Democrat Jennifer Mandelbaum of Portsmouth wins NH House seat
Democrat Jennifer Mandelbaum of Portsmouth won a special election for state representative on Tuesday.
Mandelbaum will represent Rockingham County District 21, which includes Newington and Portsmouth Ward 1, in the New Hampshire House. Mandelbaum defeated Republican candidate Carol Bush of Newington 417-245.
Mandelbaum is a member of the Portsmouth Public Library's board of trustees, as well as a public health researcher with a Ph.D. in public health from the University of South Carolina. She grew up in Londonderry and, besides those years in South Carolina, she said she's lived in New England her whole life.
"Many thanks to Portsmouth Ward 1 and Newington voters for putting their trust in a first-time candidate and electing me as their next State Representative.
This election shows that every vote truly matters, and that when we turn out, we win. I'm excited to be sworn in on March 27th and get to work advocating for the well-being of our community and all Granite Staters," said Mandelbaum. "I couldn't have won this race without my supporters, who canvassed, phone banked, and fundraised on my behalf. I send my best wishes to Carol A. Bush, who ran a hard-fought campaign."
In Newington, Bush garnered more votes, with 188 over Mandelbaum's 120. Portsmouth put Mandelbaum over the top with 297 votes to Bush's 57.
Mandelbaum's win along with Democrat Erik Johnson's win in the Strafford County District 11 special election, will narrow the advantage held by Republicans over Democrats in the New Hampshire House. Their two victories bring the total to 195 Democrats, with 201 Republicans and two independents and two vacancies.
Bush previously served in the House in 2015 and 2016 before retiring to take care of her husband's declining health.