Rockingham County, New Hampshire

New Hampshire Senate District 17

2 candidates are tracked for New Hampshire Senate District 17 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Howard Pearl and Robert Lawliss. Candidate information follows official Rockingham County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Howard Pearl (Republican), Robert Lawliss (Democratic) are on the November 3 ballot for New Hampshire Senate District 17; Howard Pearl is the sitting member, per the General Court's official member list (gc.nh.gov). 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.

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. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Howard Pearl, is on the ballot.

New Hampshire › Rockingham County › New Hampshire Senate District 17

Howard Pearl

Republican Incumbent

Top priorities

Supports the Education Freedom Account program and parental rights in schools
Opposes broad-based income and sales taxes
Supports mandatory minimum sentences for drug-related offenses

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Howard Pearl is a candidate for New Hampshire Senate District 17, per his campaign site. He is a sixth-generation farmer who operates Pearl and Sons Farm in Loudon and previously served three terms in the New Hampshire House of Representatives, chairing the House Environment and Agriculture Committee, per his campaign site. He also serves as Loudon Town Moderator and as treasurer of the New Hampshire Farm Bureau state board, per his campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Robert Lawliss

Democratic

Top priorities

Opposes Education Freedom Account programs, favoring public funds for public education
Supports reinstating the interest and dividends tax
Supports zoning changes to encourage affordable housing development

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Robert Lawliss is a retired software engineer who holds a BS from the University of Massachusetts and an MBA from Western New England University, per Citizens Count. He lives in Pembroke and is running for Senate District 17.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotNew Hampshire Senate District 19

See your full ballot

Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for New Hampshire Senate District 17 in 2026?

When is the New Hampshire Senate District 17 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 Rockingham 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 Rockingham County and state election office filings, last verified September 29, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official New Hampshire election office, or see the full Rockingham County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Rockingham County ballot

57 tracked races in Rockingham County, New Hampshire. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

New Hampshire Senate District 21 New Hampshire Senate District 22 New Hampshire Senate District 23 See all 57 Rockingham County races

Candidate profiles

Howard Pearl, full profile Robert Lawliss, full profile Official New Hampshire election office