There were few surprises this year in New Hampshire House of Representatives races, with nearly all districts remaining with current incumbents.

Cheshire District 13

Democratic incumbent Richard Ames retains the seat for Cheshire District 13, which includes Dublin and Jaffrey.

Ames had a total of 2,155 votes in a close race with Republican opponent Donald Primrose, who had 2,000 votes. The race was neck-and-neck in Jaffrey, where Primrose beat out Ames by six votes, but the difference was overcome in Dublin, which favored Ames.

Cheshire District 14

Longtime Republican incumbent John Hunt will hold the seat for Cheshire District 14 for another term, after handily fending off Democratic challenger Deni Dickler.

Hunt held strong with over 64% of the vote in Rindge, winning over Dickler with 2,351 votes to 1,270.

Cheshire District 18

Republican incumbents Rita Mattson and Jim Qualey will head back to the state house to represent Dublin, Jaffrey and Rindge, beating out Democratic opponents Hannah Bissex and Tom Hsu.

Mattson received the most votes in the district, with 4,061, and Qualey received 3,903 for the two district seats. Bissex received 3,420 votes and Hsu 3,056.

Margins were narrow in Jaffrey between the parties, with Bessex and Hsu both garnering more votes than Qualey, and Bissex coming within 10 votes of Mattson. The Republican stronghold of Rindge was a key factor in the race, with Mattson receiving 2,109 votes from Rindge residents and Qualey 2,156, while Bissex received 1,314 and Hsu 1,110.

Hillsborough District 27

Hillsborough District 27, which includes Deering and Francestown, has been won by Republican Mary Murphy, with 1,336 votes to Democratic candidate Susan Kane’s 912.

Hillsborough District 30

Republican incumbents Jim Creighton, Riche Colcombe and Jim Fedolfi were successful in holding their seats for Hillsborough District 30, which includes Antrim, Bennington, Hillsborough and Windsor.

Creighton received the most votes with 3,182, with Colcombe close behind with 3,172. Fedolfi was third with 2,884 votes.

Among the Democratic candidates, Marjorie Porter had the strongest showing, closing in on Fedolfi with 2,528 votes, compared to Michael Schamel with 2,233 votes and William Bryk with 2,141.

Hillsborough District 31

Incumbent Molly Howard will head back to the state house to represent Hillsborough District 31, winning over Jarvis Adams IV in a 1,244-1,081 vote.

Adams received more votes than Howard in Greenfield, with a 611-445 vote, but Howard held the edge in Hancock, with 799 votes to Adams 470.

Hillsborough District 32

Republicans Diane Kelly, Shane Sirois and Jim Kofalt return to the State House for the three seats for Hillsborough District 32, representing New Ipswich, Temple and Wilton.

Kelly received 3,784 votes, Sirois 3,689 votes and Kofalt 3,666.

Democrats Jennifer Bernet, Michael Pellerito and Kermit Williams trailed with 2,477, 2,349 and 2,344 votes, respectively.

Republican candidates led in Temple, but the votes were narrow, with only a five-vote difference between Bernet and Kofalt. Bernet and Williams held a lead in Wilton, with Kelly receiving the third-most support in that town.

Hillsborough District 33

Democratic incumbents Peter Leishman and Jonah Wheeler were successful in holding their seats for Hillsborough District 33. Leishman had 2,932 votes and Wheeler had 2,920 in the district, which represents Peterborough and Sharon. Republican Kimberly Thomas trailed with 1,555 votes.

Hillsborough District 36

Republican candidates Diane Pauer and John Suiter will be representing Hillsborough District 36, which includes Brookline, Greenville and Mason.

Pauer led the pack for the two seats, with a total of 2,916 votes, and Suiter had 2,690.

Peter Cook had a total of 2,379 votes, ahead of Carol Schreck with 2,227. Cook outperformed Suiter slightly in Brookline, with 1,698 votes to Suiter’s 1,668, but trailed him in Greenville and Mason, where Suiter was able to make up the difference.

Hillsborough District 42

Republican incumbents Lisa Post, Keith Ammon and Gerald Griffin will keep their seats for District 42, which encompasses Lyndeborough, Mont Vernon and New Boston.

Post and Ammon were tied with 2,276 votes, and Griffin received 3,349, compared to Democratic candidates Brian Paquette with 3,130, Sarah Cadzynski with 3,100 and Andrew Stokinger with 2,902.

Hillsborough District 45

In the floterial District 45, which includes Brookline, Greenville, Hollis and Mason, Jack Flanagan was a rare candidate to beat an incumbent, receiving with 5,953 votes to Karen Calabro’s 5,118.

Greenville and Mason both supported Flanagan over Calabro, with Flanagan receiving 582 votes in Greenville to Calabro’s 381, and 593 votes in Mason to Calabro’s 331.

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.