Governor Kelly Ayotte Retains Seat in Manchester After Late Call

Governor Kelly Ayotte won reelection in New Hampshire, securing a second term after a tight contest with Democrat Cinde Warmington. The race remained undecided for most of Tuesday night, drawing voters into the late hours as tallies came in slowly. NBC News made the official projection of Ayotte's win shortly after midnight.

Ayotte took the stage early Wednesday morning to deliver her victory speech. The governor had spent her campaign emphasizing specific policy goals, including speeding up housing construction, lowering electric bills, and reforming the state's bail system. Warmington, a former state Executive Council member, had challenged Ayotte with a message focused on working families and affordability.

Before the winner was called, Ayotte addressed her supporters on Tuesday night. She described her service to the state as a privilege and an honor. "It has been a privilege and an honor to serve the people of New Hampshire over the last two years. We are going to wait for every single vote to be counted tonight," she said at the time.

Warmington released a statement on Wednesday morning acknowledging the result. She said she called Ayotte to congratulate her. "From the very beginning, this campaign was about putting the needs of working families first and fighting for a future where they can actually get ahead," Warmington wrote. She expressed pride in the support earned across the state and in the fight for public education, housing, and health care.

The governor's win comes as Democrats gained ground in other New Hampshire races. Democratic Congressman Chris Pappas defeated former Republican Senator John Sununu for a U.S. Senate seat. The race to fill the seat vacated by Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen was one of several that influenced the balance of power in the federal chamber.

In the contest for Pappas's open Congressional district, Democrat Stefany Shaheen won the seat. Jeanne Shaheen's daughter secured the position, while Democrat Maggie Goodlander also won reelection to her own seat in Congress. These results shifted the local political map even as Ayotte held the governor's mansion.