Jess Edwards
American politician From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jesse Craton "Jess" Edwards Jr. is an American politician who is a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives.[1] He represents the Rockingham 4 district, comprising the towns of Auburn, Chester, and Sandown.[2]
Jess Edwards | |
|---|---|
Edwards at the 2022 Hazlitt Summit hosted by Young Americans for Liberty Foundation | |
| Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from the Rockingham 4th district | |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Republican |
Biography
Edwards served in the United States Medical Corps, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel and retiring in 2009.[3][2]
Political career
Edwards is a Republican. In his third term, he was appointed to Chair Division III of the Finance Committee.[1] In 2023, Edwards endorsed Ron DeSantis for president.[4]
Political positions
Abortion
In 2022, Edwards advocated for the successful passage of HB1609, which created an exemption for fatal fetal diagnoses to the 24-week abortion ban law passed in 2021.[5]
Child marriage
In 2024, Edwards argued against raising New Hampshire's minimum marriage age from 16 to 18, stating that 16- and 17-year-olds "are a ripe, fertile age and may have a pregnancy and a baby involved", in which case "marriage might be the right solution" and should be available "as a legitimate social option" to avoid "making abortion a much more desirable alternative" for "some freedom-loving couples".[6]
Menstrual Care
In 2025, Edwards cosponsored a bill to repeal 2019 law requiring New Hampshire school districts to provide menstrual products to students. Edwards called the requirement "offensive".[7] In 2023, Edwards unsuccessfully cosponsored HB129 which would have limited distribution of pads and tampons by making them available only by request from nurses and school administrators.[8]
Personal life
Edwards' daughter, Elizabeth, served as a state representative, and Edwards credits her service as the inspiration for his run for office.[3]
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jess Edwards (incumbent) | 6,686 | 14 | |
| Republican | Chris True (incumbent) | 6,330 | 13.3 | |
| Republican | Jason Osborne (incumbent) | 6,235 | 13.1 | |
| Republican | Tony Piemonte (incumbent) | 5,982 | 12.5 | |
| Republican | Oliver Ford | 5,966 | 12.5 | |
| Democratic | Michael D'Angelo | 3,533 | 7.4 | |
| Democratic | Jane Van Zandt | 3,441 | 7.4 | |
| Democratic | Matthew Krohn | 3,178 | 6.7 | |
| Democratic | Ben Geiger | 3,162 | 6.6 | |
| Democratic | Russell Normal | 3,158 | 6.6 | |
| Total votes | 47,676 | 100 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Chris True (incumbent) | 4,416 | 12.6 | |
| Republican | Jess Edwards (incumbent) | 4,371 | 12.5 | |
| Republican | Becky Owens | 4,236 | 12.1 | |
| Republican | Jason Osborne (incumbent) | 4,093 | 11.7 | |
| Republican | Tony Piemonte | 3,948 | 11.3 | |
| Democratic | Cynthia Herman | 2,934 | 8.4 | |
| Democratic | Todd Bedard | 2,834 | 8.1 | |
| Democratic | Patrick McLaughlin | 2,784 | 8.0 | |
| Democratic | Stephen D'Angelo | 2,698 | 7.7 | |
| Democratic | Benjamin Geiger | 2,622 | 7.5 | |
| Total votes | 34,940 | 100 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Republican hold | ||||
References
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