CHESHIRE COUNTY, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) After weeks of campaigning, Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary finally settled a number of the contested races that had been drawing attention across the Monadnock Region.

Several local contests featured incumbents defending their seats, while others came down to multiple candidates competing for a limited number of nominations. When the votes were counted, most of the races produced clear winners.

At the top of the ballot, former U.S. Sen. John E. Sununu won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, while U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas captured the Democratic nomination. The two will meet Nov. 3 for the seat being vacated by retiring U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.

In the 2nd Congressional District, Democrat Maggie Goodlander and Republican Lily Tang Williams also won their respective primaries, setting up another November matchup for the seat that includes the Monadnock Region.

But for voters closer to home, several of the night’s most important decisions involved the State House, Cheshire County government and the Executive Council.

Keene House Races Go to Incumbents

Two contested Democratic House races in Keene were among the local contests watched most closely.

In House District 3, covering Keene Ward 5, incumbent Philip “Phil” Jones defeated Aria DiMezzo 583-132.

In House District 4, representing Ward 4, incumbent Jodi Newell defeated C. Riley Blake 618-38.

Both incumbents will advance to the general election.

Republican House Race Produces Two Winners

The Republican contest in House District 15 was a three-way race for two nominations, making the outcome a matter of which two candidates would emerge.

Matthew Roach and Becky Shields advanced over Jerry L. Sickels.

Keene’s results were especially close. Shields received 263 votes, Sickels 261 and Roach 249.

The district includes Keene Wards 1, 3, 4 and 5, along with Chesterfield, Hinsdale, Surry, Walpole and Westmoreland.

In House District 17, incumbent Republican Jennifer Rhodes of Winchester defeated Max Santonastaso. Fitzwilliam, one of the towns in the district, reported 130 votes for Rhodes and 54 for Santonastaso. The Associated Press called the race for Rhodes.

McLaughlin Wins County Attorney Primary

The Democratic race for Cheshire County attorney was another contest that had been closely watched going into Election Day.

Incumbent D. Chris McLaughlin faced David Jenkins of Jaffrey for the Democratic nomination.

McLaughlin won in Keene by a substantial margin, receiving 2,083 votes to Jenkins’ 684.

Across the towns reporting in the race, McLaughlin also held the lead. In Chesterfield, he received 290 votes to Jenkins’ 150; in Swanzey, the count was 313-259; and in Walpole, McLaughlin led 266-178.

Other reported results included McLaughlin victories in Harrisville, Hinsdale, Fitzwilliam, Marlborough, Surry, Sullivan and Gilsum.

Menard Wins Executive Council Contest

The Republican primary for Executive Council District 2 also produced a winner from a two-candidate field.

Tobin Menard of Newport defeated Kim Strathdee of Plymouth, with the Associated Press calling the race for Menard.

Keene’s Republican voters gave Menard 362 votes to Strathdee’s 248.

Democrat Karen Liot Hill was unopposed for her party’s nomination.

Sullivan County Race Also Decided

The primary also settled a three-way Republican contest for two seats in Sullivan County House District 8.

Catherine Peschke of Croydon and Jonathan F. Stone of Claremont advanced over Sebastian Zyzdorf of Goshen, according to the Associated Press, with 99 percent of the vote counted.

A November Matchup Takes Shape

The local results came as voters also narrowed the field in several of the state’s highest-profile races.

Sununu’s Republican Senate victory and Pappas’ Democratic win set up a November contest that will attract statewide and national attention. Goodlander and Tang Williams likewise emerged from their respective primaries in the 2nd Congressional District.

For Monadnock Region voters, however, Tuesday’s results also determined which familiar local names will remain on the ballot this fall — and which campaigns ended when the polls closed.

The general election is scheduled for Nov. 3.