Faith NorthropOpposeDURHAM, NHfor MyselfFeb 17, 2026
School districts and school boards should be totally nonpartisan.
HB1125
House · 2026 sessionRepublicanKilled in SenatePartisan school board elections
AIAllows individual school districts to vote to adopt a partisan ballot system for electing school district officers, including additional procedures for cooperative school districts.
enabling school districts to adopt partisan school district elections.
ElectionsEducation - General
Status
Killed in the Senate — Inexpedient to Legislate · April 10, 2026- ✓Introduced
- ✓House
- ✕Senate
- Governor
- Law
Division of testimony
238 submissionsSupport 6Oppose 232Neutral 0
Argument digest · AI-generated
from 54 of 54 written submissionsTestimony on HB1125, which would let school districts adopt partisan school board elections, comes entirely from opponents in this sample. Most argue that party labels do not belong in school governance and that the current nonpartisan system works well, frequently invoking Governor Ayotte's veto of a similar prior bill, while others warn the change would increase division, invite party or PAC money into local races, or simply repeats previously rejected legislation.
- School elections should remain nonpartisanOppose26 of 54 reviewed
Submitters argue party labels do not belong in decisions about students and education, and that school board members should be chosen for qualifications and community commitment rather than party affiliation.
“New Hampshire’s current non-partisan system helps ensure that school board members are chosen for their qualifications, community engagement, and commitment to public education—not their party affiliation.”
— Hannah Meiselman, Manchester · #635216 — read full submission →
“Partisan politics has no place in public education. Rather voters should take the time to know their school board candidates and their motives for wanting to enter public service for our schools.”
— Karin Cevasco, Milford · #629777 — read full submission →
“Partisan politics should have no place in school districts. Decisions made about our local schools should consider the best interest of the students and residents, not the agenda of a national political party.”
— Aline Flores, Londonderry · #634898 — read full submission →
- No problem exists that this bill solvesOppose15 of 54 reviewed
Submitters argue the current nonpartisan system for school board elections already works well and that there is no demonstrated need to change it, often quoting Governor Ayotte's veto message that the system "is not broken."
“"Local school board elections are run properly and in a nonpartisan manner, and there is no need to fix a system that is not broken. . . . Making these local elections into partisan fights will create unnecessary division between Granite Staters."”
— Karen Chase, Hanover · #633156 — read full submission →
“Our school districts do not need to introduce partisan politics in school district elections. What problem could this bill possibly be solving?”
— Louise Ewing, Antrim · #630890 — read full submission →
“If it ain't broke don't fix it. Especially if the fix creates problems that were never there.”
— Erik Durmer, Fitzwilliam · #633152 — read full submission →
- Would increase division and polarizationOppose12 of 54 reviewed
Submitters argue introducing partisan labels into school board races would create unnecessary division among communities and residents and make collaboration harder.
“Partisan elections would increase polarization, discourage independent or unaffiliated candidates, and make it harder for communities to collaborate across differences.”
— Hannah Meiselman, Manchester · #635216 — read full submission →
“This only adds to the divisive disfuntional situation we are in as a region state, nation. We need more collaboration, caring for our schools, communities, children and not divisive identities based on our party affiliations.”
— Diana Feige, Peterborough · #629915 — read full submission →
- Opens door to party and PAC money in local racesOppose2 of 54 reviewed
A couple of submitters warn that partisan school board elections would invite party organizations and PACs to spend money influencing races that have historically been kept nonpartisan.
“this bill would create pressure for candidates to align with party agendas and for parties or PACs to pour money into races that have historically remained nonpartisan.”
— Rosemary D'Arcy, Bristol · #633193 — read full submission →
“Keep politics and PAC money out of school board elections!”
— kristen petricola, Keene · #632083 — read full submission →
- Repeats previously vetoed legislationOppose2 of 54 reviewed
Submitters note this bill is a repeat of a similar bill Governor Ayotte already vetoed, and question why the legislature is spending time and resources on it again.
- Bill seen as targeting specific voter populationsOppose1 of 54 reviewed
One submitter argues the bill appears strategically aimed at voter groups its sponsors see as an electoral threat, framing it as a risk to fair and open elections rather than a governance improvement.
Generated by claude-sonnet-5 (claude code agent) on Jul 22, 2026. Quotes are verbatim excerpts, verified against the cited submission before publication. Summaries are AI interpretation of the record, not part of it.
Karolyn CampbellOpposeEpsom, NHfor MyselfFeb 17, 2026
HB 1125 --enabling school districts to adopt partisan school district elections. This bill is so outrageously obscene that it is hardly worth mention in light of the Constitution of these United States. Just when one one thinks they have heard it all, a bill such as this raises its ugly head.
Nancy BrennanOpposeWeare, NHfor MyselfFeb 17, 2026
I don't understand the point of this bill. It seems like it would force division. We vote for school board members based on town needs and the educational philosophy of those running. ITL this bill please.
Deanna LussierOpposeRumney, NHfor MyselfFeb 17, 2026
Please keep school boards nonpartisan.
Mary CrookOpposeStratham, NHfor MyselfFeb 17, 2026
"Local school boards are run properly and in a nonpartisan manner. Additionally, there is no need to fix a system that is not broken. Making these local elections into partisan fights will create unnecessary division between Granite Staters."
Melanie LeathersOpposeBradford, NHfor MyselfFeb 17, 2026
I am opposed to this bill which would enable school districts to adopt partisan school elections. Governor Ayotte vetoed a similar bill stating, "Making these local elections into partisan fights will create unnecessary division between Granite Staters". I agree with the Governor - if something isn't broke, don't fix it. Respectfully, Melanie Leathers, Bradford, NH
Hannah MeiselmanOpposeManchester, NHfor MyselfFeb 17, 2026
Thank you for the opportunity to testify. I respectfully oppose HB 1125. This bill would allow school districts to adopt partisan elections for school board seats. Introducing party labels into school governance risks shifting attention away from students, budgets, and educational outcomes and toward national political dynamics that do not belong in local decision-making. New Hampshire’s current non-partisan system helps ensure that school board members are chosen for their qualifications, community engagement, and commitment to public education—not their party affiliation. Partisan elections would increase polarization, discourage independent or unaffiliated candidates, and make it harder for communities to collaborate across differences. There is no demonstrated problem that this bill solves, and it carries significant potential to undermine trust in school governance.
Aline FloresOpposeLondonderry, NHfor MyselfFeb 17, 2026
Partisan politics should have no place in school districts. Decisions made about our local schools should consider the best interest of the students and residents, not the agenda of a national political party.
Priscilla SawaOpposeAlstead, NHfor MyselfFeb 17, 2026
Keep school boards non-partisan!
TE CarterOpposeDover, NHfor MyselfFeb 17, 2026
This legislation has been vetoed before. Why do the sponsors waste resources by re-running failed legislation?
Brian FlynnOpposeRumney, NHfor MyselfFeb 17, 2026
Politics needs to stay out of education. Facts are what should be the determining factor. School education is for the kids, not the parents.
Donna TullyOpposeLittleton, NHfor MyselfFeb 17, 2026
I state my opinion for this bill for the benefit of all NH voters.
Georgina LambertOpposeBelmont, NHfor MyselfFeb 17, 2026
unconstitutional
Glenn StanOpposeStoddard, NHfor MyselfFeb 17, 2026
It seems clear to me that this bill is targeted at voting populations the bill's sponsors consider to be an electoral threat (whether true or not). Therefore, this bill is an unnecessary threat to fair and open elections in our state. I OPPOSE!
Jane WalshOpposeNew London, NHfor MyselfFeb 17, 2026
To quote Gov Ayotte “Local school board elections are run properly and in a nonpartisan manner, and there is no need to fix a system that is not broken,” Ayotte wrote in her veto message...“Making these local elections into partisan fights will create unnecessary division between Granite Staters.”
Johnna DavisOpposeGilford, NHfor MyselfFeb 17, 2026
I oppose this bill. We need to keep local politics about people, not parties.
Theresia Weber-JohnOpposeTroy, NHfor MyselfFeb 17, 2026
I oppose this bill HB1125
Nicole GugliucciOpposeManchester, NHfor MyselfFeb 17, 2026
Partisan politics do not belong on school board.
Susan RichmanOpposeDurham, NHfor MyselfFeb 17, 2026
Keep School Boards nonpartisan. Their concerns can be shared by people of any party, without political labels.
Ann RettewOpposeConcord, NHfor MyselfFeb 17, 2026
The governor has already vetoed this partisan bill once.
Sally PattonOpposeNEW LONDON, NHfor MyselfFeb 17, 2026
local school district elections should NOT be partisan! candidates should be elected based on the local community's awareness of their experience, intent to support children, support of public education and opinions on local issues!
Shirley MontgomeryOpposeHanover, NHfor MyselfFeb 17, 2026
I think this is a really bad idea. Making these local elections into partisan fights will create unnecessary division between Granite Staters.
Chrisinda LynchOpposeConcord, NHfor MyselfFeb 17, 2026
Female
Karen BemisOpposeBristol, NHfor MyselfFeb 17, 2026
My name is Karen and I live and vote in Bristol. I am OPPOSED to this bill because I do not believe School Board Candidates should be able to run with party labels. It is imperative to keep partisan politics OUT of local schools. We already have enough division in our country - let's not make it worse. Please OPPOSE this legislation.
Holly CooperOpposeConcord, NHfor MyselfFeb 17, 2026
As Governor Ayotte said when a similar bill came up, "Local school board elections are run properly and in a nonpartisan manner, and there is no need to fix a system that is not broken," We have more than enough partisan fighting going on already. When it comes to our kids' education, let's all focus on what's best for that, and vote for the candidates who we think will produce the best result, without worrying about whether they are a Democrat, a Republican, or a member of some other party.