New Hampshire Republicans rebuked the state and national G.O.P. establishment in the final primaries of 2022.
Summary
New Hampshire Republicans rebuked the state and national G.O.P. establishment in the final primaries of 2022.
- While the U.S. Senate primary has not yet been called, Senate President Chuck Morse conceded to retired Army Brigadier General Don Bolduc. Morse was backed by national and New Hampshire Republicans as the best man to take on Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan.
- Bolduc’s unfounded claims of 2020 election fraud and penchant for inflammatory remarks – like attacking popular Republican Gov. Chris Sununu as a “Chinese Communist sympathizer” – made New Hampshire and national Republicans worry Bolduc couldn’t defeat Hassan.
- Republican voters were unfazed by Bolduc’s anemic fundraising – he had just $75,000 cash on hand last week– or his failed campaign for the G.O.P. nomination for the state’s other Senate seat just 2 years ago.
- The national and state G.O.P.’s picks for the Granite State’s two congressional seats were also defeated on Tuesday.
- Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas avoided a rematch with 2020 nominee Matt Mowers in the 1st District. Mowers lost to 25-year-old former Trump administration staffer Karoline Leavitt in the G.O.P. primary for the swingy eastern New Hampshire seat.
- Mowers was backed by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy while Sen. Ted Cruz supported Leavitt.
- In the more Democratic-leaning 2nd District, former county official Robert Burns, running as an ardent MAGA supporter, narrowly defeated pro-choice Keene mayor George Hansel for the right to take on Rep. Ann McLane Kuster.
- New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, a Republican, easily won renomination for a fourth term and will face state Sen. Tom Sherman in November.
- In Rhode Island, Democratic Gov. Dan McKee narrowly defeated Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea and CVS executive Helena Buonanno Foulkes, who was backed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
- McKee assumed office last year after his predecessor resigned and is favored over G.O.P. nominee Ashley Kalus in November.
- The Washington Post called Tuesday’s primary results a “blow” to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy as both of McCarthy’s preferred candidates lost.
- The New York Times covered the Democratic primary for Treasurer of Delaware. Incumbent Democrat Kathleen McGuiness was convicted of misdemeanors in a misconduct case and lost renomination to political newcomer Lydia York.
- CNN wrote Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary was “another bad day for Senate Republicans’ 2022 chances.” Bolduc’s victory was “the latest in a series of blows to Republicans’ hopes of winning back the majority in the chamber this fall.”
- The Washington Examiner reported Rhode Island Treasurer Seth Magaziner won the Democratic nomination for Rhode Island’s open 2nd District. Magaziner will have to defend the seat against G.O.P. nominee Allan Fung in “one of the most highly anticipated House races this year.”
- Per National Review, Bolduc is a 33-year Army veteran and served in Afghanistan after the 9/11 terror attacks. Bolduc spent much of his campaign targeting fellow Republican Gov. Sununu. Bolduc’s bid was supported by Democratic ad spending as Democrats believed he was the weaker general election candidate.
- Fox News noted Karoline Leavitt, the new G.O.P. nominee in New Hampshire’s 1st District, could become the youngest woman ever elected to Congress should she defeat Rep. Chris Pappas in November.
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© Dominic Moore, 2022
