Strafford County, New Hampshire

New Hampshire Senate District 6

2 candidates are tracked for New Hampshire Senate District 6 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: James P. Gray and Cecil Abels. Candidate information follows official Strafford County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

James P. Gray (Republican), Cecil Abels (Democratic) are on the November 3 ballot for New Hampshire Senate District 6; James P. Gray 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, James P. Gray, is on the ballot.

New Hampshire › Strafford County › New Hampshire Senate District 6

James P. Gray

Republican Incumbent

Top priorities

Supports Education Freedom Accounts and school choice programs
Opposes broad-based income and sales taxes
Supports right-to-work legislation

Per the campaign site.

Biography

James P. Gray is a Senior Engineering Manager for Industrial Operation at Naval Sea Systems Command and has served in the New Hampshire Senate since 2016 after four years in the House, per Citizens Count. He holds a BSEE from the University of New Hampshire and serves his community as a Ward Moderator and Planning Board member. He lives in Rochester.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Cecil Abels

Democratic

Top priorities

Opposes the current Education Freedom Account program without income caps and supports increased public school funding
Supports recreational marijuana legalization
Supports state encouragement of local zoning changes for downtown residential development

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Cecil Abels owns MrSippy BBQ in Barrington, which he opened in 2014, and previously worked as General Manager at Lark Hotels and as a Keller Williams Coastal realtor, per Citizens Count. He holds a BA in English Teaching from the University of New Hampshire. He lives in Rochester.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotNew Hampshire Senate District 21

See your full ballot

Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for New Hampshire Senate District 6 in 2026?

When is the New Hampshire Senate District 6 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 Strafford 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 Strafford 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 Strafford County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Strafford County ballot

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

Also on your ballot

New Hampshire House, Strafford District 1 New Hampshire House, Strafford District 2 New Hampshire House, Strafford District 3 See all 35 Strafford County races

Candidate profiles

James P. Gray, full profile Cecil Abels, full profile Official New Hampshire election office