The New Hampshire State Senate was established in the New Hampshire Constitution of 1784. The Senate consists of twenty-four members who are elected every two years. A “citizen legislature,” the senators are paid $100 a year.
The 2025-2026 Senate roster is made up of eighteen Republicans and six Democrats. Overall, there are fourteen men and ten women in this legislative body.
The President of the Senate is Republican Sharon Carson of Londonderry. As the Constitution states, the senate president serves as “acting governor” whenever the governor is out of the state or otherwise unable to perform the duties of the office. In addition to Senate President Carson, the Senate is run by a leadership team that includes:
President: Senator Sharon Carson of Londonderry
Majority Leader: Senator Regina Birdsell of Hampstead
Deputy Majority Leader: Senator Ruth Ward of Stoddard
Deputy Majority Leader: Senator Denise Ricciardi of Bedford
President Pro Tempore: Senator Daryl Abbas of Salem
Deputy President Pro Tempore: Senator Keith Murphy of Manchester
Chair, Majority Policy Conference: Senator Dan Innis of Bradford
Majority Whip: Senator Tim Lang of Sanbornton
Deputy Majority Whip: Senator Kevin Avard of Nashua
Minority Leader: Senator Rebecca Perkins Kwoka of Portsmouth
Deputy Democratic Leader: Senator Cindy Rosenwald of Nashua
Assistant Democratic Leader: Senator Suzanne Prentiss of West Lebanon
For the 2025-2026 legislative session, the Senate has thirteen standing committees: Capital Budget; Children and Family Law; Commerce; Education; Election Law and Municipal Affairs; Energy & Natural Resources; Executive Departments & Administration; Finance; Health & Human Services; Judiciary; Rules & Enrolled Bills; Transportation and Ways & Means. Each committee is led by a chair and vice-chair who preside over all public hearings.
Senators are paid $100 a year as stipulated by the New Hampshire Constitution. They also receive mileage reimbursements for official travel. To be eligible to run for the Senate, a candidate must be at least 30 years of age, have lived in New Hampshire for at least seven years immediately preceding the election, and reside in the district from which he or she is seeking election. All vacancies are filled by special elections.
You can contact the New Hampshire Senate here or here to find your senator.
For more information about the New Hampshire Senate history, click here.