Hartford - State Rep. Chris Coutu, R-Norwich, said this morning that he is ready to start knocking on doors and meeting voters after winning the Republican endorsement Monday night for the 19th District state Senate seat.

“I’m going to be out meeting as many people as I can,” Coutu said.

Coutu won the party’s endorsement by a unanimous vote at a meeting in Lebanon. Another GOP candidate, Steven Everett, dropped out of the race earlier in the day and lent his support to Coutu.

The Senate seat has been held for nearly 17 years by Edith Prague, D-Columbia, who recently announced she will retire at year’s end. The Democratic candidates vying for the nomination are state Rep. Tom Reynolds, D-Ledyard and Sprague First Selectman Cathy Osten.