State Rep. Martha McLeod (D-Franconia) said that voters in the North Country are ready to change who represents them in the state senate.

McLeod is running against current state Sen. John Gallus (R-Berlin) in Senate District 1, which covers the northern part of the state.

"I think I'm going to win and I hear over and over from voters that they want to see a change," McLeod said in an interview with PolitickerNH.com. "They've had enough of politics that hasn't worked for them and they want a new direction for the North Country."

Gallus did not return phone calls requesting an interview for the story.

McLeod said that she is busy knocking on doors and that voters have been receptive to her message.

"People are hurting in the North Country. We've lost 1,600 jobs in the last three years, families make 30 percent less than families in the rest of the state," McLeod said. "I hear that message that the status quo isn't good for them."

McLeod also said that the Democratic trend in the district will benefit her campaign.

"I think that helps put the icing on the cake that there's an increase in the number of Democrats and that there's a trend towards the Democrats," she said.

However, McLeod added, "But we're pretty savvy in New Hampshire, people expect you to work for them."