Latina Republican to face Kuster this fall

Republican state Rep. Marilinda Garcia on Tuesday night beat out former state Sen. Gary Lambert to take on Rep. Annie Kuster (D-N.H.) this fall, delivering the Club for Growth and conservatives a primary win.

{mosads}Garcia took 50 percent of the vote to Lambert’s 28 percent support when the Associated Press called the race, with 48 percent reporting.

Garcia had developed over the primary from a long-shot candidate that many Republicans considered too conservative to be competetive to a GOP rising star who drew endorsements from the district’s biggest newspapers and the notice of prominent Republican figures like Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

She offered more moderate views on immigration reform late in the primary, expressing support for a pathway to citizenship, and in doing so drew attacks from Lambert, who labeled her a liberal in line with President Obama.

The race became especially nasty near the end, and Garcia drew attention when she refused to shake Lambert’s hand after a debate last week.

Local Republicans have expressed concerns that the contentious primary fight may make it difficult for the party to unite behind the eventual nominee, and the state party chairwoman reportedly contacted both of the candidates and called for them to tone down their attacks.

Democrats are optimistic at their chances against Garcia, primarily because of her conservative positions on women’s issues, which they believe are out of step with the blue-leaning swing district. Garcia has previously expressed opposition to the Paycheck Fairness Act, the Violence Against Women Act, an increase in the minimum wage and any gun control efforts.