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Sherman Packard elected speaker as House convenes in Concord
Summary
Sherman Packard won the speaker’s race after balloting concluded in the New Hampshire House’s organizational session Dec. 4, 2024, defeating Alexis Simpson and receiving a majority of the 388 votes cast.
CONCORD, N.H. — Sherman “Sherm” Packard was elected speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives on Dec. 4, winning a majority of the 388 ballots cast in the chamber’s organizational session.
The contest began with nominations from both parties. Representative Lucy Weber placed Representative Alexis Simpson in nomination; Simpson outlined her record in the chamber and asked members for their support. Representative Lisa Mazur nominated Packard; several members seconded his nomination and he stressed civility and cooperation across the aisle.
After balloting by alphabetical divisions, the clerk announced that 388 votes were cast, with 195 needed to win. The clerk reported 202 votes for Packard, 162 for Simpson, seven blank ballots and 17 scatter ballots. "Thank you for entrusting me one more time to be speaker of the New Hampshire House," Packard said upon being declared elected and led remarks pledging to keep an open-door approach.
Simpson moved that the house cast a unanimous ballot for Packard; the chamber agreed by voice vote.
The vote concludes the first formal business of the 2025–2026 biennium. Following the result, the House proceeded with elections for clerk and sergeant at arms and with other organizational rules and resolutions.
Packard, who previously served as speaker, told members he intended to keep an open-door policy and urged civility in debate: "All I ask of all of you on both sides of the aisle is that we respect each other."
