CONCORD, N.H. — On Tuesday, Republican Kelly Ayotte and Democrat Joyce Craig appealed to voters to dismiss each other’s claims regarding the legislation they intend to veto should they become New Hampshire’s next governor.
Ayotte, a former U.S. senator and the state’s attorney general, and Craig, who previously served as mayor of Manchester, participated in a debate organized by the Mount Washington Valley Economic Council, which was also streamed online.
During the debate, Ayotte expressed doubt that Craig would actually veto a sales or income tax, should either come to her desk. Similarly, Craig voiced skepticism regarding Ayotte’s commitment to not impose further restrictions on abortion rights.
“Kelly Ayotte’s actions are more telling than her words,” Craig stated, while refusing to heed the moderator’s request to retract her ads criticizing Ayotte’s stance. “She supported a national ban on abortion, and we cannot trust her current claims because she’s merely saying whatever it takes to win the election.”
Ayotte firmly maintained her position against any laws that would impose more restrictive measures on abortion than the current regulation, which allows the procedure up to 26 weeks of pregnancy, except in cases involving the mother’s life or fatal fetal conditions. She also stood by her campaign assertions that Craig advocated for a city sales tax and attempted to raise taxes multiple times.
“If you continually propose budget increases as mayor, it’s not a viable approach at the state level regarding balancing the budget and fiscal responsibility for taxpayers,” Ayotte remarked. “Taxpayers in New Hampshire should be cautious, as she aims to raise taxes.”
While Craig did reference a sales tax in a 2017 memo summarizing community recommendations, she never actively pushed for it, according to fact checks conducted by WMUR-TV and PolitiFact. Additionally, even though taxes rose during her tenure as mayor, these increases were either within the city’s agreed tax cap or received backing from the city council with enough votes to override a veto.
The two are vying for the position left vacant by Republican Gov. Chris Sununu, who decided against running for a fifth consecutive two-year term. When pressed about their strategies for tackling a potential $1 billion budget deficit, which stems from diminished federal COVID-19 relief, compensating abuse victims at the state’s youth detention center, and court mandates for increased public education funding, neither candidate provided specific solutions.
Ayotte proposed that the state must adhere to a balanced budget while emphasizing the need to “leverage technology” and explore more efficient operational methods. Craig, on the other hand, expressed her intention to cut costs, pursue federal grants, and find more effective means for governance. She also highlighted potential savings through energy efficiency initiatives and the legalization of recreational marijuana.