Kelly Ayotte Wins New Hampshire Governor's Race, Setting Record for Women Governors

Ayotte's victory marks a historic high of 13 women serving as U.S. governors, amid a contentious campaign focused on abortion and local governance.

Republican Kelly Ayotte defeated Democrat Joyce Craig in New Hampshire's gubernatorial race, maintaining Republican control of the state.
The election saw Ayotte become the third woman to serve as governor of New Hampshire and increased the total number of women governors in the U.S. to 13.
Abortion rights were a central issue in the campaign, with Ayotte vowing to uphold New Hampshire's existing 24-week abortion law despite her past support for more restrictive measures.
Ayotte's campaign focused on local issues such as crime and homelessness in Manchester, contrasting with Craig's attempts to nationalize the race by linking Ayotte to Donald Trump.
Despite New Hampshire's Democratic lean in presidential elections, the state has consistently elected Republican governors, with Ayotte's win continuing this trend.