NH primary: Donald Trump wins, Nikki Haley vows not to quit

Former President Donald Trump defeated former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in the New Hampshire Republican primary, winning over crucial Granite State voters.

The New Hampshire primary has long wielded the power to make or break presidential candidates. Today, all eyes were on the GOP race as Haley tried to build momentum against Trump with a coalition that included moderate and independent voters.

On the Democratic side, President Joe Biden also won over his challengers in a write-in campaign, defeating Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., and author Marianne Williamson.

Follow our live updates here and also check out our New Hampshire primary 2024 live results page.

Donald Trump claims victory, attacks Nikki Haley

In remarks to supporters, Donald Trump declared victory and blamed non-Republican independent voters for holding down his margin against Nikki Haley in New Hampshire.

“This is a fantastic state,” Trump said at a victory party in Nashua, New Hampshire, before denouncing Haley.

“She didn’t win. She lost,” Trump said, reassuring his supporters that “we had one hell of a night tonight.”

Trump expressed confidence in the Republican-only Nevada caucuses on Feb. 8 and South Carolina primary a few weeks later: “Just a little note to Nikki,” Trump said. “She’s not going to win.”

Gary Mulkigiam, 32, said he sees a unified front in the Republican Party.

“He won in Iowa. He won New Hampshire. DeSantis dropped out, like everybody else, pretty much - Vivek dropped out, and now put their support to Trump. So it’s like a unified front now,” said Mulkigiam, an Exeter resident who works in sales.

— David Jackson and Sudiksha Kochi

Nikki Haley vows to stay in, says race is 'far from over' 

Nikki Haley on Tuesday night told her supporters that she's "a fighter," even after her loss to Donald Trump in the New Hampshire primary.

Haley told her supporters during remarks in Concord that "New Hampshire is first in the nation... it is not last in the nation.... this race is far from over."

After the Granite State's primary, Haley will likely set her sights on courting potential supporters her home state of South Carolina. The Republican Palmetto State primary is set for Feb. 24.

— Marina Pitofsky, Francesca Chambers

Sen. Watters, NH Democrats celebrate Biden write-in victory

MANCHESTER — A crowd of Democrats at the Puritan Backroom restaurant was jubilant after news broke President Joe Biden had won the New Hampshire primary, thanks to a write-in campaign.

“I’m really glad that we have such a strong Democratic turnout to support the president. I think it shows that people feel democracy is threatened, and that we really wanted to give Joe Biden his first victory in the primary season tonight towards November,” said state Sen. David Watters, D-Dover. “The vote is strong, the write-in campaign really worked, people want to show their support for him. So I'm really pleased by the grassroots enthusiasm.”

Watters is confident this will help Biden as the 2024 cycle continues.

“I think it really has strengthened the Democratic party,” said Watters. “A lot who voted on the Republican side are going to end up voting for us. And I think that turnout right there, if you add it what Biden got, should adjust the scale of people's rejection of Trump in this state.”

— Margie Cullen

When is the next Republican primary?

Now that Donald Trump and Joe Biden have clinched victory in the New Hampshire primary, when is the next GOP race?

Nevada and the Virgin Islands hold their caucuses on Feb. 8, and South Carolina holds its Republican primary on Feb. 24.

— Anna Kaufman, Marina Pitofsky

Trump and Biden supporters keep it civil in Dover

DOVER — Janet Mason and Mary Hebbard have been neighbors in Dover for years, friendly ties they said are carrying over into the New Hampshire primary despite their political differences.

Outside the city's Ward 4 polls at Garrison Elementary School, Mason, a write-in Biden advocate, and Hebbard, a proponent of former President Donald Trump, held signs for their respective candidates as they conversed and caught up with each other.

“Dover is a civil place,” said Mason. “I’ve lived here all my life.”

A stream of voters walked by her and Hebbard, greeting both with smiles.

Though discourse in American politics tends to take a sour turn in the Biden-Trump debate, the two neighbors don’t plan on letting their political preferences come between them.

“People have been very friendly,” Hebbard said. “We’re all Americans. That’s what’s most important.”

— Ian Lenahan

Write-in Biden supporter makes point in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH — A team of 16 people will be hand-counting New Hampshire primary ballots after the polls close at Little Harbour School, according to Ward 5 moderator Brian Wazlaw.

The roster of poll workers was finalized far in advance as the movement to write-in President Joe Biden’s name on the Democratic presidential primary ballot gained traction.

Julie Robb, a resident of Portsmouth's South End, remains in support of Biden even as he opted not to file for the Democratic presidential primary, nor visit the state in the run-up to Tuesday.

Robb clutched a handmade pencil decoration outside the school reading, “Democracy is the Point!”

“We’re exercising our voice. (It’s) just because of political strategies,” she said in reference to Biden not appearing on the primary ballot in New Hampshire. “But we still have a voice. We have a vote. We three are being proactive in supporting Biden. ... I just want to be more involved now that I’m retired, hopefully make some positive change and help restore sanity."

— Ian Lenahan

When will we see results in the NH primary? What time does NH primary end?

The results of the New Hampshire primary could have an outsized impact on the future of the presidential nominating contest. Will it wrap up quickly with parties uniting behind the president and the former president, or will future battles will between Haley and Trump be fought in Nevada, South Carolina and beyond?

Polling times Tuesday vary across the state but most open no later than 7 a.m. and close at 7 or 8 p.m. Results could come early in the night or much later if the voting is close.

Follow live reporting of results on our New Hampshire primary results page.

2024 voter guide: Here is a look at where candidates stand on the issues

UNH student explains 'ceasefire' write-in vote

DURHAM — University of New Hampshire student Alexis Eaton said she would be writing in “ceasefire” in the New Hampshire primary.

“I think it’s going to send a message,” said Eaton, 21, before entering the polling place at Oyster River High School. She had planned to vote for Democratic candidate Marianne Williamson, but the “state of the world” and learning about the movement to write in "ceasefire" changed her mind.

Vote Ceasefire is an organization of voters encouraging New Hampshire residents to vote “ceasefire” as a write-in presidential candidate to push President Joe Biden to call for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Tyler O’Connell, who graduated from UNH this past May, said the conflict is an important issue for her, but she was planning to write in Biden's name.

“There’s a lot of unrest around Palestine and Israel and there have been so many calls for ceasefire that it seems like it’s gone unheard,” said O’Connell, 23. “I know for me personally that’s also something that I’ve been thinking about, but I think overall Biden is still the right person for the job.”

Despite her disagreement, she didn’t really consider writing in ceasefire. “New Hampshire is a very important primary,” she said.

— Margie Cullen

More: New Hampshire young voters agree on one thing: their lack of excitement for this election

Vision-impaired voting technology touted in Exeter

EXETER — Dana Trahan, who is a member of the Coalition of Blind and Vision Impaired Voters in New Hampshire, said the ability to vote without the help of another person reading the ballot felt “empowering.”

Trahan credited the technology called One4All Accessible Voting System, which has a tablet, keyboard, headphones and printer and allows visually impaired residents to vote independently. She noted it is widely offered in presidential votes, but to date only Exeter and Concord in New Hampshire offer it for municipal elections, too.

“I, like everyone else, can go to the polls and exercise my right to vote,” said Trahan. “It could be that a poll worker reads my ballot to me and fills in and they’re not supposed to tell anybody anything, but it just feels so different to go in and do it myself.”

According to Trahan, state Rep. Mark Paige, D-Rockingham 11, is working on legislation to strongly encourage other New Hampshire towns and cities to include the One4All system in all municipal and school elections.

“It’s even more important to have the word spread about it,” said Trahan. “This way I can have it read to me over the headphone, use the arrow keys to make my selections and there’s a printer in my booth as well that will fill in the oval. Then I take my paper ballot and turn it in like everyone else.”

— Aqeel Hisham

Biden focuses on abortion rights supporters, union members

As Trump and Haley fight it out in the New Hampshire primary, Biden and the Democrats are counter-programming with events aimed at key constituencies: Abortion rights supporters and union members.

On Tuesday, Biden − who's not on the ballot in New Hampshire − joined Vice President Kamala Harris and other officials addressing a Virginia audience of "reproductive rights groups, members of Congress, and grassroots supporters," his campaign said.

On Wednesday, as political professionals assess the New Hampshire results, Biden will address members of the United Auto Workers at its national Community Action Program conference in Washington, D.C. Biden is seeking the UAW's endorsement.

— David Jackson

Dover Ward 1 sees slow early turnout in largely Democratic city

DOVER — Fifty new voter registrations were recorded by early afternoon Tuesday at Frances G. Hopkins Elementary School, the polling place for Ward 1 voters, much less than past elections, according to ward moderator Chris Hougen.

Dover is a heavily Democratic city and Tuesday's election is largely a Republican contest. By 1:15 p.m., fewer than 600 ballots were cast in a ward with 3,300 registered voters. Upwards of 10 people will stay at the school after hours to count write-in ballots, Hougen said.

— Ian Lenahan

Trump and Sununu clash in social media

Republican candidate Donald Trump began primary day not by attacking Nikki Haley but by attacking Haley's most prominent New Hampshire supporter: Gov. Chris Sununu.

Sununu responded by questioning Trump's age and mental capacity.

Trump started it with a Truth Social post that hit Fox News as well as Sununu: "Why does Fox keep putting New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu on??? Every time I mention his name at a Rally, they BOOO like crazy ... To have this loser on so much is really bad TV."

Over on X (formerly Twitter), Sununu responded: "I suppose it’s tough keeping up with the conversation given your advanced age. Maybe try subtitles next time. Thanks for watching."

— David Jackson

Haley takes shot at ages of Trump and Biden, vows to stay in race

HAMPTON — Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley attacked Donald Trump’s age while visiting the polls in Hampton with Gov. Chris Sununu Tuesday.

Haley said Trump is “mentally fit,” but she said voters need to ask whether they want “two 80-year-olds” in Trump and President Joe Biden on the ticket in November. Trump is 77.

“When you’ve got a country in disarray and a world on fire the way we do,” Haley said, “you need someone at the top of their game that can put in eight years and get things back on track.”

Haley was trailing Trump in the polls by 22% Tuesday morning, according to an NBC poll. She has lasted longer in the race than other Republicans, however, like Ron DeSantis, who dropped out this week.

Trump said at a rally Monday he expected Haley to drop out of the race Tuesday. Haley said she intended to stay in the race.

“I don’t do what he tells me to do. I’ve never done what he tells me to do,” Haley said.

Haley was asked if she planned to continue to run in the primary in her home state of South Carolina next month if she doesn't get the results she wants in New Hampshire.

"We’re going to South Carolina. We put in the ad buy,” Haley said. “This has always been a marathon. It’s never been a sprint.”

— Max Sullivan

Exeter sees varying views on Biden and DNC

EXETER — Town Moderator Kate Miller said there was a steady stream of voters at Talbot Gym Tuesday morning, reaching nearly 3,000 people by noontime. At its peak, the line wrapped around the ramp going into the building.

Campaigning outside the polling station while holding his “Write-In Joe Biden” sign was David Mirsky. He described the Democratic National Committee calendar shake-up, which led to Biden not being on the ballot in New Hampshire, as national political “calculations” and “strategy.”

“We’re with them whatever they decide,” said Mirsky, referring to the DNC. “I don’t think there’s any real challenge (for Biden), the other people running in the Democratic Party are not established here. They haven’t made a very reasonable case for being president, the other two.”

Contrary, Susan Scannell said the whole voting process “is all about big money and advertising.”

“New Hampshire used to matter,” said Scannell. “We’ve been here for 30-plus years, it was always grassroots.”

Exeter is politically known to be a blue town, but Valerie Pevear was adamant voting for former president Donald Trump would “save the future of this country.”

“I’m hoping that he gets in and we have a better economy and I’m sick of paying high gas prices and groceries,” said Pevear. “I’m a single mother of two, and I’m a server… It's taking a toll on me. I work all the time and still can’t get ahead, with this guy (Trump) I did pretty well.”

— Aqeel Hisham

In Rochester undeclared voters steadily turn out

ROCHESTER — Dennis Raymond is the city's former Ward 5 moderator, helping as a volunteer this election.

"I have been doing elections a long time, since the early 90s," said Raymond. "We had a line waiting when we opened. It's slower now but still steady."

As of about 1 p.m., 777 votes had been cast. Raymond said there are about 3,400 registered voters in Ward 5.

"We are seeing a lot of undeclared voters coming in, he said. "Most of them are changing right back after they vote. I am not sure which ballot they are most asking for."

Sara Jensen is a Democrat and she wrote in Joe Biden.

"I think he is the right person" said Jensen. "I am less concerned with the screwup between the Democratic party and the state than I am with the future of the country. So much is on the line in this election," she said. "I hope people realize this and get out to vote."

— Karen Dandurant

Write-in Biden supporters in friendly clash with Phillips backer

PORTSMOUTH — Friendly barbs were exchanged Tuesday by supporters of U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, a Minnesota Democrat challenging President Joe Biden, and advocates of the Write-In Biden campaign outside of a Portsmouth polling place.

Chris Liquori, a resident of neighboring Kittery, Maine, is supporting Dean’s longshot candidacy though he can't vote in the New Hampshire primary. Just by putting his name on the ballot, unlike the sitting president, Dean has proven himself to be a superior candidate, he said.

“Joe Biden should be here,” Liquori said. “He should be campaigning, should be asking the people in New Hampshire for their vote.”Wielding Write-In Biden signs next to him were Massachusetts residents Drew Russo and George Varghese, also non-voters in the primary.

Russo expects the majority of Democrats and a strong showing of independent voters will fill in the write-in oval and cast their vote for Biden. The president’s record, with the passing of the bipartisan infrastructure law, the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, should be enough to warrant another four years, Russo said.

“He has restored America in terms of what he's done to help the economy rebound, especially after the pandemic. He's brought stability and decency to the White House,” Russo continued. “And you know, Joe Biden didn't do terribly well here in the New Hampshire primary four years ago. But in the fall, he won a very commanding victory over Donald Trump. I think we're going to see that happen this year.”

— Ian Lenahan

Portsmouth Ward 1 has special election, too

PORTSMOUTH — In Portsmouth voting Ward 1 at New Franklin School, there is a special primary election for a New Hampshire House of Representatives seat on the ballot Tuesday in addition to the presidential primary.

Two Democrats, former state Rep. Jacqueline Cali-Pitts and public health researcher Jennifer Mandelbaum, are running for the Rockingham County District 21 House position vacated last month. The winner of this primary will run unopposed in the March 12 special election as no Republicans filed for election.

A total of 464 ballots had been cast at 10 a.m. According to ward moderator Steve Pesci, most candidates were taking two ballots into each voting booth - one for their preferred presidential candidate’s political party, and the other for the state representative seat, which features two Democrats and no declared Republicans.

“It’s unique,” he said.

The New Hampshire secretary of state has given the ward permission to release results of one race before others, if not all are tallied up at once.

“We’re going to follow that protocol if it seems rational,” Pesci said.

If the Democratic write-in campaign for President Joe Biden is successful, poll workers may have a long evening ahead of them hand counting.

“I think we're all very curious about what today's going to be like. I think we're going to have good turnout, especially amongst Republicans,” Pesci said.

— Ian Lenahan

Somersworth moderator reports steady undeclared voter turnout

SOMERSWORTH — Ward 1 Somersworth moderator Bonnie McNair said about 360 votes had been cast by noon, with 1,670 registered voters in the ward.

"It's been fairly steady, much less than I expected," she said." A lot of people are declared independents and many are asking for a Republican ballot."

McNair said several people told her they had received robocalls telling them their vote didn't mean anything. And while City Hall is usually a popular spot for outside campaign signs there was not one Tuesday in the city that traditionally votes heavily Democratic.

— Karen Dandurant

Stratham sees steady stream of new voters

STRATHAM — Town Clerk Deborah Bakie said there were around 2,000 votes cast three hours before polling close, about 35% of the town’s total registered voters. She added there has been a steady stream of new voters that registered.

Vivienne Authement, first-time voter, said that it’s important for her to vote to get her voice out and be heard. She said more young voters should be aware of decisions that would have an influence on them in the long run.

“I keep an eye on the news regularly and the events happening throughout the world,” said Authement. “I did my research pretty heavily on both parties and all the candidates that would be on either ballot and made my informed decision from that and who I thought would be the best for the country.”

Though New Hampshire is a purple state, Stratham is considered to be a “blue town.” However, according to Bakie, as of 3:30 p.m., more Republican ballots were cast compared to Democrats.

Donald Trump supporter John Baker said “there isn’t a lot for them Democrats to come and vote for right now.”

On the battle between Trump and Former South Carolina Governor Nicki Haley, Baker said the former has “already got the experience” and “already shown what he can do.”

“I think that’s what we need right now,” said Baker. “I think any of the Republican candidates would have been a better choice than our current president… but he’s (Trump) going to be the best one to get this turned around quicker.”

However, Betty Smith, a Haley supporter, said Trump is not leading by example.

“(Haley's) positive, she’s always upbeat and Trump is always knocking people down,” said Smith.

— Aqeel Hisham

Former state Sen. Nancy Stiles keeps roles separate in Hampton

HAMPTON — Nancy Stiles served her role as Hampton’s supervisor of the checklist Tuesday, registering new voters in a classroom at Winnacunnet High School where voting took place.

A longtime Republican state senator, Stiles also took a moment to step outside and watch Nikki Haley stump for votes in her primary race against Donald Trump.

Stiles, careful to remain neutral as supervisor, disclosed which Republican candidate had her support as a New Hampshire GOP stalwart.

“As retired state senator Nancy, I am voting for Nikki today,” Stiles said.

Stiles said she likes Haley’s experience as a governor as well as an ambassador. She also said Haley has the right temperament for a global leader.

“I just think she’s got all of the skillset that we need,” Stiles said. “she listens to people and she is calm, she has a very calm nature. She doesn’t get all riled up.”

— Max Sullivan

Key information for voters in Seacoast, across NH

Where can you vote today? Here's our list of polling times and places in Seacoast cities and towns and here's how to find polling places across New Hampshire. Need a way to get to polls on Seacoast? COAST Bus is offering free rides.

If you are not already registered, what do you need to bring to register to vote at polls today? Here's all the key information.

How are votes in the New Hampshire primary counted? Here's what you need to know.

What is expected from UNH student vote in Durham?

DURHAM — University of New Hampshire students and the town's resident population both lean heavily Democratic and can turn out voters in droves. That may result in a smaller turnout this year, in a race heavily focused on the Republican race, according to Town Administrator Todd Selig and Town Clerk Rachel Deane.

In 2012, fewer than 2,000 people voted in the presidential primary in Durham with Democratic incumbent President Barack Obama facing no serious competition. But in the last two election cycles, 2016 and 2020, Durham saw a big jump with between 5,000 and 6,000 voters.

The 2020 race had a competitive Democratic primary. Deane said of same-day registrations that year, 92 registered as Republicans, 710 as Democrat, and 654 as undeclared. In total, 1,456 voters registered on primary day.

What complicates predicting this cycle is the write-in campaign for Biden.

“There are a lot of people in New Hampshire who are very upset about the efforts of the Democratic National Committee to strip New Hampshire of its first in the nation status. That is clear,” said Selig. “But it’s unclear how that will impact participation at the polls.”

Deane said Durham is right on track with with absentee ballot requests: In 2020, there were 400 and there were 350 in 2024 as of Monday, with more expected.

— Margie Cullen

Two local NH House seats on the ballot

Special elections are being held for two New Hampshire House seats today.

In Newington and in Portsmouth Ward 1, two Democrats from Portsmouth, former state Rep. Jacqueline Cali-Pitts and public health researcher Jennifer Mandelbaum, are running for the Rockingham County District 21 House position vacated last month. The winner of this primary will run unopposed in the March 12 special election as no Republicans filed for election.

Former state Rep. Robin Vogt, a Democrat formerly of Portsmouth, held the seat but resigned on Dec. 1 when he moved to Durham. Cali-Pitts occupied the House seat from 1998 until she was upset by Vogt in the fall 2022 primary.

Lee and Madbury residents, as well as voters from Ward 4 in Dover, will vote for a new representative following the death of former state Rep. Hoy Robert Menear III in November. Menear served as the House member from Strafford County District 11.

Democratic voters will see a contested primarybetween two Lee candidates, Erik Johnson and Jeffrey C. Salloway. Johnson sits on the town’s Energy Commission and Community Power Committee, the Advisory Budget Committee and the Sustainability Committee, while Salloway is a former New Hampshire House of Representatives member who served between 2016 and 2022.

The Democratic winner will go against Republican candidate Joseph Bazo of Madbury in the March 12 special election.

— Ian Lenahan

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH primary: Donald Trump wins; Nikki Haley vows to stay in race