Governor of New Hampshire
Statewide — all of New Hampshire
General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Sources re-checked October 19, 2026 · How we research
- Incumbent Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte is running for a second two-year term; New Hampshire governors serve two-year terms.[1]
- Republican primary (Sept. 8, 2026): Ayotte won renomination with 91.9% of the vote (100,920 votes), ahead of Shaun Fife (4.0%) and Bob Wayne McClory (3.5%).[1][2]
- Democratic primary (Sept. 8, 2026): former Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington won with 96.4% of the vote (126,223 votes), with write-ins receiving the rest.[1]
- Stephen Villee, the 2024 Libertarian nominee, is also on the general-election ballot as a Libertarian; Jon Kiper, who switched from the Democratic primary to an independent campaign, is not on the ballot.[1][2][10][11][13]
On the ballot · 3 candidates
Issue evidence — side by side
Recorded votes, documented positions and candidates’ own words are shown with sources. “In their own words” quotes a candidate on the topic without inferring a stance. Votes describe specific bills or motions; they do not establish overall support or opposition to a broad issue. A dash means our research has no evidence on that topic, not that the candidate has no position.
Protect legal access to abortion
- Kelly Ayotte—
- Cinde Warmington—
- Stephen VilleeMixed[15]
Lists abortion bans without exceptions for rape (at least in the first trimester) or to protect the life of the mother among bills he would veto.
Stricter gun laws
- Kelly Ayotte—
- Cinde Warmington—
- Stephen VilleeOpposes[15]
Lists repeal of constitutional carry, meaning a return to concealed-carry licensing, among bills he would veto.
Expand immigration enforcement and deportations
- Kelly Ayotte
- Cinde WarmingtonOpposes[12]
Said she has called for no ICE detention facility (a 'human warehouse') anywhere in New Hampshire, including in Merrimack.
- Stephen Villee—
Raise taxes on high earners or corporations
- Kelly Ayotte—
- Cinde Warmington—
- Stephen VilleeIn their own words[15]
“Any sales tax or state income tax, or any other new tax, or any tax increase.”
On the Veto List page of his campaign website, listing bills he would veto
Expand public health coverage
- Kelly Ayotte—
- Cinde Warmington—
- Stephen VilleeIn their own words[16]
“They'd be required to sign a waiver acknowledging that the government won't provide them with food, housing, health care, or education for their children.”
On his campaign website, describing what a bill to begin winding down welfare programs might specify for people who move to New Hampshire after a set date
Public funding for school choice (vouchers / charters)
- Kelly Ayotte—
- Cinde WarmingtonOpposes[5]
Pledges to reverse New Hampshire's Education Freedom Account voucher program.
- Stephen Villee—
Require Congress to approve U.S. military action abroad
- Kelly Ayotte—
- Cinde Warmington—
- Stephen VilleeIn their own words[14]
“I'll work to pass Defend the Guard legislation, which would require that Congress officially declare war before the New Hampshire national guard could be activated.”
On his campaign website, listing one of four legislative priorities
Research notes & limits
Ballotpedia was blocked from this environment (bot challenge) and the NH Secretary of State site returned 403. The slate was confirmed against an official sample ballot for the Nov. 3 general election (Dover Ward 1, printed by the Secretary of State), which lists Ayotte (R), Warmington (D) and Villee (Libertarian) for governor. The three-candidate slate (Ayotte, Warmington, Villee) is confirmed by Wikipedia, Citizens Count, The Green Papers and the New Hampshire Bulletin voter guide; Villee's label is Libertarian in three of those and 'Independent/Other' at Citizens Count. Ayotte's record items cite news coverage for signing dates because the governor's office site and General Court bill pages blocked automated access. Ayotte has not published, in the sources found, her own priority statements; her priorities here come from NHPR's year-one review. Warmington's website text includes critical language about Ayotte, which is reported only where it states her own proposals.
Sources · 33
Researched 2026-10-19. Green citations are official government records.
- 1.2026 New Hampshire gubernatorial election · Wikipedia · 2026-10-19 Reference
- 2.2026 NH Gubernatorial Primary · Citizens Count · 2026-10-19 Reference
- 3.With income cap gone, New Hampshire families rush to apply for school vouchers · New Hampshire Bulletin · 2025-07-07 News report
- 4.Ayotte begins her second year in office politically strong — but with looming challenges · New Hampshire Public Radio via Valley News · 2026-01-14 News report
- 5.Priorities · Cinde Warmington for Governor · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
- 6.Warmington outnumbered by Republicans on NH Executive Council · Concord Monitor · 2022-11-09 News report
- 7.On the trail: Gov. Ayotte says she delivered on her promises in her 100 days in office. Not everyone agrees · Valley News · 2025-04-21 News report
- 8.Gov. Ayotte signs two anti-sanctuary city bills into law · New Hampshire Bulletin · 2025-05-22 News report
- 9.Ayotte signs two-year state budget, closing turbulent final chapter · New Hampshire Bulletin · 2025-06-27 News report
- 10.Voter Guide: 2026 General Election · New Hampshire Bulletin · 2026-10-19 News report
- 11.New Hampshire 2026 General Election · The Green Papers · 2026-10-19 Reference
- 12.Cinde Warmington Statement on ICE Facilities in New Hampshire · Cinde Warmington for Governor · 2026-02-24 Candidate's own words
- 13.Dover Ward 1 sample ballot, general election, Nov. 3, 2026 · City of Dover, NH · 2026-10-19 Official record
- 14.Stephen Villee for Governor (home page) · Stephen Villee for Governor · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
- 15.Veto List · Stephen Villee for Governor · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
- 16.Grandfathering · Stephen Villee for Governor · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
- 17.Kelly Ayotte · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
- 18.Ayotte begins her second year in office politically strong — but with looming challenges · New Hampshire Public Radio via Valley News · 2026-01-14 News report
- 19.With income cap gone, New Hampshire families rush to apply for school vouchers · New Hampshire Bulletin · 2025-07-07 News report
- 20.On the trail: Gov. Ayotte says she delivered on her promises in her 100 days in office. Not everyone agrees · Valley News · 2025-04-21 News report
- 21.Gov. Ayotte signs two anti-sanctuary city bills into law · New Hampshire Bulletin · 2025-05-22 News report
- 22.Kelly Ayotte · National Governors Association · 2026-10-19 Official record
- 23.Cinde Warmington · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
- 24.Priorities · Cinde Warmington for Governor · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
- 25.2026 New Hampshire gubernatorial election · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
- 26.Warmington outnumbered by Republicans on NH Executive Council · Concord Monitor · 2022-11-09 News report
- 27.Governor — Democratic (Voter Guide: 2026 Primary Election) · New Hampshire Bulletin · 2026-10-19 News report
- 28.2026 New Hampshire gubernatorial election · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
- 29.Voter Guide: 2026 General Election · New Hampshire Bulletin · 2026-10-19 News report
- 30.New Hampshire 2026 General Election · The Green Papers · 2026-10-19 Reference
- 31.Dover Ward 1 sample ballot, general election, Nov. 3, 2026 · City of Dover, NH · 2026-10-19 Official record
- 32.Stephen Villee for Governor · Stephen Villee for Governor · 2026-10-21 Candidate's own words
- 33.Stephen Villee - profile overview · Citizens Count · 2026-10-21 Reference