4 primaries for NH Senate seats

CONCORD, N.H.—Voters in only four state Senate districts will have primary choices Tuesday -- three Republican contests and one Democratic.

Republican state Reps. Vernon Dingman III of Haverhill and William Tobin of Sanbornton face off in District 2 for the right to challenge Democratic incumbent Deborah Reynolds of Plymouth.

A three-way contest in District 3 will select the Republican nominee to try to keep the seat in GOP control. Republican incumbent Joe Kenney vacated it to run for governor.

State Rep. William Denley of Wakefield, David Babson of Ossipee and Sam Cataldo of Farmingham are competing to face Democrat Bud Martin of Sandwich on Nov. 4.

In the District 7 GOP primary, former state Rep. Larry Elliott of Antrim and Andy Sanborn of Henniker want to take on Democratic incumbent Harold Janeway.

The only Democratic primary pits former state Rep. Amanda Merrill of Durham against Peter Macdonald of Lee in District 21. The winner faces Republican Kelly Remick of Dover. Democratic Sen. Iris Estabrook did not seek re-election.

Democrats have a 14-10 edge over Republicans in the Senate.

The matchups for November in other districts are:

District 1 -- Republican incumbent John Gallus of Berlin faces Democrat Martha McLeod of Franconia.

District 4 -- Democratic incumbent Kathleen Sgambati of Tilton faces Republican Gregory Knytych of Laconia.

District 5 -- Democrat Matthew Houde of Plainfield faces James Danforth of Andover. Democrat Peter Burling did not run for re-election.

District 6 -- Democratic incumbent Jackie Cilley of Barrington faces Republican Fenton Groen of Rochester.

District 8 -- Republican incumbent Bob Odell of Lempster faces Democrat Jay Phinizy of Acworth.

District 9 -- Republican incumbent Sheila Roberge of Bedford faces Democrat Michael Kaelin of Lyndeborough.

District 10 -- Democratic incumbent Molly Kelly faces Republican Thomas Eaton, both of Keene.

District 11 -- Republican incumbent Peter Bragdon of Milford faces Democrat Steve Spratt of Greenville.

District 12 -- Democrat Peggy Gilmour of Hollis, Republican Paul LaFlamme of Nashua and Democrat Betty Hall, who filed as an independent, compete for the seat vacated by Democrat David Gottesman.

District 13 -- Democrat Bette Lasky faces Republican Sandra Ziehm, both of Nashua. Democrat Joseph Foster did not seek re-election.

District 14 -- Republican Sharon Carson of Londonderry faces Democrat Sandy Amlaw of Hudson. Republican Bob Clegg did not seek re-election.

District 15 -- Democratic incumbent Sylvia Larsen faces Republican Kristie MacNeil, both of Concord.

District 16 -- Republican incumbent Ted Gatsas faces Democrat Bob Backus, both of Manchester.

District 17 -- Republican incumbent Jack Barnes faces Democrat Chaz Proulx, both of Raymond.

District 18 -- Democratic incumbent Betsi DeVries faces Republican Doug Kruse, both of Manchester.

District 19 -- Republican incumbent Bob Letourneau of Derry faces Democrat Daphne Kenyon of Windham.

District 20 -- Democratic incumbent Lou D'Allesandro faces Republican Jason Sakellar, both of Manchester.

District 22 -- Republican incumbent Mike Downing of Salem faces Democrat Paul Dadak of Pelham.

District 23 -- Democratic incumbent Maggie Wood Hassan faces Marshall Lee Quandt, both of Exeter.

District 24 -- Democratic incumbent Martha Fuller Clark faces Christian Callahan, both of Portsmouth.