A Democratic duel to face Sununu

Chris Sununu, a Republican and one of the most popular governors in the country, is regarded as an overwhelming favorite to keep his job. But two Democrats are fighting for the privilege of taking him on in the fall.

The state’s political establishment has thrown its weight behind Molly Kelly, a former state senator . Where her opponent, Steve Marchand, can come across as glib, Ms. Kelly is cautious and conservative. But 16 current and former state senators have declared their support for her, and analysts see her as the front-runner, especially in a year when female candidates are doing so well.

Mr. Marchand, a sometimes wonky politician who has painted himself as a progressive, is pointedly running to Ms. Kelly’s left. A former mayor of Portsmouth, Mr . Marchand has drawn criticism for his previous involvement in “No Labels,” a bipartisan group that has been derided on the left for naming Donald Trump a “problem solver” in early 2016. Mr. Marchand is making his second straight bid for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

Regardless who wins, it will be interesting to see how much help the nominee receives from the party leading up to the general election, given the expectation that Mr. Sununu will prevail. Any party leader who lends their support in this first-in-the-nation primary state will inevitably stoke speculation about a 2020 presidential run.