Van Ostern seeks Democratic nomination in New Hampshire’s 2nd Congressional District

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A Democrat who managed U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster’s first campaign announced his candidacy to succeed her Thursday in New Hampshire’s 2nd District.

Former Executive Councilor Colin Van Ostern said Thursday he is running “to make our government work for everyday people and middle class families again.”

“We’re all exhausted by fringe extremists trying to tear us apart while powerful interests rig the system for themselves. But we can and must fix this — and the way to do it is by putting people first for a change,” he said in a statement.

Kuster announced Wednesday that she will not seek reelection to a seventh term in Washington. Five Republicans also have announced their candidacies to represent the district, which stretches along the western half of the state and includes the cities of Concord and Nashua.

Van Ostern, who served two terms on the governor’s Executive Council, was the Democratic nominee for governor in 2016 when he lost to Republican Gov. Chris Sununu. His most recent campaign was in 2018, when he unsuccessfully challenged then- Secretary of State Bill Gardner.

He said his priority in Washington would be a national law to protect reproductive rights and cutting the costs of housing, higher education, health care and child care.