Excop gets GOP nod for House in N.H.

CONCORD, N.H.» A black former police chief backed by the Trump administration won the Republican nomination Tuesday in New Hampshire’s tossup congressional district, while Democrats picked experienced, establishment-backed nominees for both that seat and for governor.

Eddie Edwards, who was endorsed by Trump attor ney Rudy Giuliani, defeated six Republican opponents in the 1st Congressional District, which covers the eastern half of the state. A Navy veteran who also served as enforcement chief for the state liquor commission, Edwards is the second AfricanAmerican to be nominated to a U.S. House seat in New Hampshire.

In 2016, the district returned Democrat Carol SheaPorter to Congress but backed President Donald Trump.

SheaPorter’s decision to step down after four nonconsecutive terms resulted in a swarm of candidates seeking to replace her, including Levi Sanders, son of Vermont senator and former presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders. He came up far short Tuesday in an 11way race won by restaurateur Chris Pappas, who would be New Hampshire’s first openly gay member of Congress.

In the governor’s race, former state Sen. Molly Kelly defeated former Portsmouth Mayor Steve Marchand and will face Republican Gov. Chris Sununu, who faced no primary opposition.

Rhode Island holds its primary on Wednesday, and New York follows a day later.