Manchester union organizer Kevin Cavanaugh claimed victory Tuesday over Jim Normand in the Democratic primary for state Senate District 16, which includes Bow, Dunbarton and Hooksett.
He will now go on to compete in the special election July 25 against Republican David Boutin of Hooksett, who held the seat until 2016, and libertarian Jason Dubrow of Dunbarton. The candidates are competing to replace Democratic Sen. Scott McGilvray, who died earlier this year.
In a statement, Cavanaugh said he was “humbled” by the results.
“Voters I’ve spoken with over the last two months have made it clear that they appreciate my strong support for public schools, first responders, and fighting the opioid crisis,” he said.
Cavanaugh, a first-term Manchester alderman, won support from big-name Democrats in the primary and raised more than $50,000.
Boutin congratulated him on the win, but said Cavanaugh’s policies are “wrong for the citizens of District 16.”
“As an alderman, Kevin Cavanaugh has advocated for huge increases in government spending, and for overriding the city’s tax cap – the working families and small businesses in district 16 simply can’t afford any more increased taxes,” Boutin said.
Boutin held the Senate seat from 2009-16, but decided not to seek re-election last year. He jumped into the special election in April and has won the backing of the biggest state employees union.
District 16 includes Bow, Candia, Dunbarton, Hooksett and Wards 1, 2 and 12 in Manchester.
(Allie Morris can be reached at 369-3307 or amorris@cmonitor.com.)