By Fatma Younis
Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte has won a second two-year term in New Hampshire, NBC News projects, defeating Democrat Cinde Warmington in a state that has voted Democratic in presidential elections since 2004.
GOP streak continues
The victory extends a Republican winning streak in New Hampshire gubernatorial races to five consecutive cycles dating back to 2016, even as the state has trended blue at the national level.
Ayotte's record and platform
Ayotte, a former U.S. senator and state attorney general, campaigned on accelerating housing construction, lowering electric bills and reforming the bail system. She also contrasted New Hampshire with its more liberal New England neighbors, using the slogan “Don’t Mass Up New Hampshire.”
Trump factor
Ayotte’s relationship with President Donald Trump has shifted over the years; she withdrew support in 2016 after the “Access Hollywood” tape but endorsed him in 2024. She outperformed Trump in the state last year, winning by 9 points while Trump lost New Hampshire by 3.
Warmington's challenge
Warmington, a former state Executive Council member, faced attacks over her past work representing Purdue Pharma, which she said she regretted. She ran on affordability, proposing a moratorium on large data-center permits, legalizing recreational cannabis, and suspending the gas tax.
