12 on September 13, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kevin Avard | 99.1 | 5,283 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.9 | 46 | ||
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 5,329 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
2020
General election
General election for New Hampshire State Senate District 12
Kevin Avard defeated incumbentMelanie Levesque in the general election for New Hampshire State Senate District 12 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kevin Avard (R) | 51.2 | 17,534 |
| Melanie Levesque (D) | 48.8 | 16,729 | |
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 34,263 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for New Hampshire State Senate District 12
IncumbentMelanie Levesque advanced from the Democratic primary for New Hampshire State Senate District 12 on September 8, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Melanie Levesque | 99.7 | 5,189 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 16 | ||
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 5,205 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for New Hampshire State Senate District 12
Kevin Avard advanced from the Republican primary for New Hampshire State Senate District 12 on September 8, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kevin Avard | 99.3 | 5,830 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.7 | 41 | ||
| There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 5,871 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
2018
General election
General election for New Hampshire State Senate District 12
Melanie Levesque defeated incumbentKevin Avard in the general election for New Hampshire State Senate District 12 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Melanie Levesque (D) | 50.3 | 12,553 |
| Kevin Avard (R) | 49.7 | 12,384 | |
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 24,937 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for New Hampshire State Senate District 12
Melanie Levesque defeatedTom Falter in the Democratic primary for New Hampshire State Senate District 12 on September 11, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Melanie Levesque | 79.4 | 3,727 |
| Tom Falter | 20.6 | 969 | ||
| There were noincumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 4,696 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for New Hampshire State Senate District 12
IncumbentKevin Avard defeatedRichard Dowd in the Republican primary for New Hampshire State Senate District 12 on September 11, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kevin Avard | 76.1 | 3,274 |
| Richard Dowd | 23.9 | 1,028 | ||
| Incumbents arebolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source | Total votes: 4,302 | ||
| = candidate completed theBallotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you,complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data?Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
Elections for theNew Hampshire State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on September 13, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 10, 2016.
IncumbentKevin Avard defeatedPeggy Gilmour in the New Hampshire State Senate District 12 general election.[11][12]
| New Hampshire State Senate, District 12 General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Kevin AvardIncumbent | 51.32% | 15,942 | |
| Democratic | Peggy Gilmour | 48.68% | 15,120 | |
| Total Votes | 31,062 | |||
| Source:New Hampshire Secretary of State | ||||
Peggy Gilmour ran unopposed in the New Hampshire State Senate District 12 Democratic primary.[13][14]
| New Hampshire State Senate, District 12 Democratic Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Democratic | Peggy Gilmour (unopposed) | |
IncumbentKevin Avard ran unopposed in the New Hampshire State Senate District 12 Republican primary.[13][14]
| New Hampshire State Senate, District 12 Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Kevin AvardIncumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
Elections for theNew Hampshire State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on September 9, 2014. The general election was held onNovember 4, 2014. Thesignature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 13, 2014. IncumbentPeggy Gilmour was unopposed in the Democratic primary, whileKevin Avard defeatedMichael McCarthy in the Republican primary. Gilmour and Avard faced off in the general election.[15] Challenger Avard defeated Gilmour in the general election.[16]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Kevin Avard | 50.8% | 10,839 | |
| Democratic | Peggy GilmourIncumbent | 49.2% | 10,517 | |
| Total Votes | 21,356 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Kevin Avard | 53.7% | 2,651 |
| Michael McCarthy | 46.3% | 2,284 |
| Total Votes | 4,935 | |
2012
Elections for the office ofNew Hampshire State Senate consisted of a primary election on September 11, 2012, and a general election onNovember 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 15, 2012.Peggy Gilmour (D) defeated incumbentJim Luther (R) in the general election. Both candidates were unopposed in the September 11 primary elections.[17][18][19]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Peggy Gilmour | 51.9% | 15,245 | |
| Republican | Jim LutherIncumbent | 48.1% | 14,101 | |
| Total Votes | 29,346 | |||
Campaign contributions
From 2000 to 2024, candidates for New Hampshire State Senate District 12 raised a total of $2,259,919. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $64,569 on average. All figures come fromFollow the Money
| Campaign contributions, New Hampshire State Senate District 12 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Amount | Candidates | Average |
| 2024 | $194,940 | 2 | $97,470 |
| 2022 | $333,390 | 2 | $166,695 |
| 2020 | $269,663 | 2 | $134,832 |
| 2018 | $197,929 | 4 | $49,482 |
| 2016 | $150,037 | 2 | $75,019 |
| 2014 | $172,331 | 3 | $57,444 |
| 2012 | $125,465 | 2 | $62,733 |
| 2010 | $106,130 | 3 | $35,377 |
| 2008 | $92,084 | 3 | $30,695 |
| 2006 | $170,893 | 2 | $85,447 |
| 2004 | $246,046 | 4 | $61,512 |
| 2002 | $67,755 | 3 | $22,585 |
| 2000 | $133,256 | 3 | $44,419 |
| Total | $2,259,919 | 35 | $64,569 |
See also
- New Hampshire General Court
- New Hampshire State Senate
- New Hampshire House of Representatives
- New Hampshire state legislative districts
External links
Footnotes
- ↑New Hampshire Constitution, "Part II, Article 3," accessed February 10, 2021
- ↑New Hampshire Secretary of State, "Qualifications for Office," accessed May 23, 2025
- ↑National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
- ↑State of New Hampshire, "State Constitution-House of Representatives," accessed February 10, 2021(Sections 12 and 16)
- ↑State of New Hampshire, "State Constitution-Senate," accessed February 10, 2021(Section 34)
- ↑New Hampshire General Court, "Title LXIII: Elections," accessed February 10, 2021(Title LXIII, Chapter 661:8)
- ↑The raw data for this study was provided by Dave Leip ofAtlas of U.S. Presidential Elections.
- ↑8.08.18.2New Hampshire General Court, "HB50," accessed February 16, 2022
- ↑New Hampshire General Court, "SB240," accessed February 16, 2022
- ↑10.010.1All About Redistricting, "New Hampshire," accessed May 5, 2015
- ↑New Hampshire Secretary of State, "General Election - November 8, 2016," accessed October 25, 2016
- ↑New Hampshire Secretary of State, "General Election Results - 2016," accessed December 23, 2016
- ↑13.013.1New Hampshire Secretary of State, "State Primary - September 13, 2016," accessed June 22, 2016
- ↑14.014.1New Hampshire Secretary of State, "2016 Primary election results," accessed November 21, 2016
- ↑New Hampshire Secretary of State, "2014 Filing Period," accessed August 6, 2014
- ↑New Hampshire Secretary of State, "2014 General Election Results," accessed December 3, 2014
- ↑New Hampshire Secretary of State, "2012 General Election Results," accessed December 6, 2013
- ↑New Hampshire Secretary of State, "2012 Candidate List," accessed December 6, 2013
- ↑New Hampshire Secretary of State, "Official Primary Results," accessed December 6, 2013
