The 1996 United States presidential election in New Hampshire took place on November 5, 1996, as part of the 1996 United States presidential election. Voters chose four representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president.
Although traditionally a Republican state, 1996 would mark the second presidential election in a row that New Hampshire was won by Democrat Bill Clinton, by then the incumbent president. Clinton took 49.32% of the popular vote over Republican challenger Bob Dole, who took 39.37%, a victory margin of 9.95%. Reform Party candidate Ross Perot finished in third, with 9.69% of the popular vote.
Clinton's nearly 10-point victory in New Hampshire was much more convincing than his previous win in the state in 1992; that year he had only eked out a narrow plurality of 39% over George H. W. Bush's 38%, with Ross Perot taking nearly 23% of the vote. For a state that had voted over 60% Republican as recently as 1988, Clinton's victories represented a dramatic shift toward the Democratic Party in New Hampshire. Since then the state has voted Democratic in every presidential election, except in 2000, when George W. Bush eked out a narrow plurality win over Al Gore.
Primaries
The New Hampshire Secretary of State set the primary for February 20, 1996, in accordance with state law requiring the primary to be held at least one week before another state's primary. However, Delaware held its primary in February 24, but New Hampshire declined to alter its date. Most of the major Republican presidential candidates and President Bill Clinton did not appear on the Delaware ballot.
74% of registered Republicans and 45% of registered Democrats participated in the primaries. 45 candidates filed to appear on the primary ballot.
Democratic primary
Bill Clinton easily won the Democratic primary.
† Indicates a write-in candidate
Republican primary
Paleo-conservative Journalist Pat Buchanan was making an insurgent rise, making a narrow upset victory over frontrunner Bob Dole by a margin of just 1% of the vote. Buchanan had previously performed strongly in New Hampshire, during his 1992 challenge against incumbent president George H.W. Bush. Buchanan's momentum from his victory in New Hampshire would prove short-lived, as Dole would sweep every state on Super Tuesday on his way to the nomination. Dole eventually lost to incumbent Democratic President Bill Clinton in the 1996 general election
Steve Forbes spent $3 million in New Hampshire.
Libertarian primary
Harry Browne won the Libertarian presidential primary against Irwin Schiff and write-in candidates.
VP Write-in
Colin Powell, who was not a candidate, won the Republican vice-presidential primary as a write-in. Al Gore won the Democratic vice-presidential primary. Schiff won the vice-presidential primary as a write-in.
Results
Results by county
Counties flipped from Republican to Democratic