Former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte was elected governor of New Hampshire on Tuesday, defeating Democratic former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig to keep the office under Republican control for another two years.

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.

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.