The Republican candidate running in a special election to fill the seat left by the death of the New Hampshire House speaker won, as turnout eclipsed the number of machine ballots available for the town of Merrimack.
Republican Bill Boyd defeated Democrat Wendy Thomas and Independent Stephen Hollenberg, a member of the American Solidarity Party, on Tuesday. Boyd, who was a town councilor for 10 years, garnered 2,531 votes compared to Thomas’s 2,144 and Hollenberg’s 104 votes, according to the New Hampshire Union-Leader.
Boyd's win was announced late on Tuesday due to local officials turning to paper ballots after they ran out of 4,000 machine ballots, which in turn delayed the results.
JULIA LETLOW, WIDOW OF REPRESENTATIVE-ELECT WHO DIED OF COVID-19, ELECTED TO HIS SEAT
“Thank you #Merrimack for your votes of confidence & support in my bid to be your State Rep in Concord,” Boyd said on social media. “I am humbled & honored!! Thank you [Wendy Thomas] & [Stephen Hollenberg] for running great campaigns & elevating the discourse in our community!”
The state House seat was left open after Dick Hinch, a seven-term member of the House, died on Dec. 9, 2020. He was sworn in as the speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives about a week before his death.
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Ronna McDaniel, the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, celebrated the victory and congratulated Boyd on his victory.
"Big GOP victory in the New Hampshire State Rep Special Election!" she said. "Congratulations to Republican @BillBoydIII on winning in a district Democrats carried by more than 6 points in 2020!"
