Democrat Bob Perry soundly defeated Republican Honey Puterbaugh in a special election for a Strafford County District 3 seat in the N.H. House of Representatives. Perry replaces Republican Marty Harty, who resigned in March.

Perry, of Strafford, reeled in 2,102 votes, representing 58 percent of the total votes cast. Puterbaugh, of Barrington, took 1,507 votes. 

Democrats celebrated Perry’s victory, noting it came in a historically Republican district. Democratic Party chair Ray Buckley said in a press release that the vote represented “a complete and total rejection” of the state GOP’s agenda.

Strafford County District 3 includes the towns of Barrington, Farmington, Middleton, Milton, New Durham and Strafford. Puterbaugh edged Perry in Middleton but lost in all the other towns.