Ayotte or Craig will replace Republican Chris Sununu, who announced last year that he would not be seeking reelection. Sununu has been in office since 2016, serving four two-year terms. Before announcing he would not seek reelection, Sununu considered becoming a candidate for president, but he eventually decided not to run.

New Hampshire's governorship will stay in Republican hands after former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte beat Democratic opponent Joyce Craig to return to the Granite State's political spotlight, AP reports. The big picture: The race was seen as one of the most competitive gubernatorial contests in the country and Democrats' best hope to flip a governor's mansion to the blue column.

Republican former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte will be New Hampshire’s next governor, after defeating Democratic former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig Tuesday in a campaign built on a promise of economic continuity,