On Tuesday, New Hampshire saw a significant political shift as former U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte was elected as the new governor, maintaining the Republican grip on the office. She triumphed over former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig in this critical election. This gubernatorial seat became available for the first time since 2016, following the decision by incumbent Republican Governor Chris Sununu to forgo a run for a fifth consecutive two-year term.

With her election, Ayotte made history once again, becoming the third woman to hold the governor’s position in New Hampshire, alongside her impressive background as the state’s first female attorney general. Throughout her campaign, she concentrated on issues such as crime and immigration, tapping into local sentiments with her campaign slogan, “Don’t Mass it up,” which played on residents’ concerns about influences from neighboring Massachusetts.

The Associated Press announced the results of the election at 10:34 p.m. EST, confirming Ayotte’s victory and marking a new chapter in the state’s political landscape as she prepares to begin her term in office.