CONCORD, N.H. – Due to her convincing gubernatorial election victory final week in New Hampshire, Kelly Ayotte’s nationwide profile is as soon as once more on the rise.
However Ayotte, who, apart from President-elect Trump, was arguably the most important Republican winner on Election Night time, is protecting her give attention to her house state.
“I see one position for me and that’s day by day, to get up and to be the champion for the folks of New Hampshire,” the governor-elect stated in a Fox Information Digital interview at her transition workplace this week within the state’s capital metropolis.
And Ayotte, who final week defeated Democratic gubernatorial nominee and former Manchester, New Hampshire mayor Joyce Craig by an surprising practically 10-point margin, emphasised that she plans “to give attention to the financial points, schooling, psychological well being, and housing,” when she is inaugurated in early January.
REPUBLICANS HOLD ON TO THE MOST HIGHLY CONTEST GUBERNATORIAL SEAT THIS YEAR
Former Sen. Kelly Ayotte, the Republican gubernatorial nominee in New Hampshire, celebrates her Election Night time victory for governor, on Nov. 5, 2024Â (Kelly Ayotte marketing campaign)
Ayotte, a former state lawyer common, was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010 and was a rising star within the GOP and considered a frontrunner on nationwide safety and overseas coverage.
However Ayotte misplaced re-election in 2016 by a razor-thin margin of simply over 1,000 votes by the hands of then-Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan.
“It was a privilege to characterize New Hampshire in the USA Senate, however I’ve been elected governor of the state of New Hampshire and on a regular basis I’m simply going to get up and say ‘what can I do for New Hampshire at the moment,'” Ayotte stated when requested about any rising new position as a frontrunner within the GOP.
VANCE IN ‘CATBIRD SEAT,’ BUT THESE OTHER REPUBLICANS MAY ALSO RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2028
Ayotte launched her gubernatorial bid final 12 months after fashionable Republican Gov. Chris Sununu introduced that he would not search re-election in 2024.
Sununu, a well known determine in nationwide politics, endorsed Ayotte in early August forward of her straightforward victory in September’s GOP gubernatorial major.Â
The governor typically joined Ayotte on the marketing campaign path within the late summer season and autumn, and Ayotte highlighted that she deliberate to proceed the Sununu agenda.
Gov-elect Kelly Ayotte (left) and Gov. Chris Sununu (proper) meet within the New Hampshire governor’s workplace, within the Statehouse in Harmony, N.H., on Nov. 7, 2024Â (Workplace of New Hampshire governor)
“I believe Gov. Sununu has completed a superb job for the state of New Hampshire. We’re main the nation in so many metrics,” she advised Fox Information.
However she added that “the factor that I like most about Gov. Sununu is the fervour, the constructive enthusiasm that he brings for this state. He loves this state. He’s so happy with New Hampshire. And I’m going to deliver that very same angle as governor, actually being a champion for the folks of New Hampshire.”
“Clearly, we’re completely different folks, however I share his philosophy on the financial prosperity of the state and the emphasis on private and financial freedom,” Ayotte emphasised.
HERE ARE THE DEMOCRATS WHO MAY RUN FOR THE WHITE HOUSE IN 2028
In the case of former and future President Trump, Ayotte stated “I stay up for working with the Trump administration on behalf of the folks of New Hampshire, whether or not its roads, whether or not its bridges, whether or not its areas the place we are able to strengthen our public security. I believe there are such a lot of alternatives the place we ought to be working collectively, and I’m going to advocate for the folks of this state.”
Ayotte stated her years serving in Washington will turn out to be useful as she takes over within the Granite State’s governor’s workplace.
Former Sen. Kelly Ayotte, a Republican candidate for governor, is surrounded by supporters as she information her candidacy on the Secretary of State’s workplace, on June 13, 2024, in Harmony, N.H. (Fox Information – Paul Steinhauser)
“Having the expertise of getting served in Washington, I definitely will battle laborious for New Hampshire in terms of interacting with the Trump administration,” she stated. “These federal {dollars} – ensuring that they arrive to New Hampshire. But additionally, when Washington does issues on the regulatory entrance, I wish to make it possible for New Hampshire’s voice is at that desk.”
Ayotte famously broke with then-GOP presidential nominee Trump simply forward of the 2016 election. She withdrew her assist for Trump over the “Entry Hollywood” controversy, through which Trump, in a years-old video, made extraordinarily crude feedback about grabbing ladies with out their consent.
“I can’t and won’t assist a candidate for president who brags about degrading and assaulting ladies,” Ayotte stated on the time.Â
Whereas they each misplaced in New Hampshire, Ayotte barely outperformed Trump within the state as Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton edged the White Home winner by lower than 3,000 votes.
Earlier than heading again full time to New Hampshire, Ayotte caught round Washington briefly after the tip of her time period, shepherding then-Supreme Court docket nominee Neil Gorsuch (Trump’s first excessive court docket nominee) via his profitable Senate affirmation course of.
As she ran for governor the previous two years in a state the place New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation presidential major repeatedly drew Trump and different GOP White Home hopefuls, Ayotte saved her distance from the nationwide political dialog.
She stayed impartial in New Hampshire’s presidential major, however did endorse Trump after he locked up the nomination. She did not seem with Trump’s working mate – now Vice President-elect JD Vance – when the senator from Ohio made a last-minute cease within the Granite State a few days earlier than Election Day.
However Ayotte advised Fox Information “I wish to congratulate President Trump, clearly, on a really sturdy victory on Election Day.”
Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump arrives to talk throughout an election night time celebration on the Palm Seaside Conference Heart on November 6, 2024 in West Palm Seaside, Florida. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Pictures)
Requested about among the president-elect’s controversial cupboard nomination bulletins this week, Ayotte stated that “it’s essential that he’s placing collectively a crew that works for him.”
However the former senator emphasised that “that is actually a choice for the USA Senate. They’ve an essential position in terms of advise and consent. I’m positive they’ll look fastidiously at President Trump’s nominees and make it possible for they imagine that they’re certified.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Ayotte, within the GOP gubernatorial major, simply defeated former New Hampshire Senate president Chuck Morse, who touted his assist for Trump and questioned Ayotte’s loyalty to the previous president. Morse’s hope that he would land a Trump endorsement by no means materialized, as the previous president stayed impartial.
Additionally serving to Ayotte as she ran for governor – a serving to hand from the Republican Governors Affiliation, which dished out practically $21 million in assist of Ayotte. Many of the funding got here within the closing two months of the race, however the RGA did make a $2.75 million pre-primary funding.
The RGA – not like the rival Democratic Governors Affiliation  – despatched their sources on to the Ayotte marketing campaign from the beginning of their involvement within the race, relatively than taking the normal route of placing their funding in an impartial expenditure committee.
