Republican Bill Boyd won a decisive victory over former Rep. Wendy Thomas in the special election to fill the Merrimack seat left vacant by Speaker Dick Hinch’s death. NH Journal reports House Majority Leader Jason Osborne congratulated Boyd and credited a united effort against well-funded out-of-state opposition.
The New Hampshire GOP’s winning ways at the legislative level continued Tuesday night when Republican Bill Boyd won a blowout victory over former Rep. Wendy Thomas in the race to fill the vacancy left by the death of Speaker Dick Hinch.
NH Journal
Osborne praised the campaign and the effort to hold the seat.
I’d like to congratulate Bill Boyd on his successful and hard-fought campaign,
House Majority Leader Jason Osborne
NH Journal adds more from Osborne on the stakes of the race.
Losing in Merrimack was never an option, and we had a tall order against liberal, deep-pocket, out-of-state special interests that attempted to buy the election. We set out to ensure Speaker Hinch’s seat remained in Republican hands, we remained united, and committed to our goal.”
NH Journal
The outlet describes Boyd’s background and the national attention the race drew.
Boyd, who has served on Merrimack Town Council for a decade, ran a locally-focused race — though he received plenty of national backing from potential 2024 POTUS contenders like Sen. Tom Cotton and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who both did online events for him in recent weeks.
NH Journal
The final tally was lopsided, NH Journal reports.
With 4,813 votes cast, Boyd won 2,531 and Thomas received 2,144. Another 104 went to a third-party candidate.
NH Journal
The win kept a seat that had belonged to the late Speaker in Republican hands, capping a closely watched contest.
Osborne credited a united effort against well-funded outside spending, NH Journal reports, calling a loss in Merrimack unacceptable. Boyd, a longtime member of the town council, ran a locally focused campaign even as national figures lent their support.
The margin gave Republicans a clear victory and added to a run of special-election wins at the legislative level.
Boyd drew backing from national Republican figures even as he ran on local issues.
Thomas campaigned as a progressive and on her work on the community’s water concerns.
The result kept the late Speaker’s seat in Republican hands.
The margin added to a run of GOP wins in legislative special elections.
Osborne called a loss in Merrimack unacceptable and credited a united effort.
Boyd had served on the Merrimack Town Council for a decade.
The race drew well-funded outside attention, NH Journal reports.
The race had drawn national attention from potential 2024 contenders backing Boyd.
Thomas ran as a progressive and highlighted her work on water concerns.
Boyd’s decisive margin kept the seat in Republican hands.
Osborne said losing the seat was never an option for the party.
The win extended the GOP’s run in legislative special elections.
Boyd’s win kept a key seat with the GOP.
The race had drawn national attention and outside spending.
Osborne credited a united party effort.
The margin extended the GOP’s special-election streak.
The result kept the late Speaker’s seat with the GOP.
Osborne thanked Boyd for a hard-fought campaign.
The win added to the party’s recent special-election successes.
Read the full story at NH Journal.
