Corky Messner declared victory over three other Republicans in the New Hampshire Senate GOP primary on Tuesday, including fellow retired military veteran Gen. Don Bolduc.
Messner an attorney and self-described “political outsider” will now face Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D) in the November general election.
“We’re not going to celebrate, we’re going to unify,” Messner told supporters at a gathering on Tuesday night organized by the Trump campaign as primary results reeled in. “I’m not celebrating anything, I’m going to work, because we have a big mission ahead of us,” he added.
Messner’s opponent, Shaheen, was the first woman to serve as both governor and senator in the United States. Shaheen staved off challenges in her primary race, from former state Rep. Tom Alciere and retired dentist Paul Krautmann.
President Donald Trump backed Messner in June, saying in a tweet that the attorney would be a “fantastic” senator for the state.
“A West Point graduate, he served our Country in the Army with distinction. Strong on Jobs, Crime, Vets, Military and the Second Amendment …. He has my Complete and Total Endorsement!” Trump wrote in June.
Messner suggested in a statement issued following his primary win that voters in his state were “tired of career politicians and Washington bureaucrats.”
“This November’s election is critical to this state and this nation and I look forward to working with President Trump to keep America great,” Messner wrote.
Republicans face a tough battle in their challenge against Shaheen, a second-term incumbent.
Polls leading up to the primary indicated that Shaheen maintained a wide lead on both Messner and Bolduc.
