Jesse Craton "Jess" Edwards Jr. is an American politician who is a member of the

New Hampshire House of Representatives The New Hampshire House of Representatives is the lower house in the New Hampshire General Court, the bicameral State legislature (United States), legislature of the state of New Hampshire. The House of Representatives consists of 400 members com ...

. He represents the Rockingham 4 district, comprising the towns of Auburn,

Chester Chester is a cathedral city in Cheshire, England, on the River Dee, Wales, River Dee, close to the England–Wales border. With a built-up area population of 92,760 in 2021, it is the most populous settlement in the borough of Cheshire West an ...

, and

Sandown Sandown is a seaside resort and civil parishes in England, civil parish on the south-east coast of the Isle of Wight, England. The neighbouring resort of Shanklin and the settlement of Lake, Isle of Wight, Lake are sited just to the south of t ...

Biography

Edwards served in the United States Medical Corps, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel and retiring in 2009.

Political career

Edwards is a Republican. In his third term, he was appointed to Chair Division III of the Finance Committee. In 2023, Edwards endorsed

Ron DeSantis Ronald Dion DeSantis (; born September 14, 1978) is an American politician, attorney, and former United States Navy, naval officer serving as the 46th List of governors of Florida, governor of Florida since 2019. A member of the Republican Pa ...

for president.

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.

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".

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". 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.

Personal life

Edwards' daughter,

Elizabeth Elizabeth or Elisabeth may refer to: People * Elizabeth (given name), a female given name (including people with that name) * Empress Elisabeth (disambiguation), lists various empresses named ''Elisabeth'' or ''Elizabeth'' * Princess Elizabeth ...

, served as a state representative, and Edwards credits her service as the inspiration for his run for office.

Electoral history

References

Living people Republican Party members of the New Hampshire House of Representatives People from Auburn, New Hampshire United States Army Medical Corps officers Year of birth missing (living people) 21st-century members of the New Hampshire General Court {{NewHampshire-NHRepresentative-Republican-stub