Kelly Ayotte, Republican

Residence: Manchester

Experience: U.S. Senate (2011-16); NH Attorney General (2004-09)

Education: bachelor of arts, Penn State University; juris doctorate, Villanova University School of Law, Pennsylvania

Position on issues

Broad-based sales tax: "Kelly believes in protecting New Hampshire's economic advantage to help businesses create jobs and keep costs low for working families. Kelly will never allow an income or sales tax to be imposed in New Hampshire."

Broad-based income tax: "Kelly will never allow an income or sales tax to be imposed in New Hampshire. As governor, she will protect our state's economic advantage to allow families and small businesses to thrive."

Business tax decrease: "Kelly’s answer is simple – no new taxes, period. Kelly will always look to cut taxes wherever possible and will look closely at potential future business tax cuts in her first budget."

Capital gains tax: "New Hampshire does not have a capital gains tax, and like an income or sales tax, Kelly would never allow New Hampshire to implement one."

Minimum wage increase: "Businesses in New Hampshire are paying their workforce well above minimum wage in order to recruit and retain workers. Kelly believes that the market should decide wages and is concerned that the government setting minimum wages will eliminate jobs and hurt workers as it has done in some states like California."

Encourage local zoning changes for housing development: "Kelly will work to streamline the state permitting process and cut unnecessary red tape to make it easier to build new housing in New Hampshire. Kelly respects local decision making and will work with local communities to build more housing by partnering with them on issues like infrastructure, including roads, water and sewer. Finally, Kelly will convene state and municipal officials and the private sector to bring all of the stakeholders to the table to determine how we can work together to build more workforce housing in New Hampshire."

Increase funding for child care providers: "To help recruit and retain our workforce, we must address issues with childcare affordability and availability. Kelly will continue to evaluate eligibility to the state's child care scholarships, which was expanded under the last biennium budget. Kelly will also look for ways to elevate the child care profession through our community college and university system. Kelly will also work with the private sector to encourage and incentivize private employers to expand child care options for their work force."

Majority of public school funding through local property taxes: "Kelly believes that the legislature and Governor working with local communities should decide how to fund education in New Hampshire to ensure we have the best schools in the country. She does not believe these issues should be decided by the courts."

"Education Freedom Account" program: "Kelly supports Education Freedom Accounts and will fight for Universal education freedom because every child should have the same learning opportunities and chance at success, regardless of their zip code or family income."

Marijuana legalization with home-growing, no sales: "Kelly would not sign a bill legalizing marijuana as she is concerned that legalizing marijuana would negatively impact our quality of life. Specifically, she has examined the studies showing the negative impact of marijuana on youth mental health. As attorney general, she worked closely with law enforcement in New Hampshire and is concerned that legalization will increase the number of deaths and injuries on our roads as it has in other states which have legalized the drug. Finally, she has met many people working on prevention and recovery in New Hampshire and they have consistently told her that legalizing marijuana is not a good idea given the opioid crisis our state continues to face."

Marijuana legalization with private sales: "Kelly would not sign a bill legalizing marijuana as she is concerned that legalizing marijuana would negatively impact our quality of life. Specifically, she has examined the studies showing the negative impact of marijuana on youth mental health. As attorney general, she worked closely with law enforcement in New Hampshire and is concerned that legalization will increase the number of deaths and injuries on our roads as it has in other states which have legalized the drug. Finally, she has met many people working on prevention and recovery in New Hampshire and they have consistently told her that legalizing marijuana is not a good idea given the opioid crisis our state continues to face."

Marijuana legalization with state-run stores: "Kelly would not sign a bill legalizing marijuana as she is concerned that legalizing marijuana would negatively impact our quality of life. Specifically, she has examined the studies showing the negative impact of marijuana on youth mental health. As attorney general, she worked closely with law enforcement in New Hampshire and is concerned that legalization will increase the number of deaths and injuries on our roads as it has in other states which have legalized the drug. Finally, she has met many people working on prevention and recovery in New Hampshire and they have consistently told her that legalizing marijuana is not a good idea given the opioid crisis our state continues to face."

Repeal ban on abortion after 24 weeks: "New Hampshire does not have an abortion ban. In New Hampshire, women have the freedom to obtain an abortion up to six months of pregnancy in the last three months for medical emergencies. Kelly supports and will not change that law."

Guarantee right to abortion before 24 weeks: "Women in New Hampshire are guaranteed access to abortion under current law, which protects their freedom to obtain an abortion for any reason up to six months of pregnancy with exceptions for medical emergencies in the last trimester."

Ban abortion during 2nd trimester: "Kelly supports and will not change New Hampshire's current abortion law, which protects women's freedom to obtain an abortion up to six months of pregnancy and addresses late term abortions with exceptions for medical emergencies."

Ban abortion during 1st trimester: "Kelly supports and will not change New Hampshire's current abortion law, which protects women's freedom to obtain an abortion up to six months of pregnancy and addresses late term abortions with exceptions for medical emergencies."

Protection for interstate travel related to gender, abortion: "Kelly supports and will not change New Hampshire's current abortion law."

Stricter gun laws: "Kelly supports our current laws and will enforce them."

Require local immigration enforcement: "As governor, Kelly will ban sanctuary cities to keep New Hampshire communities safe."

Climate change action: "Kelly believes it is important to protect New Hampshire's natural beauty and our environment for future generations to enjoy. Kelly supports an all-of-the above energy strategy, including renewable and other clean energy sources. Her focus will be on reducing energy costs for all Granite Staters by expanding our access to all forms of energy. She thinks it's important that New Hampshire is positioned to adopt new technologies like small modular nuclear reactors that would allow our state to produce its own clean energy."

Expand net metering opportunities: "Kelly will examine ways to expand net metering capacity while protecting rate payers."

Conditional, affidavit ballots for new voters: "Ensuring New Hampshire continues to have free, fair, and secure elections is critical to our state. Kelly supports conditional affidavit ballots for same-day registrants that do not have proper identification in order to allow every voter to make their voices heard while maintaining election integrity."