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Concord, N.H. - Tonight, Kari Lerner defeated Jim Headd in the state Representative special election in Rockingham District 4, 901-862 (50%-48%). Rockingham 4 is the 4th-most Republican district in New Hampshire. Lerner's victory comes in a district with 20 percent more registered Republicans than Democrats, where Donald Trump won by 23 points. Representative-elect Lerner becomes the first Democrat to hold the seat since 2006. This is the largest disadvantage any Democrat has overcome in 2017, even greater than Edie DesMarais's 18-point registered Republican gap in Wolfeboro. New Hampshire Democrats have now won five of seven special elections in 2017, four of them coming in Republican strongholds. House Democratic Leader Steve Shurtleff issued the following statement: "Representative-elect Lerner deserves enormous credit and congratulations for this great victory tonight. Our Democratic family is growing bigger by the week, and Kari Lerner is another great addition. I know she'll work hard and stand up for Democratic values at the State House on behalf of the people of Auburn, Chester and Sandown." NHDP Chair Ray Buckley issued the following statement: "Congratulations to Representative-elect Lerner on her outstanding victory tonight. There's something happening in this state, and all across this country when the deepest red districts in New Hampshire are consistently turning royal blue. This, our hardest-won victory so far, is the latest proof that voters are showing up when it matters to reject the dangerous and divisive agenda of Donald Trump and Chris Sununu. Lerner's victory is a testament to her hard work and her passion for the issues, two qualities that will serve us all well in Concord."
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