New Hampshire Abolishes Death Penalty as Senate Overrides Veto

Rob Spencer, center, of Concord, N.H. pauses in prayer as legislators debate prior to a death penalty vote at the State House in Concord, N.H., on May 30, 2019. Charles Krupa/AP Photo

CONCORD, N.H.—New Hampshire, which hasn’t executed anyone in 80 years and has only one inmate on death row, on May 30 became the latest state to abolish the death penalty when the state Senate voted to override the governor’s veto.

The Senate vote came a week after the 400-member House voted by the narrowest possible margin to override Republican Gov. Chris Sununu’s veto of a bill to repeal capital punishment.