Captain Lynne Blankenbeker wrapped up her 31-year active duty military career earlier this month. But instead of easing into retirement, the trained nurse and Concord resident is entering the Republican primary for the state’s 2nd Congressional District.
Blankenbeker launched her campaign in a pub in front of supporters, where she talked up her health care and military experience.
“We put our differences aside, and we stand up, and we take care of this country. And if a million people in the military can do it, why can’t 435 people in Congress do that?” she said to applause.
Blankenbeker served two terms in Concord as a state representative from 2009-2012 before being redeployed to Afghanistan as a combat nurse. She’s more recently been stationed in Washington, D.C., serving as a policy advisor on medical matters at the Pentagon.
She told supporters her resume, and her willingness to run a grassroots campaign, make her the GOP candidate to beat.
“I’m about the people,” she said. “I intend to get out into the district and get to know everybody, get to know the people I represent, and I will take that back to Congress.”
State Rep. Steve Negron of Nashua, as well as VA whistleblower Dr. Stewart Levenson of Hopkinton, have also announced their candidacies. Three-term Democrat Annie Kuster currently holds the seat, which covers much of northern and western New Hampshire.