CONCORD, N.H. (WCAX) – Former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte has won the race for New Hampshire Governor after her Democratic opponent, former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig, conceded the race.
With about half the votes counted Tuesday, the AP called the race for Ayotte, who led Craig by a 51-to-46 percent margin.
Ayotte spent five years as New Hampshire’s attorney general before winning a U.S. Senate seat in 2010. Maggie Hassan in 2016 ended Ayotte’s tenure in Washington after one term. Endorsed by outgoing Gov. Chris Sununu, Ayotte promised to continue his anti-tax, pro-business economic policies. She used a “Don’t Mass it up” slogan to rail against more liberal Massachusetts to the south while accusing Craig of supporting tax hikes and blaming her for crime, homelessness and drug overdose deaths in the state’s most populous city.
“I first got involved in public service when I ran for school board. I wanted to strengthen our public schools and uplift our community, and it’s what got me into this race. To build more housing, to strengthen our public schools, to keep our communities safe and to protect reproductive freedom in New Hampshire. I’m proud of the race that we ran and fighting for these issues,” Craig told supporters.