Former President Donald Trump’s influence could prove crucial in New Hampshire’s governor race later this year, as both Republican candidates have vowed to support him if he’s the party’s presidential nominee.
Former New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte, who previously opposed Trump, has now admitted that she would support the former president in 2024 if he were the party’s choice.
“Listen, I think Joe Biden has been a disaster, and I’ll support our Republican nominee for president,” Ayotte told WMUR in July.
Former state Sen. Chuck Morse, the other candidate, said he would support the former president after listening to voters.
“They’ve made it real clear on the campaign trail,” Morse said, per NBC News. “They’re supporting President Trump because they want the borders closed. They want an energy policy that Trump delivered last time. And they’re certainly killed by inflation, and they’re nervous about all of that.”
Trump has not selected his candidate in the race so far, and his supporters have signaled that his endorsement could affect their vote. However, other voters who oppose Trump have said the opposite.
“If Trump endorses them, well, then I’m probably not voting for them. Let’s put it that way,” undeclared voter Deborah Bailin said.
Bailin added that she has not chosen between Ayotte and Morse but said Ayotte was a “good senator.”
Ayotte has a rocky history when it comes to supporting Trump. In 2016, Ayotte commented how she could not support Trump after he bragged about grabbing a woman’s genitals.
“He’s talking about assault of women,” Ayotte said at the time. “I cannot vote for Donald Trump based on what he has said and done and the actions he talked about in those tapes. And I want my daughter to know that.”
Ayotte only served one term in the Senate, from 2011-2017, and lost her reelection bid by 1,017 votes.
The candidates are running to replace Gov. Chris Sununu (R-NH), who announced he was not seeking reelection last July. Sununu has endorsed Trump’s competitor, Nikki Haley, in the Republican primary and has been critical of Trump.
Democrats are hoping to seize the governorship and win back the legislative branch by tying both candidates to Trump and slamming their stances on abortion.
“Kelly Ayotte and Chuck Morse both have such strong anti-choice records that they’re not going to be able to portray themselves as being any different than Donald Trump,” Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley said.
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Both candidates have claimed that they stand by the state’s current abortion law, which bans the procedure after 24 weeks of pregnancy unless the mother or baby has a fatal condition, and would not support a change in the law in either direction.
Republican voters will make their choice for New Hampshire governor on Sept. 10.