Democrat Karen Liot Hill edged out Mike Liberty, while Republican Kim Strathdee beat Mary Rose Deak for their respective District 2 Executive Council nominations.

The final results, which were not called until around 12:30 a.m., saw Hill clinch the win with 56% of the votes compared to 44% for Liberty.

“This is a real victory for grassroots organizing,” Hill said  Wednesday morning.  “I am feeling incredibly thankful for the team of people that have been supporting me and that helped me pull off what has turned out to be a decisive victory last night.”

Hill chose to forego an election night celebration. Instead, she spent a quiet evening at home in Lebanon with her two children, watching the presidential debate alongside her best friend.

While Hill won the district, Liberty had a strong showing in Concord, where he outperformed Hill by 229 votes. Liberty secured 3,123 votes in Concord compared to Hill's 2,894. 

The District 2 seat on the five-member Executive Council was held by Cinde Warmington,  the lone Democratic voice on the five-member board. The district sprawls across the west side of the state, covering much of Grafton, Sullivan, Cheshire and Merrimack counties.

Reflecting on Tuesday’s outcome, Liberty expressed his disappointment but acknowledged Hill’s strong campaign. He reached out to her late into the night to offer his congratulations.

“I definitely plan to stay involved,” Liberty said, stressing his commitment to public service and local politics. “But I think I’ll re-assess what that actually looks like.”

He said he wants to see more Democrats in the state government.

On the Republican side, Strathdee, who lives in a campground in Carroll, won over Deak with 56% of the statewide vote.

Despite the tie in vote share percentage, the number of Republican ballots was significantly lower than Democratic ballots, with only around 15,000 Republican votes cast compared to 30,000 Democratic votes.

“I am ecstatic and honored that I've won the vote and the confidence vote to go through to November,” said Strathdee. “But I’m concerned that more Democrats hit the voting booths than Republicans in my district.”

The council, which is responsible for overseeing state contracts, spending, and balancing the governor’s authority, had become more political than in the past, specifically over cuts to funding to Planned Parenthood, which Warmington opposed.

Despite their party differences, both candidates share a common belief in a woman’s right to make her own decisions regarding pregnancy and abortion.

Strathdee plans to differentiate herself from Hill by prioritizing advocacy for the district's residents. 

"I’d like to make sure that Concord keeps turning their eyes northward to what's happening in the northern part of the state,” she said.

Hill said she’s committed to selecting qualified individuals to serve in state government who prioritize the future of New Hampshire.

“I will be looking for people who are not going to be shaped by partisan ideology,” said Hill. “I'm going to be looking for people who are committed to advancing a better future for New Hampshire and putting people over the politics.”

Strathdee is enthusiastic about Hill’s win, viewing their upcoming race as a fair contest. 

“Now we've eliminated gender bias,” said Strathdee. “If I lose you can't say it's because it was a male-female thing.”

Both candidates said they plan to intensify their efforts to connect with voters. 

With Strathdee’s lease on the Carroll campground set to expire in October, she said she is contemplating a move to Concord. This strategic relocation would position her closer to key meetings and forums, improving her ability to engage with constituents.

Meanwhile, Hill is concentrating on her priorities – improving funding for public schools, advancing the transition to a clean energy economy, and safeguarding reproductive and transgender rights.