America's Voice

RESULT: Carol Shea-Porter (D) 53% - Jeb Bradley (R) 45%

The Race:

The race for New Hampshire’s 1st District Congressional seat will be a rematch of 2006, when Democrat Carol Shea-Porter defeated Republican incumbent Jeb Bradley. [AP, 9/9/08] The outcome surprised Congressional Quarterly, which said, “Shea-Porter won perhaps the biggest House upset of 2006, denying centrist Bradley’s bid for a third term by almost 3 points.” [Congressional Quarterly Weekly, 4/27/08] This year, Bradley is running to regain his seat, and Shea-Porter has been prominently featured on the national Republican hit list. [The Cook Report, accessed 8/20/08] Roll Call expects the race to be close, saying, “Bradley, a former two-term congressman, narrowly defeated former state Health Commissioner John Stephen (R) [in the primary] and is headed to what is expected to be a very close rematch with Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D).” [Roll Call, 9/11/08] According to the Cook Report, John McCain leads in presidential polls, but former Democratic Gov. Jeanne Shaheen is expected to become the state’s next Democratic senator. [The Cook Report, accessed 8/20/08]

Immigration has not been a major issue in the race, but the Hotline said Bradley has attacked Shea-Porter on her immigration voting record, and “said he would have opposed the comprehensive immigration reform bill.” [National Journal’s House Race Hotline, 12/14/07]