A New Hampshire gubernatorial candidate in 2016 is launching a campaign to unseat Bill Gardner, the nation's longest-serving secretary of state.
Colin Van Ostern scheduled a news conference for Wednesday afternoon.
The state Legislature elects the position every two years.
Ostern is a former member of the Executive Council. He and Gardner are Democrats.
Gardner has been secretary of state for 42 years and is known for defending New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation presidential primary in the face of frequent challenges by other states and political parties
Gardner said he intends to seek a 22nd term in December.
Van Ostern lost the 2016 gubernatorial race to Republican Gov. Chris Sununu. He's starting a political committee that will campaign for legislative candidates who support his platform.
