MANCHESTER — The waves will come in November’s general election, but on Tuesday incumbents 1st District Rep. Frank Guinta and 2nd District Rep. Charlie Bass had smooth sailing into their party’s nominations.

Bass, who returned to Congress two years ago after a four-year absence, faced four challengers but had little trouble defeating them. The challengers were Miroslaw Dziedic, Dennis Lamare, Gerard Beloin and Will Dean.

With few results in, Bass had a commanding lead with 82 percent of the vote. Lamare was the closest challenger with 8 percent.

He will face Ann McLane Kuster in a rematch of the 2010 election. McLane Kuster did not face primary competition.

Speaking from Washington, Bass said the core issue going forward is “who is best to break the economic and political stalemate that has gripped this country for the last two years.”

He said the country can no longer afford to continue the gridlock and needs to resolve its problems. “We face some enormous decisions in the next year,” Bass said.

He noted he is co-sponsor of the first bipartisan budget proposal in many years, and that “is where we will be five to 10 months from now.”

Guinta had two challengers to his seat, Vern Clough and Rick Parent, but little trouble defeating them. With about half the votes counted, Guinta led by a large margin with 85 percent of the vote, while Parent had 13 percent.

After his victory, Guinta said the voters have spoken for job creation.

“Granite Staters sent a strong message this evening. They want a New Hampshire voice in Washington who understands middle-class job creation has to be our number one priority. They are insisting on a representative who believes in the nearly 30 bipartisan small business jobs bills I’ve supported and the half dozen jobs fairs I hosted to help put New Hampshire back to work,” Guinta said.

He praised his opponents and said, “Together, as Granite Staters, we will ensure we do not go back to the days of former Congresswoman Shea-Porter’s Pelosi agenda of wasteful stimulus spending and job-killing tax increases on small businesses and middle-class working families. Our economy, our children and our grandchildren just can’t afford it.”

Guinta faces Carol Shea-Porter in the general election, a rematch of the 2010 race. Shea-Porter was not challenged in the Democratic primary.

Bass and Guinta were not in New Hampshire to celebrate their victories. Instead they were in Washington, where the U.S. House is in session.

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Garry Rayno may be reached at grayno@unionleader.com.