Around New England

Dixville Notch Goes for Bloomberg

February 12, 2020

Dixville Notch voters made their decision around midnight on Tuesday, and they picked someone who was not even on the ballot. 

The tiny northern New Hampshire community which is the first place in the state to vote in the first primary in the country, picked former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg as its preferred candidate, according to USA Today.

Just five votes were cast, and three of them went to Bloomberg. These were write-in votes and Bloomberg received two from the Democratic side and one from the Republican side. Additionally, former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders received one vote each. 

Colorado Senator Michael Bennet was the only presidential candidate to visit Dixville Notch in this election cycle, according to USA Today. He did not receive any votes from its five residents.

For the rest of the state, most polling places opened around 6 a.m. Tuesday, February 12.

Bloomberg skipped New Hampshire in his late-starting campaign. He is banking on his money and his perceived moderate positioning to appeal to Democratic voters in later presidential primaries.