Republicans desperate for good news on a dark night of political disappointments can look to New Hampshire, where Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais won a landslide reelection in the purple state’s largest city.
It’s a small victory compared to the Democrats’ sweep of governors’ races in New Jersey and Virginia and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. But in an ugly election cycle for the GOP, partisan beggars can’t be choosers.
Ruais, 40, defeated his Democratic challenger, former school board member Jess Spillers, 58 to 40 percent.
In a state that hasn’t elected a Republican to federal office in a decade or backed a GOP presidential candidate since 2000, Ruais has been a political overachiever. He won an upset victory two years ago over three-term Democrat Joyce Craig’s hand-picked candidate. (She went on to lose the 2024 governor’s race to Republican Kelly Ayotte).
And he did it in a city Joe Biden carried with 58 percent of the vote in 2020, and Kamala Harris won with 53 percent last year.
Asked what advice he has for other Republicans running in Democratic-leaning communities, Ruais declined to play pundit.
“All I can speak to is what I think has been successful here in Manchester,” he told NHJournal. “I think people want us to focus on identifying problems, coming up with solutions, working together, and pushing the ball over the finish line. I don’t think it’s any more complicated than that.”
Ruais also said he had spoken to Spillers and thanked her for running, a tone different from that of other Republicans at the national level.
“It’s always a tough thing to put your name on the ballot. And she was in it because she believed in the city, and I appreciated her service to Manchester.”
Veteran GOP strategist and Manchester resident Jim Merrill praised Ruais’ performance.
“Throughout his first term as mayor, Jay Ruais has been a leader seeking to bring people together — disciplined, energetic, and relentlessly optimistic. Tonight, those admirable traits paid off. In a night that’s trending blue nationally, Jay’s big red win serves notice that his future is not only bright — it’s now.”
Granite State Republicans also scored a rare special-election victory in the traditional Democratic stronghold of Berlin. Republican Marc Tremblay defeated Corinne Cascadden by just 14 votes to fill a House vacancy.
“Tonight, the people of Berlin sent a message that will echo across New Hampshire: The Granite State rejects the radical policies of the left and stands firmly for freedom, fiscal discipline, and common sense,” said House Majority Leader Jason Osborne (R-Auburn). Osborne heads the Committee to Elect House Republicans.
“Tonight’s win is not the end of the fight — it is the beginning of momentum. And together, we will carry that momentum into every town, every ward, and every district until the people’s House is stronger than ever before.”
And state Rep. Mike Bordes was elected mayor of Laconia, flipping the office red.
“Congratulations to my friend Rep. Mike Bordes, Laconia’s next mayor! I look forward to working with Mike to help Laconia thrive,” said Gov. Kelly Ayotte.
New Hampshire Democrats did have some wins of their own. Chuck Grassie won a four-way race for mayor of Rochester, defeating second-place finisher Republican Matt Mayberry by fewer than 300 votes.
And state party chair Ray Buckley took to social media to celebrate his party’s performance in the Manchester city council races, including the defeat of longtime Alderman Joe Kelly Levasseur. Democrats will now enjoy a 9-5 majority after two years of a tied Board of Mayor and Aldermen, with Ruais breaking the tie.
“Bub-bye to JKL — finally!” he posted.
