Former police chief Eddie Edwards won New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional Republican primary Tuesday evening, teeing off a race against his Democratic rival Chris Pappas.
Edwards nabbed the victory over five other Republicans, taking 47.5 percent of the vote with 70 percent of precincts reporting, according to The New York Times. Edwards, a Navy veteran, will compete in the Nov. 6 general election against Pappas, who would be New Hampshire’s first openly gay member of Congress if he wins.
Edwards served as director of the New Hampshire Liquor Commission Enforcement Division from 2005 to 2013, when his allegations of racial discrimination against the Liquor Commission came to a head. Edwards, who is black, reached a “settlement [that] stipulated that Edwards could no longer work for the Commission,” according to Ballotpedia.
Edwards criticized his main opponent, state Republican Sen. Andy Sanborn, for Sanborn’s alleged pattern of “routinely” making inappropriate remarks to interns and staffers, according to WMUR. Sanborn took 41.3 percent of the vote with 70 percent of precincts reporting Tuesday night.
Sanborn and Edwards battled over who was the true conservative option on the campaign trail.
Former Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Rick Santorum endorsed Edwards, while Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz endorsed Sanborn, reported The Eagle-Tribune.
Edwards will battle to take over from Democrat Carol Shea-Porter, who decided not to run for re-election as representative of New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District. (RELATED: Democrat Chris Pappas Could Be New Hampshire’s First Openly Gay Congressman After State’s Primary Win)
Analysts predict voters will lean Democratic in the November general election, according to Ballotpedia. However, the district went for President Donald Trump in the 2016 election and has elected both Democratic and Republican congressional candidates in the last four elections, reported Roll Call.
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