Laconia businessman Andrew Hosmer has entered the race for New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District, which includes the Seacoast. Hosmer, a Democrat, will aim to oust incumbent Republican Frank Guinta in November 2012. 

But first he must get past fellow Democrat Carol Shea-Porter in the state primary. Shea-Porter, who served two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives before being defeated by Guinta in 2010, announced her candidacy in April.

In his campaign announcement issued Aug. 8, Hosmer branded himself as a political outsider, family man, small business owner and active community member. He and his wife have four children and have lived in the Lakes Region for almost 20 years. He is co-owner and executive manager of AutoServ, which has 200 employees across the state. He’s also a board member of the Belknap County Economic Development Council and chairman of the Holy Trinity Endowment Board. 

By contrast, Hosmer called Guinta a “career politician” who has focused on scoring political points rather than creating jobs and growing the economy. He accused Guinta and “his fellow Tea Party idealogues” of risking an economic collapse to protect political ideals during the recent debt ceiling debate. 

Hosmer did not mention Shea-Porter in his announcement.