Ayotte wins NH governor race

The Associated Press declared Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte the winner of the New Hampshire gubernatorial race at 12:42 a.m. on Wednesday. This call came after a night of intense competition between Ayotte and her challenger, former Democratic Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington.

Voters across the state turned out in high numbers on Tuesday to decide the next leadership of the state and federal delegations. The ballot featured 400 seats for the state House of Representatives and 24 seats in the state Senate. New Hampshire residents also voted for the U.S. Senator replacing retiring Democrat Jeanne Shaheen, along with both of the state's congressional districts.

Democrats appeared to take the majority in the State House during the election night tallies. The party also looked set to keep control of the federal delegation. By 11 p.m. Tuesday, the political dynamics had shifted sharply, with observers describing the results as a strong Democratic performance against the Republican establishment.

The composition of the Executive Council was in flux as the night progressed. The body had been controlled by Republicans with a 4-1 margin. However, the lone Democrat, Karen Liot Hill of Lebanon, moved safely toward re-election. Her performance put pressure on the four Republican incumbents, who all faced losses in their respective districts.

In District 2, Liot Hill led Republican challenger Tobin Menard of Newport. At the point where 54 percent of total votes were tallied, Liot Hill held 63.6 percent of the vote. In District 5, former State Senator Melanie Levesque of Nashua challenged incumbent David Wheeler of Milford. Levesque had 55.5 percent of the vote with 57 percent of the total count in.

Polling places in the Lakes Region and other parts of the state saw early lines and limited parking spots. A national effort by Turning Point Action added to the visible presence of sign holders at some locations. Despite the crowds, workers and voters reported smooth operations inside the buildings. Many cited concern for the economy as the primary factor driving their vote choice on this warm fall day.