Marilinda Garcia, the subject of an IWF Modern Feminist Portrait and signer of our sister organization IWV's Repeal Pledge, has won the GOP primary in New Hampshire.

IWV President Heather R. Higgins issued a statement on Ms. Garcia’s win, stressing that her “decision to sign the Repeal Pledge demonstrates to voters a much appreciated commitment to rolling back the government take-over of our health care system and returning power to patients and doctors."

Signers of the Repeal Pledge are on record not just for repeal but for defunding, deauthorizing, and dismantling the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Signing the Repeal Pledge has come to be regarded as a litmus test for seriousness about undoing the massive “reform” that is harming our economy and our medical system.

Victory in the primary means that Garcia, 31, will go up against wobbly Democratic incumbent Ann Kuster in the November general election for the opportunity of representing New Hampshire’s Second District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

USA Today characterized Garcia this way shortly before her primary win:  

The New Hampshire congressional candidate speaks gently, even sweetly, whether she's ripping into President Obama and his administration ("actively deceiving us") or her opponent in a heated Sept. 9 primary (making "spurious claims" against her campaign). Her tone is more bedtime story than broadside.

To critics, it's evidence that the 31-year-old is too young, too green, too unserious. But with her campaign picking up one key endorsement after another, Garcia is starting to look rather serious after all. The perception of inexperience could even play to Garcia's advantage, as voters tire of insider politicians. And make no mistake: Despite that fresh face, Garcia has weathered her share of political trials on the statewide stage, small as it is.

First elected to the New Hampshire House in 2006, Garcia established a reputation as a champion of economic liberty and a foe of burdensome federal regulations. She believes in cutting red tape and making public officials assume more responsibility for their actions. You can read about this in our Modern Feminist Portrait of Garcia.

I deplore identity politics, but I will nevertheless state the obvious: Democrats will have a hard time sticking Ms. Garcia with the old, white, male tag.

She also has a novel background: she is an accomplished musician, who, if elected, will undoubtedly become the first member of Congress to have played the harp on the stage with Placido Domingo.