Kelly Ayotte, Joyce Craig advance to November showdown in New Hampshire governor race

Voters in New Hampshire have picked their candidates for governor. Former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte easily won the Republican primary on Tuesday, while former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig narrowly secured the Democratic nomination.

Ayotte, who led in polls throughout the race, decisively defeated former state Senate President Chuck Morse. Her strong name recognition and endorsement by Gov. Chris Sununu in August contributed to her victory. Although Morse emphasized his support for former President Donald Trump, Ayotte’s broader appeal ultimately won over voters.

“I just think she’s the most qualified,” said Don Bibeau, a voter in Hampton, after casting his ballot for Ayotte.

Other Republican voters, like Paula and Steve Ellis, chose Ayotte for her electability, with Paula Ellis noting, “She’s the only one that can beat the Democrats.”

On the Democratic side, Craig narrowly defeated Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington. Craig’s six years as mayor of Manchester helped her stand out, with many voters citing her executive experience as a key factor in their decision.

“I like that she was the former mayor,” said Democratic voter Meghan Orgen, who listed reproductive rights and gun control as her top priorities.

New Hampshire voters will head to the polls again in November, where key issues like abortion rights, housing costs, and the opioid crisis are expected to dominate the race. The general election is rated as a “toss-up” by the Cook Political Report.

More: Ayotte wins, Craig battles Warmington in NH state primary 2024: Live updates

Jeremy Yurow is a politics reporting fellow based in Hawaii for the USA TODAY Network. You can reach him at [email protected] or on X, formerly Twitter @JeremyYurow

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New Hampshire governor race is set with Kelly Ayotte vs. Joyce Craig