Ayotte, who previously served as the state's attorney general and represented New Hampshire in the U.S. Senate, officially launched her campaign on Monday, joining the race to succeed current GOP Governor Chris Sununu.
In a statement, Ayotte praised Governor Sununu's leadership and his efforts to defend the state's values and improve its quality of life. She emphasized the importance of continuing the battle to protect New Hampshire's way of life. Ayotte also appeared on Fox News' "Fox and Friends" to announce her bid.
Governor Sununu, a popular figure in New Hampshire, recently announced that he would not seek an unprecedented fifth two-year term in 2024. Ayotte wasted no time in highlighting the potential threat of New Hampshire becoming like its more progressive neighbor, Massachusetts. She expressed her deep connection to the state, having been born and raised there, and emphasized her commitment to fighting for what makes New Hampshire unique. Ayotte stated, "Together, we will ensure that New Hampshire remains safe, prosperous, and free."
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Ayotte has a distinguished political career in New Hampshire. She made history as the state's first and only woman to serve as attorney general from 2004 to 2009. In 2010, she was elected to the U.S. Senate but narrowly lost re-election in 2016 to Democratic Governor Maggie Hassan by a margin of just 1,017 votes.
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Ayotte is the second Republican to enter the gubernatorial race, following former state Senate President Chuck Morse, who declared his candidacy shortly after Sununu's announcement. Morse highlighted the conservative agenda he and Sununu have championed over the past seven years and expressed his intention to bring his Senate presidency experience to the governor's office.
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Frank Edelblut, Sununu's education commissioner who came close to defeating him in the 2016 GOP gubernatorial primary, is also considering a run for governor. On the Democratic side, Cinde Warmington, the sole Democrat on New Hampshire's five-member elected Executive Council, and three-term Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig have already launched their campaigns.
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Ayotte's campaign launch was accompanied by an extensive list of endorsements from various factions of the GOP. Notable supporters include former Senator and Governor Judd Gregg, New Hampshire House Majority Leader Jason Osborne, and Bruce Breton, a co-chair of former President Trump's 2024 White House campaign in New Hampshire.
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During the 2016 presidential campaign, Ayotte had a strained relationship with then-candidate Donald Trump. Following the release of a video featuring lewd comments by Trump, Ayotte, as a mother and former prosecutor, announced that she could no longer vote for him in the general election and instead wrote in Mike Pence's name. However, in 2017, she played a key role in guiding Trump's first Supreme Court nominee, Justice Neil Gorsuch, through the confirmation process as a "sherpa."
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With her experience, endorsements, and commitment to preserving New Hampshire's values, Ayotte enters the gubernatorial race as a formidable candidate. As the campaign unfolds, it will be interesting to see how she distinguishes herself from her Republican and Democratic opponents and how she addresses the challenges and opportunities facing the state.
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