Richard Wasson

In a race Republicans believe will win them back majority status on the Executive Council, Merrimack County Attorney Dan St. Hilaire defeated two others in the District 3 primary tonight, advancing him to take on freshman incumbent Democrat John Shea.

In an interview St. Hilaire said he won because of "hard work that we will continue on to November."

With 45 percent of the vote counted, St. Hilaire had 67 percent of the vote over small businessman Bernie Sparks and former Executive Councilor Richard Wasson.

MINNEAPOLIS- Even though he is in a three-way primary, Executive Council candidate Dan St. Hilaire (R-Concord) is spending this week at the Republican National Convention.

St. Hilaire is a delegate for U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and is competing against Bernie Sparks (R-Loudon) and Richard Wasson (R-Rollinsford) in the Republican primary in Executive Council District 2.