Months or years of work ended yesterday for some, most, but not all. The New Hampshire state primary (not to be confused with the First in the Nation Presidential Primary) has passed. Ballots were cast and counted, and while there may be a few challenges in local races, the bigger picture has been painted.
We know which candidates will face each other in November.
Polls may get a bad rap, but the one predicting Kelly Ayotte’s preference over Chuck Morse was almost a bullseye. As I noted here, he would never have enough time to overcome her name recognition.
Joyce Craig will face Kelly Ayotte from the Left, and I don’t think she can run on abortion and beat Kelly. She will have to run on her record as Manchester Mayor, and that’s not likely to get it done.
Lily Tag WIlliams‘ hard work paid off. Long before Ann Kuster announced her retirement, she had been working in CD2. Latecomers had money, but Lily had already done the work. Big question: will the RNC and Republican money people help Lily?
On the Blue side of District 2, DC carpetbagger Maggie Goodlander wiped the floor with Kuster’s preferred candidate, Colin Van Ostern. She’s young and cute and almost as white as Colin, but CD2 Dems prefer women, even if they don’t know what one is.
On the state’s Eastern Side, the CD-1 contest was close until late in the evening. Russell Prescott pulled out the win after a close race with Joe Kelly Levasseur.
The District 4 Executive Council race went to John Stephen while the challenge to Bill Gannon by Emily Phillips went to Bill. She was not able to knock him out of that seat in their primary.
A number of New Hampshire House races were also decided. Melissa Litchfield beat Scott Wallace. Betty Gay was No Way in Salem. Susan DeRoy beat out David Bickford, and Travis O’Hara’s write-in campaign failed.
Tell us about your victory or loss in the comments and who you think has the best chance in November.
Results as of 6 pm ET 9-11-24
Governor’s Race – Republican Primary
Kelly Ayotte 87,980 (63.5%)
Chuck Morse 47,481 (34.5%)
Shaun Fife 873
Governor’s Race – Democrat Primary
Joyce Craig 59,841 (48%)
Cinde Warmington 52,322 (42%)
Jon Kiper 11,791
CD – 1 Republican Primary (78% Reporting)
Russell Prescott 17,400 ( 26.1%)
Joe Kelly Levasseur 15,377 (23.8%)
Holly Noveletsky 15,885 (23%)
Chris Bright 8,808
CD – 2 Republican Primary
Lily Tang Williams 21,972 (35.8%)
Vikram Mansharamani 16,551 (27.%)
Bill Hamlen 9,809 (16%)
Paul Wagner 2324
CD – 2 Democrat Primary
Maggie Goodlander 42, 872 (63.8%)
Colin Van Ostern 24,295 (36.2%)
State Senate Dist 23 Primary
Bill Gannon 5782 (67.02%)
Emily Phillips 28.45 (23.98)
Executive Council Dist 4
John Stephen 9281
Bob Burns 5738
Terese Bastarche 4156
John Reagan 3746