Ed Laplante of the Constitution Party of New Hampshire will appear on the state’s general election ballot for U.S. Senate this year, submitting enough certified signatures to qualify and giving the party an opportunity to potentially secure recognized status.
Laplante announced this week that he will appear on the November ballot after receiving confirmation from the New Hampshire Secretary of State that he submitted enough valid signatures. Under New Hampshire law, U.S. Senate candidates seeking ballot access through the nomination process need to collect a minimum of 3,000 valid signatures, including at least 1,500 from each of the state’s two congressional districts.
“Just got the call from the Secretary of State, and I’m pleased to announce: I have qualified for a spot on the General Election Ballot for US Senate in November,” Laplante said.
Independent Political Report reported earlier this month that Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Stephen Villee said while submitting his own signatures that he expected Laplante to have collected enough to qualify, though Laplante had not confirmed the completion of his petitioning efforts at the time.
Laplante will face the eventual nominees of the Democratic and Republican parties, who will be determined in New Hampshire’s September 8 primaries. Several independent candidates have also filed declarations of intent for the race, though the final general election field has not yet been settled. The seat is open after Democratic incumbent Jeanne Shaheen decided against seeking another term.
Laplante, who has been identified as an automotive technician and Marine Corps veteran, chairs the Constitution Party of New Hampshire and currently serves on the Monadnock Regional School Board. He previously ran for U.S. Senate in 2022 as a Republican and sought the governorship in 2024, though he ultimately failed to qualify for the ballot.
Depending on how the general election goes, a strong enough showing in November could give the Constitution Party recognized status in New Hampshire. If Laplante receives at least 4 percent of the statewide vote in his U.S. Senate bid, the Constitution Party would qualify as a recognized political party under state law, giving it a ballot line and access to the state’s party primary process for 2028.
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