Trump‑backed businessman Anthony DiLorenzo clinches GOP nod in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District

Concord, N.H. – On Tuesday night the atmosphere at the community hall was electric, and when the votes were finally tallied, Anthony DiLorenzo, a local businessman whose name many know from the gleaming showrooms on the highway, emerged as the Republican nominee for the open seat in the 1st Congressional District.

DiLorenzo, the founder of a regional chain of car dealerships, made a point of reminding voters that he’s spent the past two decades negotiating deals, cutting costs and, well, selling cars. "I’m not a career politician," he told a modest crowd of supporters, "but I know how to run a business, and I think that’s what this district needs right now." The pitch, half‑heartedly repeated several times during his speeches, seemed to resonate – perhaps because, as he put it, “experience in the private sector is the best kind of experience for Congress.”

The former president, Donald Trump, had officially endorsed DiLorenzo back in July, praising him as a “successful entrepreneur who will bring back a Golden Age of prosperity.” That endorsement, shouted out on a rally and amplified across social media, gave DiLorenzo a boost that his three primary opponents simply couldn’t match. In the end, he pulled in about 45% of the vote, comfortably outpacing the nearest challenger, a former town councilor who earned roughly a quarter of the total.

DiLorenzo’s victory also means he will be running for a seat being vacated by Rep. Chris Pappas, a four‑term Democrat who is trading his House job for a Senate bid. The race is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched contests in New Hampshire, with both parties hoping to flip the district in November.

While the 1st District primary stole the headlines, the night also delivered some other notable outcomes. Incumbent Governor Kelly Ayotte easily won her Republican primary, positioning herself for a rematch against Democrat Cinde Warmington, the unopposed executive council member who will be the GOP’s opponent on the November ballot. Meanwhile, former U.S. Senator John E. Sununu captured the GOP nomination for the open Senate seat, beating a field that included fellow former senator Scott Brown and several younger contenders.

All eyes will now turn to the general election. DiLorenzo, still new to the political arena but buoyed by a presidential endorsement and a business‑savvy résumé, faces a Democrat yet to be decided in the primary – a matchup that could swing the balance of power in the House, and perhaps set the tone for the upcoming Senate battles as well.