 When the Republican Party took control of the chamber in the 2014 elections in November 2014, the Democratic caucus elected Shurtleff as the new minority leader of the New Hampshire House, succeeding outgoing Speaker Terie Norelli as the Democratic leader.Shurtleff is from Ward One of Concord, New Hampshire, comprising the village of Penacook.In 2013, Shurtleff Received the Henry Toll Fellowship from the Council of State Government.