State Senate

Here's a review of the state Senate playing field as we begin the summer.

The races are divided into five categories: Strong Democratic, Lean Democratic, Toss-up, Lean Republican and Strong Republican.

Let's start with the Democrats:

The committee raising money for state Senate Republicans was badly outraised this past year by their Democratic counterparts by a margin of nearly 6 to 1.

The Senate Republican Victory PAC reported Wednesday they had raised $74,834 in the past year and currently has $37,673 cash on hand.

In the same period the Senate Democratic Caucus raised $431,927 and was has $107,462 cash on hand.

The races we survey today are worth keeping an eye on, but don't make the top tier of competitive races, in our current estimation.

Is there a silver lining to losing six seats and the majority in the state Senate? New Hampshire Republicans hope so. It's true that they have to defend fewer seats, which might leave more money to spend on offense. It's also arguable that after the shellacking they took in 2006, only the strongest GOP senators remain.

And finally, it's true that the more seats you have to defend, the more likely it is that the ball may take some unexpected bounces. All this gives the Republicans some hope if (and it's a big if) the electoral winds stop blowing in their faces this fall.

The current PolitickerNH.com online poll asks which state Senate candidate is most likely to be unopposed this year. Right now Amanda “Mandy” Merrill is in second place with 18% of the vote. If Dover sources are correct you can scratch Merrill off that list.

Inside Edge has confirmed with a Dover source that former Dover Mayor Alex Nossiff is getting really close to throwing his hat into the ring for the senate seat being vacated by Iris Estabrook. Nossiff will more than likely make an official announcement in the next week, but is really close to jumping in.

State Rep. James Phinizy (D-Acworth) has decided to challenge current state Sen. Bob Odell (R-Lempster), The Nashua Telegraph is reporting.

Phinizy is the current chairman of the House Environment and Agriculture Committee and signed a letter urging House Democrats to oppose the constitutional education amendment.

Amanda "Mandy" Merrill (D-Durham) has officially declared that she is running for the state Senate.

Merrill is running for the seat being abandoned by state Sen. Iris Estabrook (D-Durham).

"I believe my experience has prepared me for the challenges of being a state Senator," Merrill said in a statement. "As a House member I found great satisfaction in collaborating with lawmakers of all political stripes to pass legislation on education policy, energy and air quality, land conservation, solid waste, and ethics guidelines. I look forward to working with legislative colleagues and Governor John Lynch to address the economic, educational, and environmental issues that affect the lives of the people of District 21."

Former State House Speaker Doug Scamman said that while many fellow Republicans want him to run for the state Senate, he will not be a candidate.

"There are a lot of people out there telling me I should run, but I tell them I am not. Then they go ahead and say that I am considering it and hope that I change my mind. But I am not running for the state Senate," said Scamman in an interview.