Former state rep will try again in the 2nd Congressional District

Jim Lawrence, a Hudson businessman and a former state representative, will again run for the Republican nomination in the race for the 2nd Congressional District.

Lawrence, a three-term representative from Hudson, announced his bid Tuesday in a press release. He is the second Republican to enter the race, along with state Rep. Jack Flanagan of Brookline and Casey Newell of Deerfield. The winner of the GOP primary will challenge incumbent Democratic Rep. Annie Kuster in November.

Two years ago, Lawrence finished third in the GOP primary for the same seat, behind Marilinda Garcia and Gary Lambert. In New Hampshire, he was the first African-American to officially run for Congress.

In a press release, Lawrence called the federal government “too big, too bureaucratic, and too inefficient.”

“Our government intrudes too much into our daily lives,” he said. “We need a Congressman who will cut waste, rein in the federal bureaucracy, and return power to the people of New Hampshire.”

Lawrence graduated from the United States Air Force Academy and worked as a contractor for the Department of Defense for more than 15 years. He also served as a state representative from 2002 to 2008. During his final term, the House Republican Alliance ranked him as one of the most conservative members of the Legislature.

“I built my successful business streamlining federal government programs, rooting out inefficiencies and waste, and saving taxpayer dollars,” Lawrence said in the press release. “I will do the same in Washington.”

Michael Biundo, a veteran of New Hampshire politics and a partner at RightVoter, will serve as the campaign’s general consultant. During the 2016 primary cycle, Biundo signed on to Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul’s team. When Paul dropped out of the race, Biundo joined the campaign for Ohio Gov. John Kasich. 

In the press release, Biundo stated Lawrence will run “a professional campaign.”

“He will paint a clear contrast with Annie Kuster: She supports higher taxes and larger, more intrusive government,” Lawrence said. “He will vote to cut taxes, reduce the size and reach of government, and return power to New Hampshire families.”

The filing period for New Hampshire’s fall elections opened today and closes June 10.

(Megan Doyle can be reached at 369-3321, mdoyle@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @megan_e_doyle.)