Former Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., is capitalizing on the opting out by sitting New Hampshire GOP Gov. Chris Sununu and the high-profile 2024 GOP presidential primary to start her run for governor.
"I'm running for Governor because New Hampshire is one election away from becoming Massachusetts — from becoming something we are not," Ayotte tweeted, announcing her campaign in a statement.
"What we have here is worth fighting for. Together, we will ensure that New Hampshire remains safe, prosperous, and free."
Ayotte lost her Senate seat in the 2016 election to Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., after just one term.
Also having declared for the GOP gubernatorial primary is former New Hampshire State Senate President Chuck Morse. Morse lost a GOP Senate primary bid against Don Bolduc, who lost to Hassan's reelection campaign last November — keeping both senate seats in the state in the hands of the Democrat women.
Eric Mack ✉
Eric Mack has been a writer and editor at Newsmax since 2016. He is a 1998 Syracuse University journalism graduate and a New York Press Association award-winning writer.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.