Democrats hope to assert their dominance in New Hampshire's congressional delegation on Tuesday as Republicans try to regain their footing by ousting an incumbent or securing an open seat.

In the 1st District, which covers the eastern half of the state and includes Manchester, the largest city, Democratic U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas is running for a fourth term. He faces former Republican Senator Russell Prescott. The district was once quite politically volatile, with party control changing five times in six election cycles from 2006 to 2016.

The 2nd District, which includes the cities of Nashua and Concord, has not been in Republican hands since 2013. This seat is vacant because Democratic U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster, the longest-serving member in the district's history, is retiring after six terms. Former White House adviser Maggie Goodlander, a Democrat, faces Republican activist Lily Tang Williams in the race for Kuster's seat.

These are New Hampshire's only congressional districts. None of the state's U.S. senators, both Democrats, were up for re-election.

1st Congressional District

Both Pappas and Prescott served on the Governor's Executive Council, a five-member panel that approves state contracts and judicial nominees. They overlapped during the last of Pappas' three terms and the first of Prescott's two terms.

Pappas, who considers himself a pragmatic voice in Washington, praised his support from women, veterans and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce during the campaign. He made abortion rights a top issue, calling Prescott “totally inappropriate” and accusing him of mistrusting women in health care decision-making.

“I don’t think politicians should make that decision,” he said during a debate last week. “I draw inspiration directly from the people of New Hampshire.”

Prescott, who served in the state Senate for 10 years, said he opposes abortion but would not support a federal ban on the procedure. He said he would focus on security of the U.S.-Mexico border and reducing inflation and taxes. He said Pappas spent his time in Washington supporting liberal policies that he said led to higher taxes and illegal immigration.

Prescott ran for the same congressional seat in 2022 and finished fourth in the GOP primary, but defeated six candidates this year to win the nomination.

“I ask you to look at my record, my behavior and my personality,” he said in last week’s debate. “And I ask again for your trust that we will work for you to ensure that we resolve our border issues, our economy, and ensure that we achieve energy independence.”

2nd Congressional District

Tang Williams also needed two attempts to win the GOP nomination. She placed third in 2022 before beating out a dozen candidates in this year's Republican primary. Goodlander defeated an opponent and won the Democratic nomination.

Goodlander, who is married to President Joe Biden's national security adviser, grew up in Nashua and recently moved back there from Washington. She worked at the Justice Department as a top antitrust official and as an adviser to Attorney General Merrick Garland before moving to the White House chief of staff's office earlier this year.

During her campaign, she promised to protect democracy, expand access to abortion and take on corporate monopolies that she said are driving up the prices of housing, health care, prescription drugs and food.

“We can still come together as Democrats and Republicans to address the challenges that unite us as Americans, and I have done that on the front lines in the fight against some of the biggest drivers of high costs for the people of this state,” she said during a debate last week.

Tang Williams comes from China, became a US citizen in 1994 and now works as a business and legal consultant. A former chairwoman of the Colorado Libertarian Party, she unsuccessfully ran for office there before moving to New Hampshire.

She described herself as the embodiment of the American dream and said her priorities in Washington would be lowering inflation, improving border security and stopping what Republicans call the administration's “weaponization” of conservatives.

“Do you want someone who will truly represent the people or do you want someone from the D.C. swamp?” she said during last week's debate. “I will represent you with pride and transparency.”