The Gist
State Representative, Hillsborough 11

Arya Shams

Candidate for State Representative, Hillsborough 11

Democratic

Background

Occupation
Self-employed
Lives in
Nashua
Campaign website
arya4nh.com

Self-employed, with a master's degree in foreign policy.

Report

Documented positions

Taxes & budget

  • Opposes adding a state income tax on earned income.

    Answered "Against" on Citizens Count's 2026 issue survey: "Should NH add an income tax on earned income?"

    Citizens Count: Arya Shams profile

    Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org

    “NH doesn't have a revenue problem...it has a 'priorities problem.'”
    Report

  • Supports reinstating the interest and dividends tax.

    Answered "For" on Citizens Count's 2026 issue survey: "Should New Hampshire reinstate the interest and dividends tax?"

    Citizens Count: Arya Shams profile

    Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org

    “Should have never revealed it. Shifted the onus to renters.”
    Report

Education

  • Opposes the Education Freedom Account school choice program.

    Answered "Against" on Citizens Count's 2026 issue survey: "Do you support the “Education Freedom Account” program, which gives students access to the per-pupil share of state school funding to spend on private school or home school expenses?"

    Citizens Count: Arya Shams profile

    Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org

    “No. The families saving money are the same families with enough money to pay tuition to begin with. At least bring back income caps.”
    Report

Housing

  • Supports state push for local zoning changes for housing.

    Answered "For" on Citizens Count's 2026 issue survey: "Should the state do more to encourage municipalities to remove zoning barriers to housing development?"

    Citizens Count: Arya Shams profile

    Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org

    “The rental vacancy in New Hampshire is 0.6% and the average home above 500k. This isn't a housing shortage; it's a housing crisis.”
    Report

Economy & jobs

  • Opposes lowering New Hampshire business taxes.

    Answered "Against" on Citizens Count's 2026 issue survey: "Should New Hampshire lower business taxes?"

    Citizens Count: Arya Shams profile

    Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org

    “We're third in the country in property taxes. These businesses have gotten enough cuts since 2016.”
    Report

Environment & parks

  • Supports raising the net metering cap to 5 megawatts.

    Answered "For" on Citizens Count's 2026 issue survey: "Do you support legislation to expand the net energy metering system capacity cap from 1 MW to 5 MW for all residential and commercial customers in New Hampshire?"

    Citizens Count: Arya Shams profile

    Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org

    “More local control to push back against arbitrary rate hikes.”
    Report

Health & human services

  • Supports restoring funding for the Office of the Child Advocate.

    Answered "For" on Citizens Count's 2026 issue survey: "Should New Hampshire restore funding for the Office of the Child Advocate?"

    Citizens Count: Arya Shams profile

    Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org

    “This is just a silly question on its face; should we defund a system literally designed to catching the children falling through the cracks??”
    Report

Other issues in this race

Other candidates in this race addressed these topics. We found no documented position from Arya Shams on them.

  • Public safetyNo documented position found.
  • Government & transparencyNo documented position found.
  • Courts & justiceNo documented position found.

All sources (3)

Positions are summarized from the sources listed and are not inferred from party affiliation. Items marked “Provided by” were published by the candidate's verified campaign or party office under our campaign content standards. See something wrong? Use the Report link beside it, or contact us.