State

State Representative, Belknap 2

Vote for: 2
Term: 2 years
Candidates: 4
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A state representative votes on New Hampshire laws and the state budget in the 400-member House of Representatives.

Candidates Compare by issue

Dean S.T. Cascadden

Democratic

Retired educator · Meredith

The gist

Opposes a state cap on school district budget increases.
Supports requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.
Supports legalizing marijuana home-growing and private use.
Supports restoring funding for the Office of the Child Advocate.
Opposes lowering New Hampshire business taxes.
Opposes school funding relying mostly on local property taxes.

More about Dean

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Opposes a state cap on school district budget increases.
Citizens Count: Dean S.T. Cascadden profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“This mechanism is cumbersome. Citizens already can vote on their local school district costs.”
Supports requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.
Citizens Count: Dean S.T. Cascadden profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“We the people means that citizens should have the right to vote. Proving citizenship is part of the process.”
Supports legalizing marijuana home-growing and private use.
Citizens Count: Dean S.T. Cascadden profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“Cannabis is a federal Class 1 substance. Every border has shops right across our state lines.”
Supports restoring funding for the Office of the Child Advocate.
Citizens Count: Dean S.T. Cascadden profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“NH needs accountability for our most needy and vulnerable kids.”
Opposes lowering New Hampshire business taxes.
Citizens Count: Dean S.T. Cascadden profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“These taxes have been recently reduced and the greatest benefits flow to large corporations.”
Opposes school funding relying mostly on local property taxes.
Citizens Count: Dean S.T. Cascadden profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“This funding mechanism needs to be addressed. It is fundamentally inequitable.”

Seth Wheeler

Democratic

Retired communications professional · Meredith

The gist

Opposes the Education Freedom Account school choice program.
Opposes adding a state income tax on earned income.
Supports state push for local zoning changes for housing.
Opposes a state cap on school district budget increases.
Supports stricter gun control laws.
Opposes requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.
Opposes banning abortion during the first trimester.

More about Seth

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Opposes the Education Freedom Account school choice program.
Citizens Count: Seth Wheeler profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“I reject all efforts to divert public funding to private, religious, or home school education.”
Opposes adding a state income tax on earned income.
Citizens Count: Seth Wheeler profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“But we must stop giving tax breaks to our big businesses & wealthiest individuals or property taxpayers will change their minds about 'the NH Advantage.'”
Supports state push for local zoning changes for housing.
Citizens Count: Seth Wheeler profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“I'd like to see every town follow the lead of Meredith, my hometown, which this year passed a series of zoning amendments aimed at encouraging”
Opposes a state cap on school district budget increases.
Citizens Count: Seth Wheeler profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“The voters in our local school districts already have the ability to pass a tax cap, there's no need for the state to impose one.”
Supports stricter gun control laws.
Citizens Count: Seth Wheeler profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“Ban assault weapons.”
Opposes requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.
Citizens Count: Seth Wheeler profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“Just one person in the past 26 years has been prosecuted for knowingly voting as a non-U.S. citizen in New Hampshire.”
Opposes banning abortion during the first trimester.
Citizens Count: Seth Wheeler profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“I do not belong in a conversation about women's reproductive rights. That is for her and her health provider alone.”

Scott Wallace

Republican

Small business owner · Meredith

The gist

Opposes stricter gun control laws.
Supports legalizing marijuana home-growing and private use.
Supports current school funding relying mostly on property taxes.

More about Scott

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Opposes stricter gun control laws.
Citizens Count: Scott Wallace profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“NH is right where it needs to be with respect to gun laws.”
Supports legalizing marijuana home-growing and private use.
Citizens Count: Scott Wallace profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“See my voting record.”
Supports current school funding relying mostly on property taxes.
Citizens Count: Scott Wallace profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“There is a spending problem in the SAU's not a funding problem, there are way too many administrators and luxuries consuming the school budgets.”

Matt Coker

RepublicanIncumbent

Airline pilot · Meredith

The gist

Supports the Education Freedom Account school choice program.
Opposes adding a state income tax on earned income.
Supports state push for local zoning changes for housing.
Opposes a state cap on school district budget increases.
Supports requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.
Supports lowering New Hampshire business taxes.
Supports current school funding relying mostly on property taxes.

More about Matt

View sources (1)

Supports the Education Freedom Account school choice program.
Citizens Count: Matt Coker profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“I believe EFAs have a role in our larger education system.”
Opposes adding a state income tax on earned income.
Citizens Count: Matt Coker profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“No. I do not support introducing a broad-based tax.”
Supports state push for local zoning changes for housing.
Citizens Count: Matt Coker profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“Yes. I believe the state can create incentives for communities to encourage housing development while maintaining local control over zoning decisions.”
Opposes a state cap on school district budget increases.
Citizens Count: Matt Coker profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“No. State law should not impose a cap on local spending.”
Supports requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.
Citizens Count: Matt Coker profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“I support requiring proof of citizenship to vote. However, I also believe we should expand the ways an eligible voter can establish citizenship.”
Supports lowering New Hampshire business taxes.
Citizens Count: Matt Coker profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“Right now, business taxes are set to be reduced depending on state revenues.”
Supports current school funding relying mostly on property taxes.
Citizens Count: Matt Coker profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“I do not think we need to radically change how we raise money for our local schools.”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 8 issues covered in this race.