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Manchester, N.H. - In today's state Senate District 16 special election, Manchester Ward 1 Alderman Kevin Cavanaugh defeated former state Senator David Boutin 4746-3814 (55%-44%). Cavanaugh's win is the first time New Hampshire Democrats have won a state senate special election win since February 1984. Senator-elect Cavanaugh is only the second Democrat since 1976 to win Senate District 16. Boutin had won his last re-election bid in 2014 by 12-point margin and his 2010 special election bid by a 16-point margin. Before tonight, Boutin had never lost in his four state Senate elections. Cavanaugh will serve as the 10th Democrat in the 24-seat New Hampshire state Senate. He will fill the seat of the late first-term Senator Scott McGilvray, who passed away in March of this year. Senate District 16 is made up of the towns of Bow, Candia, Dunbarton, Hooksett, and Manchester Wards 1, 2 & 12. New Hampshire Senate Democratic Leader Jeff Woodburn issued the following statement: "Tonight is a great win for Democratic values in New Hampshire. Senator-elect Cavanaugh's victory is a result of hard work and cutting through the noise to deliver a positive message about rewarding work and standing up for working families. We're proud to welcome a strong advocate for education, workers rights, and the opioid fight. Cavanaugh will soon bring his lifelong experience as a working class father of three to Concord and we couldn't be more excited to have him." NHDP Chair Ray Buckley issued the following statement: "The groundswell of Democratic energy in 2017 just overcame its toughest challenge yet. Congratulations to Senator-elect Kevin Cavanaugh for a great victory tonight. This win is proof that our movement can compete against any candidate in any district. Cavanaugh's win puts us a step closer to reclaiming the state Senate in 2018, and it marks New Hampshire Democrats' third special election victory in three months. This loss is a stunning repudiation of the reckless Trump-Sununu agenda. It should serve as a huge wakeup call to New Hampshire Republicans, Governor Sununu, and Mayor Gatsas. They poured everything they had into this race and still came up short. The NHGOP's efforts to suppress the vote only served to energize the Democratic base. This should teach Republicans to back away from fear-mongering, bullying rhetoric that is not just eroding our political discourse but hemorrhaging Republican votes in the state."
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