GOP redistricting effort in New Hampshire is frozen

Republican legislators see no way forward without the buy-in of GOP Gov. Kelly Ayotte.

The White House’s aggressive campaign to protect the GOP House majority during the midterm elections has been slowed down by the Republicans’ decision to put their redistricting efforts on hold in New Hampshire.

Dan Innis, a state senator from New Hampshire, has pulled his own bill which would have started a redrawing of the two congressional districts of the State in mid-decade. This was due to the opposition of Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte.

Innis, the Republican who ended his U.S. Senate race recently, told POLITICO that the governor was not very supportive. “Rather than creating a difficult situation at my own home, the New Hampshire State House I thought it was sensible to save this until another time.”

Innis’ withdrawal of his bill is another blow to the White House in its campaign to force GOP-led states to redistrict. The Indiana Senate Republican Leadership said this week they do not have the votes necessary to pass for a midcycle redistricting in the Hoosier state, even though Gov. Mike Braun still wants to hold a special session in order to redo state maps. The White House didn’t immediately respond to an inquiry about New Hampshire.

Since months, the White House has been increasing pressure on New Hampshire Republicans. They have threatened a no-holds-barred approach that would include considering a primary challenge against Ayotte. Corey Lewandowski is a Trump ally who has lived in New Hampshire for many years. He currently serves as a senior adviser at the Department of Homeland Security. Days later, he said he was thinking about running against Ayotte.

Granite State Republican legislators are interested in remapping because New Hampshire uses a congressional map approved by a court since the then-Gov. Chris Sununu vetoed the plans that were sent to him by the Legislature in 2022. Democrats must win three seats at the midterm elections next year to regain control of the House. The Trump team hoped to gain one seat from a New Hampshire redistribution.

The districts are both currently represented by Democrats. However, the 1st open district in the state will still be a battleground come November next year even without any new lines.

Ayotte is not budgeable. State legislators say that they want Ayotte to buy in.

The governor, who is in her first term, has rejected the idea repeatedly. She says that the timing of the redraw would be “off” and she insists the Trump team’s pressure tactics won’t make her change her mind.

Ayotte told WMUR that the timing of redistricting isn’t right.

Source: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/24/gop-redistricting-newhampshire-frozen-00621714

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