Jennifer Mandelbaum is a public health scientist and represents Portsmouth and Newington in the New Hampshire State House.
New Hampshire voters are some of the most engaged and independent in the country. We don’t appreciate being taken for granted, and we don’t fall in line behind party labels. This is especially true in local and state elections, where the issues that shape daily life, like schools, taxes and infrastructure, are decided not in Washington, but right here at home.
If Democrats want to win and earn the trust of Granite Staters, especially beyond the I-93 corridor, they need to do more than parachute in during presidential election years. They need to commit to a 10-county strategy, a long-term, community-based approach that builds relationships, strengthens local institutions and earns support across the entire state, not just the places they’re already doing well.
This idea is rooted in a national approach known as the “50-state strategy,” introduced by former Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean in the mid-2000s. Instead of writing off red states, Dean argued, Democrats should compete everywhere. That meant investing in local candidates, building year-round organizing operations and crafting messages that spoke to local values. It worked.
The strategy helped Democrats win back Congress in 2006 and lay the groundwork for Barack Obama’s victory in 2008. But more importantly, it showed what happens when a party treats voters with respect, listens more than it lectures and puts in the work between election cycles. It’s time New Hampshire Democrats adopt the same approach, tailored to our state’s unique political geography. That means treating all ten counties as essential, not just a few.
From Carroll County to Coös, each part of our state has its own character and concerns. A campaign message that resonates in Portsmouth might not land in Newport. A good strategy accounts for that.
In rural areas like Sullivan, Grafton and Coös counties, people want to know how candidates will support rural hospitals, help small businesses, fix roads and expand broadband.
In faster-growing counties like Rockingham and Merrimack, the focus may shift toward property taxes, affordable housing and managing growth without losing what makes towns special.
Too often, both parties speak in national talking points. A 10-county strategy would push Democrats to listen more, speak plainly and reflect the real concerns of working families, small business owners, and seniors across the state.
Winning the corner office is important, but it’s not enough. New Hampshire has one of the largest legislative bodies in the country. Control of the state’s House and Senate can swing with a few hundred votes. The five-member Executive Council, unique to our state, controls state contracts and judicial appointments. Democrats ignore these races at their peril.
A real 10-county strategy means investing in local candidates at every level. School boards, select boards and town councils are the training grounds for future leaders. And they’re where the real work of governing happens. Helping candidates step up in every county, even in towns that lean right, is essential to long-term Democratic success.
Trust isn’t built three weeks before Election Day; it’s built over years, by showing up to town meetings and community events even when there’s nothing in it for a candidate. That’s why Democrats need to commit to year-round organizing in every county. Permanent local organizers, supported by a revitalized state party, can register voters, knock doors and help neighbors solve real problems. It’s about being part of the community, not just asking for votes every two or four years.
This isn’t just a strategy for winning elections. It’s about revitalizing civic engagement and democratic participation across New Hampshire. Too many people have tuned out because they don’t think their voice matters. They don’t see candidates who reflect their lives, or they feel forgotten by both parties.
By investing in every corner of the state, Democrats can send a clear message: Every community matters. Every voter counts. That’s not a partisan idea; it’s a foundational principle of representative government.
The bottom line: New Hampshire is always in play. Every election cycle brings tight margins, flipped seats and high-stakes decisions. Building a real governing majority, though, that’s responsive and locally-grounded, takes more than national endorsements or pamphlets.
A 10-county strategy for Democrats means showing up, listening better, and working locally to earn support one voter, one conversation and one town at a time. That’s how trust is built and elections are won. And that’s how a stronger, more representative New Hampshire can move forward.