Rockingham Times

New Hampshire State Senate President Chuck Morse (R-Salem) is running for the U.S. Senate this year and will file paperwork and create a campaign committee with the Federal Election Commission, WMUR9 reported Jan. 9.

Morse, 61, of Salem, is the second Republican to to challenge current U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH). Retired Brig. Gen. Donald Bolduc has also joined the race on the Republican side.

"Finally, somebody has decided to take on Don Bolduc in the GOP primary," journalist Matt Holt tweeted Jan. 10.

Sen. Chuck Morse | NH State Senate

A third GOP candidates, Londonderry Town Manager Kevin Smith, is also expected to enter the race in the next few weeks, according to WMUR9. Two other potential GOP candidates are business magnate Bill Binnie and former U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta (R-NH).

Morse hired David Carney of Hancock as a general consultant. Carney is a nationally known GOP operative who worked with former New Hampshire Gov. John Sununu and was President George H.W. Bush's political director at the White House in the late 1980s. Morse is a policy-driven conservative with a no-nonsense style who can defeat Hassan, Carney told WMUR9.

‘’Republicans have a primary for Senate in New Hampshire. With (John) Sununu, (Kelly) Ayotte and (Scott) Brown all out, retired Gen. Don Bolduc is in, now State Senate President Chuck Morse is in, and Londonderry Town Manager Kevin Smith looking likely to run. Brutally late Sept. 13 primary,’’ journalist Jacob Rubashkin tweeted Jan. 9. The general election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 8.