CONCORD, N.H. – Kelly Ayotte's national profile is on the rise again after her convincing victory in the New Hampshire gubernatorial election last week. She has vowed to be a “champion” for her constituents and to work with the incoming Trump administration on important issues.
“I have one role, and that is to wake up every day and be a champion for the people of New Hampshire,” the governor-elect said in an interview on Fox News Digital this week at his transition office in the state capital. city.
And Ayotte last week defeated Democratic gubernatorial candidate and former Manchester, N.H., mayor Joyce Craig by an unexpected margin of almost 10 points, saying she would “focus on economic issues, education, mental health and housing” in the next election. He emphasized that he intended to “put it down.” She will take up her post in early January.
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Former Sen. Kelly Ayotte, New Hampshire's Republican gubernatorial candidate, celebrates her victory on gubernatorial election night, Nov. 5, 2024. (Kelly Ayotte Campaign)
Regarding former President Trump and future presidents, Ayotte said, “I look forward to working with the Trump administration on behalf of the people of New Hampshire, including on areas where we can strengthen New Hampshire's roads, bridges, and public safety.” spoke. I'm going to advocate for the people of this state because I think there are a lot of opportunities for us to work together. ”
Ayotte, a former state attorney general, was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010 and was considered a rising star in the Republican Party and a leader on national security and foreign policy.
However, Ayotte lost re-election in 2016 to then-Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan by just over 1,000 votes.
“It was an honor to represent New Hampshire in the United States Senate, but now that I've been elected Governor of New Hampshire, I'm going to wake up every day and say, 'What can I do for New Hampshire today?'” When asked about her new role as Republican leader, Ayotte said:
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Ayotte ran for governor last year after popular Republican Gov. Chris Sununu announced he would not seek reelection in 2024.
Sununu, a prominent figure in national politics, endorsed Ayotte in early August ahead of her easy victory in the Republican gubernatorial primary in September.
The governor often accompanied Ayotte on the campaign trail in late summer and early fall, and Ayotte emphasized that she intended to continue Sununu's policies.
Governor-elect Kelly Ayotte (left) and Governor Chris Sununu (right) meet in the New Hampshire Governor's Office at the State Capitol in Concord, New Hampshire, on November 7, 2024. (New Hampshire Governor's Office)
“I think Governor Sununu has done a great job for New Hampshire. We lead the nation in many metrics,” she told Fox News.
But, she added, “What I love most about Governor Sununu is the passion, the positive enthusiasm that he brings to this state. He loves this state. He is so proud of New Hampshire. And I intend to bring that same thing as governor, to truly be an advocate for the people of New Hampshire. ”
“Obviously, we are different people, but we share his philosophy of emphasizing national economic prosperity and personal and economic freedom,” Ayotte said.
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Ayotte said her years of experience serving in Washington will be helpful as she takes over the Granite State governor's office.
Former Republican gubernatorial candidate Kelly Ayotte is surrounded by supporters as she files her candidacy at the Secretary of State's Office on June 13, 2024 in Concord, New Hampshire. (Fox News – Paul Steinhauser)
“Having worked in Washington, I will fight tooth and nail for New Hampshire when it comes to interacting with the Trump administration,” she said. “These federal dollars are meant to make sure New Hampshire gets it. But also, when Washington does anything on the regulatory side, I want to make sure New Hampshire's voice is at that table. It is.”
Ayotte famously broke with then-Republican presidential candidate Trump just before the 2016 election. She withdrew her support for President Trump over the “Access Hollywood” controversy, in which he made very vulgar comments about grabbing women without their consent in a video from several years ago.
“I cannot and will not support a presidential candidate who brags about degrading and assaulting women,” Ayotte said at the time.
Both lost New Hampshire, but Ayotte narrowly edged Trump in the state, where Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton held the White House by less than 3,000 votes.
After her term ended, Ayotte briefly stayed in Washington before returning full-time to New Hampshire, where she helped then-Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch (Trump's first high court nominee) in the Senate. Guided the successful approval process.
While running for governor over the past two years in New Hampshire, a state repeatedly won by Trump and other Republican White House candidates in the nation's first presidential primary, Ayotte stayed away from national politics. was.
She remained neutral in New Hampshire's presidential primary, but supported Trump after he secured the nomination. She was not seen when President Trump's running mate, now Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, made a last-minute stop in the Granite State days before Election Day.
But Ayotte told Fox News: “Obviously, I want to congratulate President Trump on his very strong victory on Election Day.”
Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump arrives to speak at an election night celebration at the Palm Beach Convention Center on November 6, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Asked about some of the president-elect's controversial Cabinet nomination announcements this week, Ayotte said, “It's important that he puts together a team that works for him.”
But the former senator said, “This is really a decision for the U.S. Senate. The Senate has an important role in terms of advice and consent. I'm sure they will carefully consider President Trump's nominees and see if they believe in them. I'll check it out,” he said. It means they are qualified. ”
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In the Republican gubernatorial primary, Ayotte easily defeated former New Hampshire Senate President Chuck Morse, who had touted his support for Trump and questioned Ayotte's loyalty to the former president. Hopes that Mr. Morse would gain support from Mr. Trump did not materialize as the former president remained neutral.
He also supported Ayotte, who is running for governor. With help from the Republican Governors Association, it spent about $21 million supporting Ayotte. Most of the money was raised in the final two months of the race, but RGA paid $2.75 million in preliminary investment.
Unlike its rival, the Democratic Governors Association, RGA sent money directly to Ayotte's campaign from the start of the race, rather than taking the traditional route of putting money into an independent spending committee.
