In a tight race that wasn’t called until well after ballots were cast, Lee Nyquist edged out Jeanne Dietsch for the state Senate District 9 democratic nomination.
Nyquist, the town moderator for New Boston, collected 2,034 votes, or 51.2 percent of the total ballots cast. Dietsch, a Peterborough-based entrepreneur, gathered just 96 fewer votes than her opponent, making for a tight finish.
After the primary results were announced on Wednesday, Nyquist commended his democratic opponent for running “a truly extraordinary campaign.”
Dietsch swept several towns in the district including Peterborough, where she received 693 votes to Nyquist’s 224, but struggled in key areas like Bedford where she collected 327 votes to Nyquist’s 681.
“She raised a lot of important issues and I look forward to working with her in the future – especially on issues concerning Peterborough and the surrounding region,” Nyquist said.
For now, he is focusing his attention to the general election where he will face Republican incumbent Andy Sanborn. Nyquist has unsuccessfully attempted to oust Sanborn from the position twice; once in 2012 and again in 2014.
Sanborn ran unopposed in the primary race, easily sailing on to the November election.
Although there was no contest, Patrick Soutter held a sign in support of Sanborn outside of the Peterborough Town Hall all day Tuesday.
“We are out here because we want to cut taxes, cut spending to create more jobs in New Hampshire,” Soutter said. “The senator has been working extremely hard to do that.”
November’s state Senate race is considered a battleground chamber, meaning one party could possibly overturn the current majority control.
Republicans hold a 14-10 edge in the state Senate and are seeking to defend their majority. In 2011, the state GOP was able to redraw Senate district maps for their benefit, and have maintained control ever since.
Many voters on Tuesday said Nyquist was the strongest candidate to take back the democratic seat.
“I am especially impressed with his record as town moderator; if there was ever a thankless job and yet an important one, that’s it,” he said. “In fact, he has been doing that for a quarter of a century now.”
Bates said the candidate also has a proven record to work across party lines and divisions of business and labor.
“He just seems to be able to get folks together,” Bates said. “He is the kind of person who can get people to work together. Lord knows we need that right now.”
Kath Allen, of Peterborough, said she voted for Nyquist because he is “a good guy with the good issues.”
“I helped Lee when he ran before, but I was leaving myself open to any candidate if they showed more that I would go with them,” Allen said. “But I stayed right with Lee because he’s where it’s at.”
Other voters expressed their concern with Nyquist’s ability to win the general election.
Sheila Bay, who was in front of the Temple Town Hall on Tuesday afternoon, said she is voting democratic up and down the ticket. But when it comes to the state Senate race, she voted for Dietsch.
“I voted Lee Nyquist twice. He ran twice and the second time he got even less [votes] than the first time. And Sanborn is really a dangerous man; he’s got to go,” Bay said. “Jeanne is a very strong woman and she speaks very well. It’s true that thing that says; she’s smart with heart.”
Outside of the Peterborough town hall on Tuesday morning, Edward Lotowski, said he has personally known Dietsch for two years. In that time he said he only has “superlatives” to describe her character.
Even deeper than her personality though, he said Dietsch’s entrepreneurial past shows tangible results.
“She founded and ran a robotics company that created jobs,” Lotkowski said. “She’s actually done concrete things.”
In other state Senate races:
Republican Ruth Ward narrowly squeaked out a win over opponent Jim Beard for the District 8 state Senate seat. Ward will go on to face Democrat John Garvey in the general election.
Democrat Peggy Gilmour will face Republican incumbent Kevin Avard for the District 12 seat. Avard challenged and defeated Gilmour in 2014.
Republican Gary Daniels will face Democrat Roger Tilton in the general election for the District 11 seat. Both candidates ran uopposed in the primary election.