Five of Six Incumbent Reps Head to November Race

BEDFORD, NH — Fewer than 4,000 voters cast ballots in the Sept. 13, 2016, primary in Bedford, according to Town Clerk Lori Radke, with nearly 3,000 Republicans casting ballots in a competitive state Representative primary.

Nine candidates ran for six seats and voters returned five incumbents to their seats. Linda Gould topped the ticket with 1,708 votes. Bart Formuth, another incumbent, came in second with 1,478. Incumbents Terry Wolf (1,421 votes), Keith Murphy (1,385), and Daniel Danielson (1,290) will also be on the ballot in November. Another Republican – John Graham – received 1,136 votes and will be heading to the general election.

Failing to win were Jim Aguiar, who received 960 votes, Phil Greazzo, who received 952 votes, as well as Philip Pichette of 430 votes.

In ther races, Chris Sununu won Bedford with 851 votes with Ted Gatsas coming in second and Frank Endelblut coming in a close third.

In the U.S. Senate race, Kelly Ayotte easily won, besting her nearest rival, Jim Rubens, by a nine-to-one margin.

Rich Ashooh, a Republican from Bedford, easily won his hometown by a nearly two-to-one margin against incumbent Frank Guinta.

Less than 1,100 Democrats voted in their party’s primary, with Van Ostern easily winning the town by two-to-one margins against Mark Connolly and Steve Marchand in the gubernatorial race.

In the state Senate primary, Lee Nyquist easily beat Jeanne Dietsch, 681 to 327.