Jim Lawrence, photographed on September 3, 2016, is a Republican candidate for New Hampshire's second congressional district. (AP Photo)
Jim Lawrence, photographed on September 3, 2016, is a Republican candidate for New Hampshire's second congressional district. (AP Photo)

Concord — Former state Rep. Jim Lawrence will face Democratic Rep. Annie Kuster in New Hampshire’s 2nd Congressional District, while the Republican primary in the 1st District remained too close to call late Tuesday night.

In the 1st District, U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta, R-Manchester, was in a tight race with Rich Ashooh, who unsuccessfully sought the GOP nomination in 2010. Guinta has struggled since last year, when the Federal Election Commission said he took illegal campaign donations from his parents. If he wins, he will square off against Democrat Carol Shea-Porter for a fourth time in November. If he loses, he’ll be among only six House incumbents who have lost this year.

Ashooh told supporters whatever the outcome, he’ll find a way to carry out his campaign goals.

“Whatever the resolution is, we’ll figure out how we’re going to keep to the ideals of this campaign, and be honest about what it is we’re going to do, which is protect the future of this generation,” he said. “We’re gonna do it, I know we’re gonna do it. It may not all be in our hands, but we’re gonna figure it out.”

Shea-Porter faced no opposition on Tuesday. She held the seat for two terms until Guinta defeated her in 2010. She beat him in 2012; he won in 2014.

In the 2nd District, Lawrence defeated state Rep. Jack Flanagan and five others in Tuesday’s GOP primary. Kuster, who has represented the district for two terms, was unopposed on the Democratic side.

Lawrence, who lives in Hudson, N.H., is a U.S. Air Force veteran who now runs a construction consulting firm.

He campaigned on a theme of cutting waste in Washington, reducing bureaucracy and returning power to the people.

“The people of the Second Congressional District in New Hampshire sent Rep. Kuster to Washington to do one thing: provide solutions,” he said. “Instead, she’s gone down there and done something completely different. She supported the Washington party bosses and the special interests, and the people of New Hampshire tonight have spoken with a loud and clear voice. They want a representative who represents them, not Washington.”

With 74 percent of precincts reporting, Lawrence had 41 percent support, to 28 percent for Flanagan. No other GOP candidate was above single digits.

This was Lawrence’s second run for Congress. He finished third in the 2014 primary.