NASHUA – Steve Negron, a Nashua resident and Republican candidate for U.S. Congress, lost an opponent and gained a supporter last week when Eli D. Clemmer dropped out of the GOP primary race and promptly endorsed Negron.

That leaves Negron with two opponents – Matthew Bjetobrk and Lynne Ferrari Blankenbeker – in his quest to win the 2nd district GOP Congressional seat and, once again, challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster in the November general election.

Kuster, who defeated Negron in the 2018 2nd district election, is heavily favored over Joseph Mirzoeff, her lone opponent in Tuesday’s Democratic primary.

In Merrimack, the only Greater Nashua town in the state’s 1st Congressional district, five Republican candidates are vying for the opportunity to face incumbent Chris Pappas, who is running unopposed on the Democratic side.

The top of Tuesday’s ticket, meanwhile, literally includes a “Nobody” on the ballot as one of two Republican candidates going up against incumbent Gov. Chris Sununu.

“Nobody,” the candidate formerly known as Rich Paul, announced his candidacy shortly after running unsuccessfully for mayor of Keene. He is joined by Franklin city councilor and conservative activist Karen Testerman on the gubernatorial primary ballot.

The Democratic side, meanwhile, features a tight, back-and-forth battle between state Sen. Dan Feltes and District 2 Executive Councilor Andru Volinsky.

The two have more in common than most opponents do, for instance both are from Concord, both are lawyers, both cast themselves as champions of lower and middle income families and those needing a hand up, both serve in elected positions and both aren’t shy about taking shots at their presumptive Nov. 3 opponent.

They have at different times criticized Sununu’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, a challenging endeavor given Sununu’s high approval rating, even among Democrats, of how he has handled the crisis.

As for New Hampshire’s two U.S. Senators, one – Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan – is not up for reelection, having won her six-year term in the 2016 election.

The state’s senior senator, U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, is vying for her third straight term. Her primary opponents are Paul J. Krautmann, and Hudson resident Tom Alciere, who has previously run for office as either a libertarian or Democrat.

On the Republican side, four candidates are campaigning to win the chance to oppose Shaheen, the presumptive Democratic nominee, in the Nov. 3 election.

They include Corky Messner, Gerard Beloin, Don Bolduc and Andy Martin.

In the Executive Council, where all five councilors come up for election every two years, Democratic incumbent Debora Pignatelli, of Nashua, is running unopposed for her District 5 seat.

On the Republican side, former Executive Councilor Dave Wheeler, of Milford, and state Rep. Bob Clegg, of Hudson, are vying for one open seat on the council.

Regarding the state senate races, Greater Nashua includes five state senate districts, most of which have one candidate on either side running unopposed.

In District 11, which includes Amherst, Merrimack, Milford and Wilton, Democratic incumbent Shannon Chandley is running uncontested, as is challenger Gary L. Daniels on the Republican side.

In District 12, which includes Nashua Wards 1, 2, and 5, and the towns of Brookline, Greenville, Hollis, Mason, New Ipswich and Rindge, incumbent Melanie Levesque, Democrat of Hollis, is running unopposed, as is Republican challenger Kevin Avard of Nashua.

In District 13, which includes Nashua Wards 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9, Nashua resident Cindy Rosenwald, the incumbent Democrat, is facing Republican challenger Mariellen MacKay.

In District 14, which includes Hudson, Londonderry and Auburn, Republican Sharon Carson of londonderry, the incumbent, will face Democrat Nancy Hendricks.

And in District 18, which includes Litchfield and several Manchester wards, incumbent Democrat Donna Soucy will go up against either Ross W. Terrio or George Lambert, depending on which man wins the GOP primary.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.