In what could be an important indicator for the outcome of a key district in this year’s presidential election, a Republican handily beat a Democrat in the special election for New Hampshire State House Coos County District 6 on Tuesday — a county that President Joe Biden won by a significant margin in 2020.
Republican candidate Michael Murphy beat his Democrat opponent, Edith Tucker, by a margin of 53.8% to 46.2% on Tuesday evening, according to Decision Desk HQ projections. Murphy’s victory flipped the seat previously held by a Democrat in the district that Biden won by 12 points in the 2020 presidential election.
BREAKING: Republican Michael Murphy has won the Special Election for New Hampshire State House Coos 6 (Biden +12 in 2020)
🔵 DEM ➡️ 🔴 GOP FLIP pic.twitter.com/Ucu8yG0fC1
— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) January 24, 2024
The massive win for the Republican candidate helps to reinforce the GOP’s trifecta in the state, as the party controls both chambers of the state legislature as well as the governor’s office. The New Hampshire State House had four seats vacant prior to the special elections, with Murphy’s victory filling one of the vacancies.
Republican candidate Sean Durkin also won his special election for New Hampshire State House Coos County District 1 on Tuesday night, adding another seat to Republicans’ majority. Prior to these victories, the GOP held a slim 198-195 majority in the state House, with three lawmakers registered as either independent or other.
Congratulations Representatives-Elect Sean Durkin and Mike Murphy
Coos County spoke loud and clear last night and are sending two champions to Concord to protect and expand the New Hampshire Advantage
We look forward to welcoming our newest members to Representatives Hall soon pic.twitter.com/Q3yIQGZ7Tz
— NH House Republicans (@NHHouseGOP) January 24, 2024
The special elections occurred the same day as New Hampshire’s GOP presidential primary, where former president and current GOP primary frontrunner Donald Trump crushed former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) by a margin of 54.4% to 43.3%. Haley has refused to drop out of the race despite losing the first two contests in the GOP primary by wide margins.
Byron Donalds delivers Nikki Haley's eulogy after Trump VICTORY in New Hampshire:
"This thing is OVER." pic.twitter.com/Wfso7noQcE
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 24, 2024
Murphy’s victory in Coos County District 6 was surprising to many analysts, as the district was previously considered to be safely Democrat. This could be good news for Trump’s chances in the district in the upcoming 2024 presidential election, as he is likely going to be the Republican nominee to challenge President Joe Biden. If a district that Biden previously won by 12 points has flipped Republican, it could help Trump win New Hampshire and could even be an indicator of other safe Democrat districts moving toward the right.
