New US governor hopes to ‘work with’ Trump administration

EXCLUSIVE: CONCORD, NH — Kelly Ayotte becomes the the new governor of the nation Thursday when he is sworn in at the New Hampshire State House.

The former U.S. senator, who previously served as the state’s attorney general, takes office in the key New England state a week and a half early. President-elect Trump is inaugurated.

And Ayotte, who succeeds Republican Gov. Chris Sununu as head of the Granite State, says he looks forward to working with the Trump administration.

“I will work with the administration on behalf of New Hampshire and advocate for the Granite State on important priorities here: keeping the state safe, ensuring that when it comes to federal resources that we are advocating for New Hampshire, so I look forward to working with administration,” Ayotte said in an exclusive national interview with Fox News Digital ahead of his inauguration.

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Former Senator Kelly Ayotte, Republican candidate for governor of New Hampshire, celebrates her election victory for governor on November 5, 2024. (Kelly Ayotte Campaign)

During last year’s gubernatorial campaign, which culminated in Ayotte defeating Democratic gubernatorial candidate and former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig by nearly 10 points in the November election, the illegal immigration issue and border security was often in the spotlight in a state that shares a border with Canada and has long faced an acute fentanyl crisis.

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Ayotte, who during his campaign promised to prevent New Hampshire If it becomes a sanctuary state for illegal immigrants, it will have what Sununu did not enjoy in the last four years: a Republican in the White House.

“President Trump is going to enforce the laws, and that’s important to me. And we have a northern border.”

Governor-elect Kelly Ayotte, former US Senator, is interviewed by Fox News Digital on January 7, 2024 at the State House in Concord, NH. (Fox News – Paul Steinhauser)

Highlighting his tenure as state attorney general, Ayotte said, “I think it’s important that criminals be held accountable. And when we look at New Hampshire, we’re not going to allow New Hampshire to become a sanctuary state. That’s why it’s important.” Let us enforce our laws. “We welcome legal immigration, but those who come here illegally and especially those who commit crimes must be held accountable.”

Ayotte was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010 and was a rising star in the Republican Party and considered a leader in national security and foreign policy.

But Ayotte lost re-election in 2016 by a narrow margin of just over 1,000 votes to then-Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan.

Governor-elect Kelly Ayotte, left, and Governor Chris Sununu meet in the New Hampshire Governor’s Office in the House of Representatives in Concord, NH, on November 7, 2024. (New Hampshire Governor’s Office)

Now, as she takes over the leadership of the Granite State, she said, “My number one priority is to be a governor for everyone in New Hampshire, for all the people, and to be accessible to the people of New Hampshire.”

“Making sure that we continue to grow our economy, our prosperity, our freedom here in New Hampshire, have a responsible budget where we live within our means but serve the people of New Hampshire effectively, those will be my priorities from the first day.” he added.

Ayotte, who made history nearly two decades ago as the state’s first attorney general, made history again in November as the first republican woman to win the election as governor of New Hampshire.

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“We have so many strong women who have served this state, such a great history,” Ayotte said. “There are many examples of women who have led and great men who have also led.”

She said her “hope is that all young women understand that whatever position they strive for is available to them, and that we’re not even having these discussions about whether a woman is chosen or a man is chosen because it’s the same for everyone.” . that everyone understands that those opportunities exist, and I think that’s what’s happening in New Hampshire.”