Incumbent Republican Jim Gray holds onto District 6 state senate seat

Jim Gray, Ruth Larson

It appears that incumbent District 6 Sen. Jim Gray has fended of a challenge by Ruth Larson and won a fourth-term in the state Senate.
With 72 percent of the vote in, Gray was holding a 55-45 percent lead.
In Rochester, Gray won every ward except for Ward 4, which Larson won by just 11 votes, 973-962; and Ward 6, which she won by just six votes, 899-893.
Citywide, Gray won by a comfortable margin at 50-46 percent, 6,364-5,878.
District 6 comprises the city of Rochester and the towns, of Alton, Barnstead, Farmington, Gilmanton and New Durham.
In state rep races, District 19, which comprises Wards 1-4 and 6, the top three vote getters going to Concord are Republican James Connor (4,791 votes), Democrat Daniel Fitzpatrick, Rochester's former city manager (4,760) and Republican Kelley L. Potenza (4,701).
In District 6, which represents Ward 2, incumbent Republican Cliff Newton bested Democrat challenger Kathleen Cavalaro, 1,111-1,033.

Newton said today that his opponent had run a good campaign, but was disappointed that there hadn't been more of a red wave nationally.

"I think we're doing OK at the state level," he said. "I think it's sad that a guy like Don Bolduc who was out every day talking to Granite Staters lost to someone who basically ran an election from her cellar. I think Bolduc had a good base but he couldn't get enough Independents and Democrats to come onboard."

Meanwhile, in District 9, which covers Ward 6, Republican Brandon Phinney edged out Democrat Nevin Dexter by 16 votes, 887-871.
In District 5, which represents Ward 1, Republican Tom Kaczynski Jr. defeated Democrat Patricia Turner, 1,197-1,123.
In what may have been the closest contest statewide that will likely see a recount, Republican David Walker edged incumbent Democrat Chuck Grassie by a single vote, 971-970.
In District 7, which represents Ward 3, Republican Aidan Ankarberg eased by Democrat Mark Sorensen, 1,131-896.
In District 2, which represents Ward 5 and Milton, Republicans took all three seats, with Glenn Bailey coming in first with 2,116 votes, Claudine Burnham taking second with 2,057, followed by Michael Granger with 2,041.