Two of the most closely watched races of primary night were the Democratic race in the first Congressional district and the Republican race in the Executive Council Third District.
In the first race, as New Hampshire Public Radio's Amy Quinton reports, Democrat Carol Shea-Porter won an upset victory over front-runner Jim Craig.
(applause)
Cheers and applause greeted Democrat Carol Shea-Porter as she accepted the party's nomination to the first congressional seat.
Shea-Porter ran a grassroots campaign to victory against three Democratic opponents, including New Hampshire House Minority Leader Jim Craig. She says she was humbled by the win, and challenged Republican Jeb Bradley to a series of debates.
"The people of this district want that dialogue. They want to know what the differences are and what our visions are, for America and for the 1st District. So I'm hoping that he'll say yes to these, because he owes it to them... whoever goes to Washington should earn that seat."
Shea-Porter's opponent, Jim Craig, says he'll support her campaign in the general election. In his concession speech, he credited her grassroots organization for winning the race.
"Carol Porter beat me. She beat me fair and square. She's got a good organization, and she'll do a good job down there, you know. And we need to support her, because it's Jeb Bradley that needs to go." (applause)
Craig said he also believes he lost the race in part to a late start campaigning.
Shea-Porter and Jeb Bradley are likely to butt heads in the general election over the war in Iraq. Shea-Porter supports a deadline for troop withdrawal; Bradley doesn't want troops to leave until Iraq's new government is stable.
For NHPR News, I'm Amy Quinton.
