Ex-Biden official wins tense Democratic primary for New Hampshire House seat

Democrat Maggie Goodlander, a former Department of Justice (DOJ) official in the Biden administration, has won her party’s primary for retiring Rep. Annie Kuster’s (D-N.H.) seat in the House, according to Decision Desk HQ.  

Goodlander, who’s married to national security adviser Jake Sullivan, defeated former state Executive Councilor Colin Van Ostern (D), Kuster’s chosen successor, in the Democratic contest for New Hampshire’s 2nd Congressional District.

The race had become increasingly fraught in its closing weeks, exposing rifts within the party. While Van Ostern had the backing of Kuster, Goodlander was supported by Hillary Clinton and EMILY’s List.

Tensions in the primary rose in particular after Van Ostern released an ad featuring Kuster that called into question Goodlander’s support of reproductive rights, something Goodlander forcefully pushed back on.

The win puts Goodlander on a path to win one of New Hampshire’s two House seats, both of which have been blue since 2016. 

A forecast model from Decision Desk HQ gives Goodlander an 87 percent chance of winning the district in a test against Republican Lily Williams, one of the contenders in Tuesday’s crowded GOP primary. Cook Political Report rates the seat as “likely Democrat.” 

Goodlander served in the DOJ as a deputy assistant attorney general overseeing work in the antitrust division until mid-2022. She jumped in the race this spring, after Kuster announced plans to retire. 

Primaries on Tuesday in New Hampshire, Delaware and Rhode Island represent the last primary contests of the cycle, kick-starting the eight-week stretch until Election Day.