GOP governor defies Dem enthusiasm, tough political climate to win re-election in key swing state

The Fox News Decision Desk projects that Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte has defeated Democratic challenger Cinde Warmington in New Hampshire's gubernatorial election.

Defying a rough political climate facing the GOP as well as Democratic Party enthusiasm, Ayotte won re-election to a second two-year term as the Northern New England swing state's governor.

Ayotte, who also served two decades ago as state attorney general, was first elected governor in 2024, succeeding fellow Republican Gov. Chris Sununu. New Hampshire and neighboring Vermont are the only states in the nation that elect their governors every two years.

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Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire highlights her state's status as the safest in the nation as she signs into law two bills that ban sanctuary cities at the Statehouse in Concord, N.H., May 22, 2025 (Paul Steinhauser Fox News)

Ayotte started the cycle as the favorite due in part to political history. Only twice in the past century — and not since 2004 — have first-term New Hampshire governors been ousted.

The governor highlighted affordable housing as her state's most pressing economic challenge, and she pointed to new laws on accessory dwelling units and permitting to help ease the crisis.

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Democratic gubernatorial nominee Cinde Warmington of New Hampshire speaks at a campaign event Oct. 17, 2026 in Exeter, N.H. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)

Warmington, a healthcare attorney and former member of New Hampshire's five-member elected executive council, which approves state contracts and the governor's judicial and executive branch nominations, highlighted the cost of living as she ran for governor. She called for a suspension of the state's gas tax.

The Democratic nominee's past work as a lobbyist for drugmaker Purdue Pharma was a major line of attack by Ayotte, and the governor and her campaign labeled Warmington an "opioid lobbyist."

Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire is interviewed by Fox News Digital Sept. 14, 2026 in Concord, N.H. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)

"Kelly Ayotte is spending millions of dollars attacking me for work I did decades ago and regret. That’s so you won’t look at what Kelly’s doing right now as governor," Warmington said in response.

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And she blamed the governor for "doubling prescription drug costs, electric rates up 15%, record high housing costs."

Paul Steinhauser covers the national campaign trail from coast to coast for Fox News