The battle for Chris Sununu's successor in New Hampshire is now underway
In the recent primaries held on Tuesday, former Republican Senator Kelly Ayotte and Democrat Joyce Craig emerged victorious.
TroibNews 
Former Sen. Kelly Ayotte is poised for a political resurgence, having won her party’s primary on Tuesday, setting the stage for one of the year’s most competitive gubernatorial races.
Ayotte will compete against Democrat Joyce Craig, who most recently served as the mayor of Manchester, for the open gubernatorial seat in New Hampshire this fall, following GOP Gov. Chris Sununu's decision not to seek reelection.
Ayotte triumphed over a crowded field that included former state Senate President Chuck Morse, while Craig secured her position after a contentious primary battle against Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington.
National organizations have already played a significant role in the primary, given the brief time frame leading up to the general election. Ayotte received endorsements from Sununu, who opted out of running for reelection this year after considering a presidential bid, as well as the Republican Governors Association, which contributed over $2 million to her campaign through an affiliated entity.
On the Democratic side, significant funds have been funneled into the race, with the Democratic Governors Association investing approximately $9 million on advertisements during the primary that targeted Ayotte, focusing on her stance on abortion and her association with former President Donald Trump. Ayotte distanced herself from Trump in 2016 but has since aligned with him this year.
During the primary, Ayotte worked to define her position on abortion—a debate that has repeatedly challenged Republicans nationwide, particularly in gubernatorial races. In response to Democratic criticisms, the former senator emphasized her support for the state’s existing abortion laws, which permit the procedure until the 24th week of pregnancy, and accused Democrats of "lying about abortion to scare women." She also criticized Craig's record as mayor of Manchester, highlighting issues related to crime and homelessness in the city.
As she heads into the general election, Ayotte has a fundraising edge over Craig, according to the latest campaign finance reports.
In the last open gubernatorial race in New Hampshire in 2016, Republicans narrowly won by just two points when Sununu defeated former Executive Councilor Colin Van Ostern. In contrast, President Joe Biden carried the state by approximately seven points in 2020.
Delaware also conducted gubernatorial primaries on Tuesday, where New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer emerged victorious after a contentious contest against Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long. Hall-Long, who had backing from prominent figures in the state's Democratic establishment, including term-limited Gov. John Carney and the state Democratic Party, faced challenges due to a campaign finance scandal that surfaced during her campaign.
Looking beyond New Hampshire, significant gubernatorial races in November are also anticipated in North Carolina and Washington state. In North Carolina, Democratic state Attorney General Josh Stein is aiming to retain the seat for his party, as Gov. Roy Cooper is term-limited. He faces state Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, a candidate who is both controversial and potentially historic; if elected, Robinson would become the state’s first Black governor and one of only a handful of Black governors in American history. Over $90 million has already been invested in advertising for this race since the March primary, according to ad tracker AdImpact.
In Washington, Democratic state Attorney General Bob Ferguson is preparing to fend off former GOP Rep. Dave Reichert in the race for the open seat. Republicans are optimistic that Reichert’s notable profile may provide them a chance in this blue-leaning state.
Lucas Dupont contributed to this report for TROIB News
Ayotte will compete against Democrat Joyce Craig, who most recently served as the mayor of Manchester, for the open gubernatorial seat in New Hampshire this fall, following GOP Gov. Chris Sununu's decision not to seek reelection.
Ayotte triumphed over a crowded field that included former state Senate President Chuck Morse, while Craig secured her position after a contentious primary battle against Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington.
National organizations have already played a significant role in the primary, given the brief time frame leading up to the general election. Ayotte received endorsements from Sununu, who opted out of running for reelection this year after considering a presidential bid, as well as the Republican Governors Association, which contributed over $2 million to her campaign through an affiliated entity.
On the Democratic side, significant funds have been funneled into the race, with the Democratic Governors Association investing approximately $9 million on advertisements during the primary that targeted Ayotte, focusing on her stance on abortion and her association with former President Donald Trump. Ayotte distanced herself from Trump in 2016 but has since aligned with him this year.
During the primary, Ayotte worked to define her position on abortion—a debate that has repeatedly challenged Republicans nationwide, particularly in gubernatorial races. In response to Democratic criticisms, the former senator emphasized her support for the state’s existing abortion laws, which permit the procedure until the 24th week of pregnancy, and accused Democrats of "lying about abortion to scare women." She also criticized Craig's record as mayor of Manchester, highlighting issues related to crime and homelessness in the city.
As she heads into the general election, Ayotte has a fundraising edge over Craig, according to the latest campaign finance reports.
In the last open gubernatorial race in New Hampshire in 2016, Republicans narrowly won by just two points when Sununu defeated former Executive Councilor Colin Van Ostern. In contrast, President Joe Biden carried the state by approximately seven points in 2020.
Delaware also conducted gubernatorial primaries on Tuesday, where New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer emerged victorious after a contentious contest against Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long. Hall-Long, who had backing from prominent figures in the state's Democratic establishment, including term-limited Gov. John Carney and the state Democratic Party, faced challenges due to a campaign finance scandal that surfaced during her campaign.
Looking beyond New Hampshire, significant gubernatorial races in November are also anticipated in North Carolina and Washington state. In North Carolina, Democratic state Attorney General Josh Stein is aiming to retain the seat for his party, as Gov. Roy Cooper is term-limited. He faces state Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, a candidate who is both controversial and potentially historic; if elected, Robinson would become the state’s first Black governor and one of only a handful of Black governors in American history. Over $90 million has already been invested in advertising for this race since the March primary, according to ad tracker AdImpact.
In Washington, Democratic state Attorney General Bob Ferguson is preparing to fend off former GOP Rep. Dave Reichert in the race for the open seat. Republicans are optimistic that Reichert’s notable profile may provide them a chance in this blue-leaning state.
Lucas Dupont contributed to this report for TROIB News
