Scanlan scores decisive win to remain secretary of state
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Dec. 7—CONCORD — Secretary of State David Scanlan won his first full term as the state's top election official with solid bipartisan support Wednesday.
Despite a concerted effort by state Democratic leaders to unseat him, the Bow Republican achieved a decisive 237-175 victory over ex-state Sen. Melanie Levesque, D-Brookline.
"Thank you for this tremendous honor, and thank you for what was clearly a bipartisan vote," Scanlan said. "It was clearly important to me, and I appreciate that."
A former House majority leader, Scanlan won over at least two dozen Democrats including the dean of the Senate, Sen. Lou D'Allesandro of Manchester, and state Rep. Peter Leishman, D-Peterborough, who had both nominated him along with Sen. Regina Birdsell, R-Hampstead, and Rep. Valerie McDonnell, R-Salem and at 18 the youngest member of the Legislature.
"We can be more than confident in his ability to greet the upcoming session with grace and expertise," McDonnell said.
The House of Representatives and state Senate jointly elect the secretary of state and state treasurer.
Treasurer Monica Mezzapelle was unopposed for a second full two-year term.
During an interview, Scanlan said he's determined to build on the accomplishments his team has achieved in the 10 months that he served in the job since the retirement of Secretary of State Bill Gardner.
Scanlan saluted the legacy left behind by Gardner who, at 45 years in office, was the longest serving election leader in New Hampshire history.
"We've done a great deal so far, but there's more work to do, and I've got a great staff that's committed to moving this office forward," Scanlan said.
Among his top priorities are upgrading the office's IT infrastructure, modernizing the state's campaign finance website, providing enhanced training for election workers and testing out new voting machine technology as the state transitions in the future to the next generation of electronic tabulators.
Scanlan said he's also looking forward to the final report of his Special Committee on Voter Confidence likely next week that will suggest other changes to modernize state elections.
For her part, Levesque said she would stay involved as an advocate for election law and voting reform.
"I ran because I believe our secretary of state's office can and should do more to protect access to the ballot for New Hampshire voters, so we do not remain the hardest state to cast a ballot in the country," Levesque said. "Even though we did not win, I will continue to use my platform to advocate for pro-voter policies."
Gov. Chris Sununu praised the pick and stressed New Hampshire needs Scanlan in this role to fend off attempts by national Democratic leaders to take away the state's preeminent spot on the presidential primary calendar.
"The people of New Hampshire won today," Sununu said. "Now more than ever, we need Secretary of State Scanlan's experienced leadership to defend, protect, and promote our First in the Nation Presidential Primary."
