WMUR Politics Newsletter

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Good morning. With 32 days until the gubernatorial primaries on Sept. 10, Republican candidate for governor Kelly Ayotte is teaming up with Gov. Chris Sununu on the campaign trail after earning his endorsement.

The two crisscrossed the state Thursday for one of Sununu’s “Super 603” days, pouring beers at the 405 Pub & Grill in Laconia.

“You have to really bring your energy to bear when you’re trying to keep up on a Super 603 Day, because we are everywhere,” Ayotte said. “We’re doing all kinds of activities. We’re going to land literally in Manchester. We’re doing a 5K together. So, you know, I had to eat my Wheaties and really get going for this day.”

Sununu’s recent endorsement record includes some notable Republican primary losses. In 2022, Sununu-endorsed Chuck Morse lost his U.S. Senate race and George Hansel lost his bid for Congress after Sununu endorsed him. Earlier this year, Nikki Haley lost to Donald Trump by double digits in the first-in-the-nation primary after receiving Sununu’s endorsement.

Even with several factors breaking in her favor in the primary, Ayotte is rejecting the title of front-runner.

“‘Work hard, stay humble’ is my motto, and I want to talk to as many people in New Hampshire and earn their votes,” she said.

Meanwhile, Democratic candidate Joyce Craig is touting her energy policies, focusing specifically on green energy and climate change.

On Thursday, Craig toured a solar array in Nashua and said if elected, she would prioritize green energy by lifting limits on solar power projects and taking a proactive role in developing offshore wind power in the Gulf of Maine.

“Projects like this help us reduce our carbon footprints, lower costs for taxpayers, and it’s why we need to make projects like this easier to build and allow more residents, businesses and non-profits to participate in net metering,” Craig said.

Craig has also proposed ending imports of out-of-state trash and imposing a moratorium on new landfills, something her Democratic opponent Cinde Warmington has highlighted in a recent ad campaign.

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