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 Charlie St. Clair. Candidate information follows official Belknap County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
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), Charlie St. Clair (Democratic) are on the November 3 ballot for New Hampshire House, Belknap District 5; Mike Bordes, Charlie St. Clair are sitting members, 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. Nominees are each party's top finishers in the September 8, 2026 state primary, per the Secretary of State's town-by-town results; nomination-paper candidates are not yet included. 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. State law allows a party to fill a nomination vacancy, and the Secretary of State's November candidate list settles the printed field 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. Sitting officeholders on the ballot: Mike Bordes, Charlie St. Clair.
Opposes new income, sales, and capital gains taxes; supports lower business taxes.
Supports Education Freedom Accounts with accountability requirements and opposes state-mandated zoning changes.
Supports the state's current abortion law, nuclear power development, and expanding net metering; opposes stricter gun laws.
Per the campaign site.
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.
Cody Pfaff
Republican
Top priorities
Opposes a broad-based income tax, saying it would add new burdens on families without solving the state's spending challenges.
Per the campaign site.
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.
Per the campaign site.
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.
Opposes broad-based income and business tax cuts while supporting reinstating the interest and dividends tax.
Supports cannabis legalization, renewable energy and nuclear power development, and opposes proof-of-citizenship voter registration requirements.
Per the campaign site.
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.
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.
Is critical of school voucher programs.
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; the Secretary of State's primary results are the only verifiable source for Lois A. Kessin.
Charlie St. Clair
Democratic Incumbent
Biography
Charlie St. Clair died on August 22, 2026, after being injured in a motorcycle crash while traveling to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, according to New Hampshire Public Radio and the New Hampshire Bulletin. St. Clair had represented Belknap District 5 in the New Hampshire House since December 2022 and served as executive director of Laconia Motorcycle Week since 1991. St. Clair's name remained on the September 8, 2026 primary ballot despite the death; November ballot status should be confirmed with the Secretary of State. No campaign website was found as of September 11, 2026; the Secretary of State's primary results are the only verifiable source for Charlie St. Clair.
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 Charlie St. Clair. Candidate information follows official Belknap County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
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 September 29, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.
