Former Sen. Kelly Ayotte wins GOP primary for New Hampshire governor

Former Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) has won the GOP gubernatorial primary in New Hampshire, according to Decision Desk HQ, in her bid to replace outgoing Gov. Chris Sununu (R).

Ayotte, with Sununu’s backing, beat out former New Hampshire Senate President Chuck Morse and a handful of other contenders in the Republican contest. She headed into Tuesday night with notable polling leads over her primary competitor. 

Ayotte has said she would follow in Sununu’s footsteps, while Morse slammed Sununu’s lack of support for former President Trump. During this year’s GOP presidential primary, Sununu notably backed Trump rival Nikki Haley for the nomination, and though he’s since said he’ll support the former president, he’s been unapologetic about past criticism.

Ayotte also kept her distance from Trump back in 2016, when Trump won the presidency and she lost her Senate seat to Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan. Ayotte endorsed Trump in the 2024 presidential election. 

The Granite State has gone to the Democratic presidential candidate over the last five cycles, and its small congressional delegation is all blue. But Sununu has enjoyed four terms as a Republican in the governor’s mansion, and the GOP holds the state Legislature. 

On the Democratic side, former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig was up against state Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington. Nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report has rated the gubernatorial race as a “toss up.”

Delaware and Rhode Island are also holding primaries Tuesday. Together with New Hampshire, the trio of New England states represents the last bout of congressional primaries this cycle, kick-starting the eight-week stretch until Election Day.