Far-right Trump supporter Don Bolduc put an end to New Hampshire centrist Chuck Morse‘s (R) Senate bid on Tuesday in the state’s primary election.
Bolduc will go on to face sitting Sen. Maggie Hassan (D) in November.
Morse, who is generally well-liked, has spent 12 years serving as a state senator.
“It’s been a long night & we’ve come up short,” he tweeted in a statement. “I want to thank my supporters for all the blood, sweat & tears they poured into this team effort. I just called and wished all the best to @GenDonBolduc. The focus this fall needs to be on defeating Maggie Hassan.”
The race between Bolduc and Hassan will be closely watched as it is expected to be one of the most contentious in the nation. Hassan’s first term was won six years ago by just one-tenth of a point.
Bolduc also ran for a Senate seat in 2020, but lost in the primary to Corky Messner (R). Messner ended up losing to incumbent Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D).
Some Republicans fear that Bolduc is too extreme to win Hassan’s seat. Though he has not been formally backed by former President Donald Trump, he has been vocal in furthering Trump’s false claims of 2020 election fraud. Most political pundits now say that Hassan’s race leans Democratic.
