Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire secured the GOP nomination for governor on Tuesday, advancing to the November general election where she will face Democrat Cinde Warmington. Ayotte defeated primary challengers Shaun Fife and Bob Wayne McClory, while Warmington ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
The Associated Press called the race for Ayotte shortly after polls closed on Sept. 8, with her opponents each receiving less than 5% of the vote. Warmington, a healthcare attorney and former member of the New Hampshire Executive Council, previously ran for governor in 2024, losing the Democratic primary to former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig.
Key developments in the race:
Ayotte, who was elected governor in 2024, has framed her first term around public safety, housing affordability, education, and tax reduction. She has emphasized her willingness to work with the Republican-controlled state Legislature while occasionally breaking with her party. Warmington, meanwhile, has criticized Ayotte’s policies on education, healthcare, and affordability, positioning herself as a champion for lowering costs for New Hampshire residents.
Background on the candidates:
Ayotte, 57, previously served as New Hampshire’s attorney general (2004–2009) and as a U.S. senator (2011–2017) before her 2016 reelection loss to Democrat Maggie Hassan. She returned to politics in 2024, winning the governorship after Gov. Chris Sununu declined to seek a fifth term. During her tenure, Ayotte has signed legislation restricting student cellphone use in public schools, tightening bail reform, and penalizing motorists who refuse Breathalyzer tests. Her budget has also faced criticism from Democrats for cuts to state agencies.
Warmington, who served on the Executive Council from 2021 to 2025, has faced scrutiny over her past legal work for Purdue Pharma, the company at the center of the opioid crisis. The Republican Governors Association (RGA) has called her association with the company “disqualifying,” citing her role in representing Purdue during its marketing of OxyContin. Warmington has defended her record, stating she was assigned the case as an attorney and did not know at the time about Purdue’s alleged fraud, which was later exposed through litigation. She has also highlighted her personal connection to addiction, noting her father’s struggles with substance use disorder.
Campaign dynamics and polling:
New Hampshire, a politically competitive state with nearly 900,000 registered voters, has a large bloc of undeclared voters (about 352,000). In recent elections, turnout has skewed lower, with fewer than 150,000 Republicans and 96,000 Democrats casting ballots in the last midterms. Early polling shows Ayotte leading Warmington, and The Cook Political Report rates the race as “leans Republican.” Ayotte has also outraised her opponent in campaign funds.
Policy contrasts and voter perspectives:
Ayotte’s campaign has focused on highlighting her first-term accomplishments, including public safety measures and tax policies. Warmington, like many Democrats in the state, has centered her platform on affordability, criticizing Ayotte’s approach to healthcare and education costs. Some voters, such as self-described independent progressive Timothy Willis, have expressed skepticism about Warmington’s chances in the general election but support her candidacy. Others, like Concord voter Michelle Wheeler, have indicated they will vote for Warmington despite doubts about her viability.
The November 3 general election will determine whether New Hampshire retains its Republican governor or shifts to Democratic leadership for the first time in over a decade.