Politics & Government

Cali-Pitts Wins Democratic House District 30 Primary

She will now face Republican Kevin Kervick in the Nov. 6 general election to represent one of the city's two new floterial districts.

State Rep. Jackie Cali-Pitts fended off a strong challenge from incumbent State Rep. Christopher Serlin to move on to the Nov. 6 general election.

The two Portsmouth Democrats were forced to run against one another in House District 30, one of the city's two new floterial districts that was created through redistricting in January. The floterial district represents city voters in wards, 1, 2, 4 and 5.

Cali-Pitts defeated Serlin, a six-year state legislator, by a nearly 2 to 1 margin and won all four wards. She will now move on to face Republican candidate Kevin J. Kervick in the general election.

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At City Hall, Cali-Pitts said she was glad that she will have a chance to return to Concord for another two years after serving her Portsmouth constituents for 15 years, but she still felt it was a hollow victory because she had to unseat a fellow Democratic lawmaker who she really respects.

"I'm happy that I won, but I feel bad for Chris," she said.

Find out what's happening in Portsmouthwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Cali-Pitts believes that Serlin has already shown that he has great potential to keep serving the people of Portsmouth if he chooses to run again.

Serlin said he would like to run again in two years and may even consider running for Portsmouth School Board. "But who knows where I will be in two years?"

House District 30 Ward 1 Ward 2 Ward 3 Ward 4 Ward 5 Total Jackie Cali-Pitts 223 296 183 313 1,015 Christopher Serlin 145 167 87 160 559


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