Republican Kelly Ayotte defeated Democrat Joyce Craig in the closely watched New Hampshire governor’s race. Ayotte, a former state senator, and Craig, the former mayor of Manchester, New Hampshire, were vying to fill the open seat left vacant by outgoing Gov.

Ms. Ayotte entered the race with greater name recognition than the Democrat, Joyce Craig, and was seen as a natural successor to Gov. Chris Sununu, a moderate Republican.

Republican former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte will succeed Gov. Chris Sununu as New Hampshire’s next governor, after beating her Democratic opponent, former Manchester mayor Joyce Craig, and waging a campaign centered around opposition to progressive policies in the Granite State.