New Hampshire's primary features a crowded race for an open toss-up House seat

(Image credit: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

published 11 September 2018

Two Democrats are running to challenge Gov. Chris Sununu (R) in Tuesday's New Hampshire primaries, and a handful of Republicans are competing to take on Rep. Ann Kuster (D) in New Hampshire's 2nd Congressional District. Sununu is favored to beat either former state Sen. Molly Kelly, the Democratic frontrunner, or Steve Marchand in November, and Kuster is expected to beat whichever Republican prevails on Tuesday; the top two GOP candidates are state Rep. Steve Negron and Stewart Levanson. The biggest race on Tuesday is for the battleground seat being vacated by Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D) in New Hampshire's 1st District.

Eleven Democrats and two main Republicans are running in the district, which narrowly voted for President Trump in 2016. On the GOP side, state Sen. Andy Sanborn is competing against Eddie Edwards, a Navy veteran and former police chief. "At this point, the race may come down to which man has successfully convinced voters he is Trumpier," The New York Times says. The 11 Democrats include Levi Sanders, son to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), plus a retired lawyer, a labor leader, an environmental scientist, and Porter-Shea's former chief of staff. The Democratic frontrunners are Maura Sullivan, a Marine veteran and ex-Obama administration official backed by national Democrats, and Chris Pappas, a New Hampshire Executive Council member supported by local Democratic leaders.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.