See where Bordes, Minor, Pfaff, Rossi, Hayward, Riley, Kessin and Hoffman stand on schools, growth and housing. Names follow official Belknap County election filings.
About this race
Mike Bordes (Republican), Timothy Minor (Republican), Cody Pfaff (Republican), Paul Rossi (Republican), Marcia Hayward (Democratic), Denise Riley (Democratic), Lois A. Kessin (Democratic), Eric Hoffman (Democratic) are on the November 3 ballot for New Hampshire House, Belknap District 5; Mike Bordes is the sitting member, per the General Court's official member list (gc.nh.gov). This is a four-seat district: voters choose up to four candidates, and the top four finishers are elected. Not on the November ballot: Steven Bogert, Sheri Minor, sitting members for the district per the same list. Not on the Secretary of State's September 17, 2026 general election candidate list: Charlie St. Clair. Names follow the Secretary of State's September 17, 2026 general election candidate list. Ballot status: Charlie St. Clair, a sitting member for the district, died on August 22, 2026, per NHPR and the New Hampshire Bulletin; his name remained on the September 8 primary ballot and finished among the Democratic nominees. The Secretary of State's September 17, 2026 general election candidate list does not carry him and lists Eric Hoffman on the Democratic line for this seat.
What this office does
State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.
This race. Voters choose 4; the top 4 finishers win seats. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Mike Bordes, is on the ballot.
This list comes from official election records but may be incomplete. It can miss, for example, late or petition candidates and some city, school and district races. Your official sample ballot is the final word.
We use AI to research and write election information. Errors are possible. Verify important details with official sources.
Opposes new income, sales, and capital gains taxes; supports lower business taxes, per Citizens Count candidate profile
Supports Education Freedom Accounts with accountability requirements and opposes state-mandated zoning changes, per Citizens Count candidate profile
Supports the state's current abortion law, nuclear power development, and expanding net metering; opposes stricter gun laws, per Citizens Count candidate profile
Biography
Mike Bordes is the Republican nominee for New Hampshire House, Belknap District 5 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the New Hampshire Secretary of State's September 8, 2026 primary results. Mike Bordes is a sitting member for the district, per the General Court's official member list (gc.nh.gov). Has represented Belknap District 5 in the New Hampshire House since 2020 while also serving as Mayor of Laconia, per Citizens Count candidate profile.
Timothy Minor is the Republican nominee for New Hampshire House, Belknap District 5 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the New Hampshire Secretary of State's September 8, 2026 primary results. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026; the Secretary of State's primary results are the only verifiable source for Timothy Minor.
CP
Cody Pfaff
Republican
Top priorities
From the campaign site
Opposes a broad-based income tax, saying it would add new burdens on families without solving the state's spending challenges
Biography
Cody Pfaff is the Republican nominee for New Hampshire House, Belknap District 5 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the New Hampshire Secretary of State's September 8, 2026 primary results. Owns a Main Street business, per Citizens Count candidate profile.
Supports Education Freedom Accounts and school choice, saying funding should follow the student
Opposes a broad-based income tax and prioritizes property tax relief
Supports zoning reform allowing accessory dwelling units by right
Biography
Paul Rossi is the Republican nominee for New Hampshire House, Belknap District 5 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the New Hampshire Secretary of State's September 8, 2026 primary results. Former teacher from Laconia, per Citizens Count candidate profile.
Opposes the Education Freedom Account program, saying public education deserves public funding support, per Citizens Count candidate profile
Opposes broad-based income and business tax cuts while supporting reinstating the interest and dividends tax, per Citizens Count candidate profile
Supports cannabis legalization, renewable energy and nuclear power development, and opposes proof-of-citizenship voter registration requirements, per Citizens Count candidate
Biography
Marcia Hayward is the Democratic nominee for New Hampshire House, Belknap District 5 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the New Hampshire Secretary of State's September 8, 2026 primary results. Retired educator who taught science at Laconia High School for 18 years and served as principal of Belmont High School for 10 years before working as an adjunct professor at community colleges, per Citizens Count candidate profile. Chairs the Laconia Zoning Board of Adjustment, serves as president of the Wildwood Village Condominium Association, and is a trustee of Union Cemetery, per Citizens Count candidate profile. Holds an associate's degree from Lasell College and a bachelor's and master's degree in education from Plymouth State University, per Citizens Count candidate profile.
Riley has worked as a defense investigator for more than 30 years, per the campaign site. Riley earned a criminal justice degree from St. Anselm College, was born and raised in Manchester, and has lived and worked in Laconia for more than five years, per the campaign site.
Opposes relying primarily on property taxes to fund schools and favors alternative revenue sources, per Citizens Count
Supports zoning changes to encourage affordable housing, citing Cambridge programs pricing a share of units in larger developments below market rate and community land trust style programs for first-time homebuyers, per Citizens Count
Is critical of school voucher programs, per Citizens Count
Biography
Lois A. Kessin is the Democratic nominee for New Hampshire House, Belknap District 5 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the New Hampshire Secretary of State's September 8, 2026 primary results. Describes being a longtime community activist, per Citizens Count candidate profile. Previously lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and took part in drafting that city's rent control law and other community housing initiatives, per Citizens Count candidate profile. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026.
EH
Eric Hoffman
Democratic
Biography
Eric Hoffman of Laconia is the Democratic candidate for New Hampshire House, Belknap District 5 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate list.
Who is running for New Hampshire House, Belknap District 5 in 2026?
8 candidates are tracked for New Hampshire House, Belknap District 5 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Mike Bordes, Timothy Minor, Cody Pfaff, Paul Rossi, Marcia Hayward, Denise Riley, Lois A. Kessin and Eric Hoffman. Candidate information follows official Belknap County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below. See where they stand on schools, growth and housing.
When is the New Hampshire House, Belknap District 5 election in New Hampshire?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for New Hampshire are on the New Hampshire election hub at theballotbrief.com.
How do I see my exact Belknap County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.
Verify this race
Candidate roster from official Belknap County and state election office filings, last verified October 24, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.
