A county‑by‑county guide to the Granite State’s pro‑freedom contenders

New Hampshire’s 2026 election cycle is shaping up to be one of the most active in recent memory for liberty‑minded voters. With new candidates entering the field, long‑time activists seeking office, and established legislators defending their seats, the “Live Free or Die” ethos is well‑represented across the Granite State.

This guide provides a county‑organized overview of candidates aligned with the liberty movement—whether through NH Liberty Alliance ratings, Americans for Prosperity endorsements, Free State Project activism, or long‑standing libertarian involvement.

In the process of cultivating information for this article we did particular research into a few topical hot-button issues, such as local zoning and ICE deportations, and included citations with those results where we could find them.

While by no means is this an exhaustive list; much of our information comes from the websites and social media of the candidates as well as the following liberty endorsement organizations: 

Belknap County

Belknap‑02

  • Caroline Rockafellow — AFP‑NH endorsed
    • Caroline Rockafellow is an AFP‑NH–endorsed candidate known for her focus on fiscal restraint, regulatory reform, and small‑business advocacy. Her campaign materials emphasize protecting parental rights, reducing government overreach, and strengthening local communities. Ballotpedia notes her active involvement in local civic organizations and her reputation as a grassroots, community‑focused leader
    • https://ballotpedia.org/Caroline_Horton_Rockafellow
    • https://carolinerockafellow.com
  • Scott Wallace — AFP‑NH + NHLA endorsed
    • Scott Wallace, endorsed by both AFP‑NH and the NH Liberty Alliance, has a legislative record centered on taxpayer protection, limited government, and individual rights. Ballotpedia highlights his consistent support for pro‑business legislation and government transparency. Wallace is known for being a reliable small‑government vote in the New Hampshire House. 
    • https://ballotpedia.org/Scott_Wallace_(New_Hampshire_House_District_Belknap_2)

Carroll County

Carroll‑05

  • Jonathan H. Smith — AFP‑NH + NHLA endorsed
    • Jonathan H. Smith is endorsed by both AFP‑NH and the NH Liberty Alliance, reflecting a strong record on limited government, low taxes, and regulatory reform. Ballotpedia highlights his legislative experience and consistent support for pro‑business policies. His campaign site emphasizes protecting individual rights, expanding economic opportunity, and strengthening local communities through practical, small‑government solutions. 
    • https://ballotpedia.org/Jonathan_Smith_(New_Hampshire)
    • https://jonathansmithnh.com

Carroll‑07

  • Dale Fincher – AFP‑NH endorsed – pro-local zoning
    • Dale Fincher is a Republican candidate for the New Hampshire House (Carroll 7) known for his pro‑local sovereignty stance on zoning, strong advocacy of education freedom, and a platform centered on protecting the NH Advantage. Ballotpedia notes his recent special‑election run and upcoming 2026 primary. His campaign site highlights his background as a mediator, nonprofit founder, and fiscal conservative, emphasizing property‑tax relief, parent‑directed education, and preserving the Lakes Region’s character
    • https://ballotpedia.org/Dale_Fincher
    • https://dalefinchernh.com
    • https://x.com/Dale4NH

Carroll‑08

  • Tammy Garthwaite – AFP‑NH + NHLA endorsed
    • Tammy Garthwaite, endorsed by the NH Liberty Alliance, is known for her advocacy of parental rights, school choice, and government accountability. Ballotpedia notes her involvement in local civic efforts and her reputation as a community‑driven reformer. Her campaign site highlights her commitment to reducing bureaucratic barriers, supporting small businesses, and upholding constitutional freedoms
    • https://ballotpedia.org/Tammy_Simmons_Garthwaite
    • https://tammy4nh.com
  • Colin Mitchell – AFP‑NH + NHLA endorsed
    • Colin Mitchell, also NHLA‑endorsed, has built a reputation as a principled small‑government advocate. Ballotpedia documents his focus on taxpayer protection, civil liberties, and transparent governance. His campaign website emphasizes individual freedom, economic competitiveness, and responsible budgeting, positioning him as a reliable liberty‑movement legislator. 
    • https://ballotpedia.org/Colin_Mitchell
    • https://colinmitchell4nh.com

Cheshire County

Cheshire‑03

  • Aria DiMezzo — Libertarian activist; running for NH House in 2026
    • Aria DiMezzo is a long‑time Libertarian activist known for her outspoken advocacy of individual liberty, criminal justice reform, and government transparency. Ballotpedia highlights her prior run for sheriff, which drew national attention for its bold messaging around police accountability and civil liberties. Her public presence emphasizes anti‑authoritarian politics, LGBTQ visibility, and a commitment to challenging entrenched systems in New Hampshire governance. 
    • https://ballotpedia.org/Aria_DiMezzo
    • Ariadimezzo.com
    • https://x.com/Aria_DiMezzo

Cheshire‑15

  • Matthew Roach – NHLA Endorsed
    • Matthew Roach, endorsed by the NH Liberty Alliance, has built a reputation as a consistent small‑government advocate focused on taxpayer protection, regulatory restraint, and constitutional rights. Ballotpedia notes his legislative involvement and strong alignment with pro‑freedom voting patterns. His public positions emphasize local autonomy, fiscal responsibility, and reducing state‑level overreach
    • https://ballotpedia.org/Matt_Roach

Coös County

Coos-1

  • Sam Hoehn
    • Sam Hoehn is a Republican candidate for the New Hampshire House focused on education reform, fiscal responsibility, and community‑driven governance. His campaign highlights lower taxes, school choice, and reducing bureaucratic barriers, emphasizing local empowerment and preserving the New Hampshire Advantage through practical, small‑government solutions. 
    • https://ballotpedia.org/Sam_Hoehn
    • https://samhoehn.com

Grafton County

Grafton-18

Hillsborough County

Hillsborough remains one of the most active counties for liberty‑aligned candidates.

Hillsborough‑01 (Pelham)

  • Deborah Kruzel – NHLA Endorsed
    • Deborah Kruzel, endorsed by the NH Liberty Alliance, is known for her advocacy of fiscal restraint, parental rights, and limited government. Ballotpedia highlights her consistent alignment with pro‑freedom legislation and her reputation as a reliable small‑government vote in Pelham. 
    • https://ballotpedia.org/Deborah_Kruzel
  • Tom Mannion – NHLA Endorsed
  • Diane Rogers – NHLA Endorsed
    • Diane Rogers is recognized for her commitment to local autonomy, low taxes, and government transparency. Ballotpedia notes her strong alignment with NHLA‑rated legislation and her focus on protecting individual rights
    • https://ballotpedia.org/Diane_Rogers
  • Jeffrey F. Tenczar – NHLA Endorsed
    • Jeff Tenczar, NHLA‑endorsed, is known for his advocacy of economic freedom, property rights, and limited state intervention. His campaign site highlights his background in technology and business, emphasizing efficient governance and modernized public services
    • https://ballotpedia.org/Jeffrey_Tenczar
    • https://jefftenczar.com

Hillsborough‑02

  • Kristin Noble — Liberty‑aligned Republican; Free State Project–adjacent – anti-local zoning

Hillsborough‑13 (Hudson)

Hillsborough‑19 (Manchester)

Hillsborough‑28

Hillsborough‑38 (Hudson)

  • Adam Haverstock – AFP‑NH + NHLA endorsed
  • Ted Trost – AFP‑NH + NHLA endorsed

Merrimack County

Merrimack‑02

Merrimack‑03

  • Michael Visconti – NHLA Endorsed
    • Michael Visconti, endorsed by the NH Liberty Alliance, has built a reputation for supporting economic freedom, taxpayer protection, and transparent governance. Ballotpedia highlights his legislative involvement and consistent alignment with pro‑freedom bills. His public positions emphasize reducing bureaucratic waste and strengthening individual rights
    • https://ballotpedia.org/Mike_Visconti

Merrimack‑04

  • Michael Moffett – NHLA Endorsed
    • Michael Moffett, NHLA‑endorsed, is a long‑time legislator known for his work on education policy, veterans’ issues, and fiscal responsibility. Ballotpedia notes his extensive legislative experience and strong alignment with limited‑government principles. His campaign site highlights his commitment to school choice, public safety, and protecting taxpayers
    • https://ballotpedia.org/Michael_Moffett
    • https://mikemoffettnh.com

Merrimack County Sheriff (2026)

  • Jason Gerhard — Libertarian‑aligned / Free State Project–adjacent candidate for sheriff
    • Jason Gerhard is a Libertarian‑aligned candidate for Merrimack County Sheriff, known for his advocacy of civil liberties, criminal justice reform, and constitutional policing. Ballotpedia documents his background as a long‑time liberty activist, while his campaign site emphasizes transparency, community‑focused law enforcement, and protecting individual rights. His public messaging centers on accountability, demilitarization, and restoring trust between citizens and law enforcement
    • https://ballotpedia.org/Jason_Gerhard
    • https://gohardwithgerhard.com
    • https://x.com/JasonGerhardNH

Rockingham County

Rockingham‑01 (Northwood)

  • James Guzofski – NHLA Endorsed
    • James Guzofski, endorsed by the NH Liberty Alliance, is known for his advocacy of limited government, fiscal restraint, and constitutional rights. Ballotpedia highlights his legislative alignment with pro‑freedom bills, while his campaign site emphasizes community service, public safety, and protecting taxpayers. He is recognized for his strong commitment to local autonomy
    • https://ballotpedia.org/James_Guzofski
    • https://jamesguzofski.com
  • Nick Hobart – NHLA Endorsed
    • Nick Hobart, NHLA‑endorsed, has a record centered on property rights, taxpayer protection, and government accountability. Ballotpedia documents his consistent support for liberty‑rated legislation, and he is known for prioritizing transparent governance and individual freedoms
    • https://ballotpedia.org/Nick_Hobart
  • Paul Tudor – NHLA Endorsed
    • Paul Tudor, endorsed by the NH Liberty Alliance, is recognized for his advocacy of school choice, fiscal responsibility, and constitutional protections. His campaign site highlights his commitment to strengthening local communities, reducing government overreach, and supporting small businesses
    • https://ballotpedia.org/Paul_Tudor
    • https://paultudornh.com

Rockingham‑02 (Auburn, Candia, & Deerfield)

Rockingham‑04 (Raymond)

Rockingham‑07 (Fremont)

Rockingham‑09 (Sandown)

Rockingham‑13 (Derry)

  • Erica Layon – AFP‑NH + NHLA endorsed, anti-sanctuary cities
  • Brandon Bach – AFP‑NH + NHLA endorsed
  • Anthony Henry – AFP‑NH + NHLA endorsed
  • David C. Love – NHLA Endorsed
    • David Love, NHLA‑endorsed, is known for his advocacy of fiscal discipline, local autonomy, and individual rights. Ballotpedia highlights his alignment with pro‑freedom legislation, and his public positions emphasize responsible budgeting and community‑focused governance
    • https://ballotpedia.org/David_Love
  • John Potucek – AFP‑NH + NHLA endorsed
    • John Potucek, endorsed by the NH Liberty Alliance, is a long‑time legislator recognized for his commitment to limited government, public safety, and taxpayer protection. Ballotpedia documents his extensive legislative experience and consistent support for constitutional governance
    • https://ballotpedia.org/John_Potucek

Rockingham‑25 (Salem)

Strafford County

Strafford-10

  • Timothy Horrigan
    • Timothy Horrigan is a long‑serving Democratic representative known for his strong civil‑liberties orientation, particularly on issues of free speech, privacy, and government transparency. While not aligned with small‑government politics, his consistent defense of individual rights and opposition to authoritarian policies places him among Strafford’s few candidates with partial overlap with libertarian‑leaning civil‑rights positions. 
    • https://ballotpedia.org/Timothy_Horrigan

Strafford-14

  • Peter Schmidt
    • Peter Schmidt is a veteran Democratic legislator with a reputation for institutional reform, government accountability, and occasional support for civil‑liberties protections. Though generally aligned with mainstream Democratic policy, Schmidt’s record includes votes favoring transparency, oversight, and checks on executive authority, giving him limited but notable overlap with liberty‑adjacent governance themes. 
    • https://ballotpedia.org/Peter_Schmidt_(New_Hampshire)

Sullivan County

Sullivan-4

Statewide & Upper‑Level Races

Governor

  • Stephen Villee — Libertarian activist
    • Stephen Villee is a Libertarian activist known for his strong advocacy of individual liberty, decentralization, and government transparency. Ballotpedia highlights his prior political involvement and his commitment to reducing state overreach, protecting civil liberties, and promoting free‑market solutions. His campaign site emphasizes tax reform, medical freedom, and empowering local communities
    • https://ballotpedia.org/Stephen_Villee
    • https://villee4nh.com

Executive Council

  • John Stephen (District 4) — AFP‑NH endorsed
    • John Stephen, endorsed by AFP‑NH, is a former New Hampshire Commissioner of Health and Human Services with a long record of public administration, fiscal discipline, and regulatory reform. Ballotpedia documents his extensive experience in state government, while his campaign site highlights his focus on efficient governance, public safety, and protecting taxpayers. He is known for his strong stance on streamlining state agencies and enhancing accountability
    • https://ballotpedia.org/John_Stephen
    • https://johnstephennh.com
  • Tobin Menard (District 2) – pro-ICE, anti-local zoning
    • Tobin Menard is a Republican candidate for the New Hampshire House known for his pro‑ICE, law‑and‑order messaging and a strong emphasis on immigration enforcement and public safety. His campaign materials highlight support for first responders and stricter border‑security cooperation, while his social media posts show clear opposition to local zoning rules, criticizing “town red tape” and municipal permitting barriers he argues restrict property owners and small businesses. Menard’s platform blends immigration enforcement, anti‑bureaucracy rhetoric, and property‑rights advocacy, positioning him as a candidate focused on security, efficiency, and rolling back local regulatory power
    • https://ballotpedia.org/Tobin_Menard
    • https://tobinmenard.com
    • https://x.com/Tobin_Menard

State Senate

  • Keith Murphy (SD‑16) — AFP‑NH + NHLA endorsed
    • Keith Murphy, endorsed by both AFP‑NH and the NH Liberty Alliance, is a legislator known for his advocacy of small‑business freedom, taxpayer protection, and limited government. Ballotpedia highlights his legislative work on economic competitiveness, public safety, and regulatory restraint. He is also recognized for his leadership in supporting local businesses through practical, pro‑market reforms. 
    • https://ballotpedia.org/Keith_Murphy
  • Patrick Binder (SD‑20) — Libertarian‑aligned candidate for State Senate, pro-ICE
  • Victoria Sullivan (SD-18) – Pro-ICE, anti-local zoning

U.S. Senate

  • Tom Alciere (R) — Libertarian activist, anti-ICE, anti-local zoning
  • Aaron Day (I) — Libertarian‑leaning independent
    • Aaron Day is a Libertarian‑leaning independent candidate recognized for his work in healthcare reform, economic policy, and government accountability. Ballotpedia documents his extensive background in entrepreneurship and policy activism, while his campaign site highlights his focus on ending corporate welfare, reducing federal overreach, and promoting free‑market healthcare solutions. He is known for his strong stance on fiscal transparency and individual liberty.
    • https://ballotpedia.org/Aaron_Day
    • https://day2026.com

U.S. House of Representatives

Conclusion 

2026 Election Cycle — Live Free or Die 

As filings continue and endorsements expand, voters seeking to support pro‑freedom candidates will have no shortage of choices across the Granite State.

Shire Free Media will continue monitoring updates from the NH Liberty Alliance, Americans for Prosperity–NH, and official state filings to keep readers informed as the election season progresses.

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