Sherman Packard

Leadership roles

Packard was elected by the New Hampshire House Republican caucus to serve as minority leader for the 2008–2010 legislative session. After Republicans regained control of the chamber in 2010, Packard declined to seek the Republican nomination for Speaker of the House. Tea Party–aligned representative Bill O’Brien won the speakership after defeating the more moderate Gene Chandler, an ally of Packard, for the nomination. O’Brien later appointed Packard chair of the Transportation Committee for the 2010–2012 legislative session.^[1][2]

In December 2014, Packard was appointed speaker pro tempore by Speaker Shawn Jasper for the 2014-2016 session. He was also appointed vice chair of the Legislative Administration Committee.^[3][4]

In November 2017, after Jasper resigned to become New Hampshire Commissioner of Agriculture, newly elected Speaker Gene Chandler appointed Packard deputy speaker. Packard lost the position when Democrats gained control of the House following the 2018 elections.^[5]

During the 2018-2020 legislative session, Packard served as deputy minority leader under Minority Leader Dick Hinch and was assigned to the Transportation and Rules Committees.^[6][7]

Speakership

After the death of newly-elected speaker Dick Hinch on December 9, 2020, Deputy Speaker Packard told news sources that Hinch had experienced cold-like symptoms unrelated to COVID-19.^[8] It was later reported that Hinch had died of COVID-19.^[9]

Following Hinch's death, Packard became acting speaker of the House, overseeing chamber administration, committee assignments, floor operations, scheduling and staffing. He was later selected by the House Republican caucus as its nominee for Speaker after representatives Al Baldasaro and Timothy Lang Sr. withdrew their candidacies. At a drive-in legislation session held on January 6, 2021, Packard was formally elected Speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, defeating Democratic nominee and Minority Leader Renny Cushing.^[10]

As Speaker, Packard appointed Republican representative Steven Smith as deputy speaker, while retaining most of Hinch's leadership team. He also succeeded Hinch as chair of the House Rules Committee.^[11][12]

Commission on Government Efficiency

In 2025, Governor Kelly Ayotte appointed Packard to the Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE), a state commission tasked with identifying ways to reduce government spending in New Hampshire. The commission was modeled in part on the federal Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative.^[13][14]

Motorcycle profiling

In 2022, Packard introduced legislation to ban motorcycle profiling. During testimony on the bill, he said he believed he had been profiled by the Rye Police Department during a traffic stop while riding a motorcycle several years earlier. The claim was disputed by Rye Police Chief Kevin Walsh, who said department records did not indicate profiling and suggested there may have been a legitimate reason for the stop.^[15][16]

Hot mic incident

In April 2021, Packard was heard on a hot mic referring to fellow Republican representative Anne Copp of Derry as a "bitch" after she refused an order from the House clerk to wear a mask while walking around the Bedford Sportsplex, which was serving as the temporary chamber for the New Hampshire House of Representatives. Packard apologized to Copp and other representatives later that day.^[17]

Response to antisemitism controversy

In January 2026, Packard and House Democratic Leader Alexis Simpson jointly authored an opinion piece stating that Holocaust denialism and antisemitism “have no place in the New Hampshire Legislature.” The statement called on lawmakers to reject rhetoric referencing the Holocaust in political discourse.^[18]

The statement followed controversy involving Republican state representative Travis Corcoran, who had posted a message referencing a “final solution” in response to a Jewish colleague. Packard condemned the comment as “deeply inappropriate” but did not impose disciplinary sanctions against Corcoran.^[19]

In January 2026, Louise Spencer, co-founder of the Kent Street Coalition, also wrote an opinion piece urging Packard to take action against two Republican representatives (Representative Kristin Nobel and Representative Matt Sabourin dit Choinière) over remarks related to segregation and Holocaust revisionism.^[20]

Wendy Thomas committee removal

In March 2026, Packard removed Democratic state representative Wendy Thomas of Merrimack from the New Hampshire House Science, Technology and Energy Committee. Thomas said she was notified by email and had not been given an explanation for the decision. A spokesperson for the Speaker's office said the Speaker has the authority under House rules to change committee assignments and that the move followed "several weeks of conversation with House Democratic leadership." However, House Democratic Leader Alexis Simpson said Democratic leadership had not been involved in the decision and had previously advocated for Thomas to remain on the committee.^[21]

Thomas served on the committee for four years and had been active on issues including PFAS contamination and opposition to a proposed immigration detention facility in Merrimack.