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 | This article needs to be updated. The reason given is: results of 2024 New Hampshire gubernatorial election and political positions taken in that election. (November 2024) |
Kelly Ayotte | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Ayotte in 2016 | |
| 83rd Governor of New Hampshire | |
| Assumed office January 9, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Chris Sununu |
| United States Senator from New Hampshire | |
| In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Judd Gregg |
| Succeeded by | Maggie Hassan |
| 27th Attorney General of New Hampshire | |
| In office July 15, 2004 – July 17, 2009 | |
| Governor | Craig Benson John Lynch |
| Preceded by | Peter Heed |
| Succeeded by | Michael Delaney |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kelly Ann Ayotte June 27, 1968 Nashua, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican (2003–present) |
| Other political affiliations | Independent (before 2003)[1] |
| Spouse |
Joseph Daley (m. 2001) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | |
Kelly Ann Ayotte (/ˈeɪɒt/ AY-ott;[2] born June 27, 1968) is an American attorney and politician who is currently serving as the 83rd governor of New Hampshire since 2025. A member of the Republican Party, she served as a United States senator from New Hampshire from 2011 to 2017 and as New Hampshire Attorney General from 2004 to 2009.
Born in Nashua, New Hampshire, Ayotte is a graduate of Nashua High School, Pennsylvania State University, and Villanova University School of Law. She worked as a law clerk at the New Hampshire Supreme Court before entering private practice. She served as a prosecutor for the New Hampshire Department of Justice and briefly as the legal counsel to New Hampshire Governor Craig Benson before returning to the Department of Justice to serve as deputy attorney general of New Hampshire. In 2004, Benson appointed Ayotte as attorney general of New Hampshire after Peter Heed resigned. She became the first and only woman to serve as New Hampshire's attorney general. She was twice reappointed by Governor John Lynch. Ayotte resigned as attorney general in 2009 to run for the U.S. Senate after Senator Judd Gregg announced his retirement.
In September 2010, Ayotte narrowly defeated lawyer Ovide M. Lamontagne in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate. She then defeated Democratic congressman Paul Hodes in the general election with 60% of the vote. Ayotte was mentioned as a possible running mate for Republican nominee Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential election.[3][4] In 2016, Ayotte was defeated in her bid for reelection by Democratic Governor Maggie Hassan by a very narrow margin of 1,017 votes (0.14%).[5] After President Donald Trump nominated Judge Neil Gorsuch to the United States Supreme Court, the Trump administration chose Ayotte to lead the White House team escorting the nominee to meetings and hearings on Capitol Hill.[6]
Ayotte was elected governor of New Hampshire in 2024, defeating Democratic nominee Joyce Craig.[7] She is the third woman to be elected the state's governor and assumed office on January 9, 2025.
- ^ David Axelrod (May 3, 2018). "The Axe Files with David Axelrod, "Episode 239 – Kelly Ayotte"" (Podcast). University of Chicago Institute of Politics and CNN. Event occurs at 15:30. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
- ^ Bowers, Andy (November 30, 2005). "Plessy, Miranda, Roe, and Ayotte?". Slate. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
- ^ Bendery, Jennifer (July 29, 2012). "Kelly Ayotte: 'It's An Honor To Be Mentioned' As Potential Mitt Romney VP (VIDEO)". The Huffington Post. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
- ^ Rogers, Josh (August 4, 2012). "Ayotte Would Add Youth, Conservatism As VP Choice". NPR. New Hampshire Public Radio. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
- ^ "2016 General Election Information and Results". New Hampshire Secretary of State Elections Division. November 8, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
- ^ "Ayotte to lead White House team shepherding Supreme Court nominee". New Hampshire Union-Leader. January 31, 2017. Archived from the original on February 1, 2017. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
- ^ "Republican ex-Sen. Kelly Ayotte beats Democrat Joyce Craig in New Hampshire governor's race". AP News. November 5, 2024. Retrieved November 8, 2024.