Ayotte, Warmington Will Face Off in New Hampshire Governor Race in November

CONCORD, N.H.—Republican New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte will face off against Democrat Cinde Warmington in November.

Facing opposition from two relatively unknown opponents, Ayotte emerged victorious when The Associated Press called the race at 8 p.m. ET on Sept. 8, with each opponent receiving less than 5 percent of the vote.

Warmington ran unopposed to represent the Democrats on the ticket.

Ayotte, who was elected in 2024 to her first term in office, previously served as a senator from New Hampshire from 2011 to 2017 and was the state attorney general from 2004 to 2009.

One Concord voter, Michelle Wheeler, told The Epoch Times she was voting for Warmington, but said she doesn’t think it’s likely she will win in the general election against Ayotte.

New Hampshire has nearly 900,000 registered voters, and the largest segment identifies itself as “undeclared.” About 300,000 voters identify as Republican, 247,000 as Democrats, and around 352,000 as undeclared.

However, during the last midterm election, fewer than 150,000 Republicans and around 96,000 Democrats cast ballots. In the 2024 state primaries, fewer Republicans (135,000) and more Democrats (118,000) voted.

Ayotte became the 83rd governor of New Hampshire early last year, saying at her inauguration: “I am going to be a governor for you, whether you’re a Republican, Democrat, independent, you name it, because our state is so much bigger than a party or an ideology.

“Good government knows no party, so let’s show the folks that when partisanship is at a fever pitch, we can set a different example.”

Ayotte took office following fellow Republican Chris Sununu, who decided against another run after four two-year terms. Ayotte defeated five opponents in the GOP primary, and Democratic former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig in the 2024 general election.

Self-proclaimed independent progressive voter Timothy Willis told The Epoch Times that while he doesn’t usually like to “go blue, no matter who,” he will vote for Warmington because he is “against the Republican incumbent Kelly Ayotte vehemently.”

New Hampshire candidates have only eight weeks to win over voters before the Nov. 3 election.

However, the state Legislature passed a measure to change the schedule, moving the late primaries back to the second Tuesday in June starting in 2028.