State

State Senator, 9th District

Vote for: 1
Term: 2 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A state senator votes on New Hampshire laws and the state budget.

Candidates Compare by issue

Matthew McLaughlin

Democratic

Retired airline pilot; Navy veteran · Bedford

The gist

Opposes the Education Freedom Account program.
Opposes adding a state income tax on earned income.
Supports state push to ease local zoning for housing.
Supports passing stricter state gun control laws.
Supports guaranteeing a right to abortion before 24 weeks.
Supports current school funding mostly from local property taxes.

More about Matthew

View sources (1)

Opposes the Education Freedom Account program.
Citizens Count: Matthew McLaughlin profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“This is a give away of public money to private, religious and home school parents.”
Opposes adding a state income tax on earned income.
Citizens Count: Matthew McLaughlin profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“As a state we have decided since the days of Mel Thompson to rely on property and business taxes to fund the state coffers.”
Supports state push to ease local zoning for housing.
Citizens Count: Matthew McLaughlin profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“NH has a housing crunch, especially for work force housing. If we do not increase our housing stock our state economy will suffer.”
Supports passing stricter state gun control laws.
Citizens Count: Matthew McLaughlin profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“Weapons designed to be used in combat do not belong in private homes.”
Supports guaranteeing a right to abortion before 24 weeks.
Citizens Count: Matthew McLaughlin profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“Should New Hampshire guarantee the right to access abortion before 24 weeks?”
Supports current school funding mostly from local property taxes.
Citizens Count: Matthew McLaughlin profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“I do support local property taxes funding public schools, but I feel the state contribution should increase over time.”

Denise Ricciardi

RepublicanIncumbent

Retired small business owner; state senator · Bedford

The gist

Supports the Education Freedom Account program.
Opposes adding a state income tax on earned income.
Supports requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.
Opposes passing stricter state gun control laws.
Supports restoring funding for the Office of the Child Advocate.
Opposes raising New Hampshire's minimum wage.

More about Denise

View sources (1)

Supports the Education Freedom Account program.
Citizens Count: Denise Ricciardi profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“Education Freedom Accounts give students opportunities to receive the education they need.”
Opposes adding a state income tax on earned income.
Citizens Count: Denise Ricciardi profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“New Hampshire's lack of an income tax is one of the biggest reasons our state remains economically competitive and attractive to families, workers, retirees, and”
Supports requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.
Citizens Count: Denise Ricciardi profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“It should be easy to vote but hard to cheat which is why I support voter identification and only American citizens voting in our elections.”
Opposes passing stricter state gun control laws.
Citizens Count: Denise Ricciardi profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“New Hampshire is the safest state in the nation and part of the reason is that we protect individual rights under the Constitution.”
Supports restoring funding for the Office of the Child Advocate.
Citizens Count: Denise Ricciardi profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“Should New Hampshire restore funding for the Office of the Child Advocate?”
Opposes raising New Hampshire's minimum wage.
Citizens Count: Denise Ricciardi profile
Candidate questionnaire · Citizens Count · citizenscount.org
“Should New Hampshire raise the minimum wage?”

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; 7 issues covered in this race.