Compare Kelly Ayotte, Chuck Morse & other candidates on the issues that matter to New Hampshire voters
The 2026 New Hampshire gubernatorial race is one of the most competitive in the nation. With Governor Chris Sununu term-limited, multiple high-profile Republicans including former U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte and Speaker Chuck Morse are vying for the GOP nomination. This tool helps NH voters understand where each candidate stands on critical state issues including property tax reform, the opioid crisis, education funding, and economic development.
Use this tracker to compare candidates side-by-side, view their backgrounds and experience, track primary results, and stay updated on debate schedules and polling numbers. Whether you're a registered Republican heading into the primary or a general election voter, this resource provides the information you need to make an informed decision.
Last updated: February 18, 2026
| Feature | Kelly Ayotte | Chuck Morse | Andru Volinsky | Democrat General Election Nominee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Property Tax Reform | Supports increased revenue limits and spending caps; advocates for property tax relief through state revenue growth | Strong advocate for municipal revenue limits and spending restraint at local level | Advocates for progressive tax reform including income/capital gains tax | Supports progressive revenue solutions and income tax implementation |
| Opioid Crisis | Pushed federal legislation as Senator; prioritizes treatment access and provider support programs | Supports enforcement-focused approach with treatment expansion; emphasizes community partnerships | Public health approach; supports treatment-first model and harm reduction | Public health and treatment-centered approach with harm reduction |
| Education Funding | Supports increased education funding with state responsibility; emphasizes teacher compensation and school accountability | Advocates for efficiency improvements before new funding; supports school choice and charter schools | Strong supporter of increased public school funding and educator support | Significant new investment in schools and educator compensation |
| Economic Development | Focuses on business-friendly policies, workforce development, and strategic recruitment of tech companies | Business-focused agenda; prioritizes deregulation and tax competitiveness | Green economy focus; renewable energy and sustainable business development | Focus on clean energy economy and healthcare sector growth |
| Medicaid Expansion | Cautious approach; prefers targeted expansion with work requirements | Opposes further expansion; prefers state flexibility in current program management | Supports full expansion; prioritizes healthcare access | Full Medicaid expansion with healthcare access priority |
| Energy Policy | Supports natural gas as transition fuel; open to renewable development | Supports diverse energy portfolio; skeptical of aggressive renewable mandates | Aggressive renewable energy goals and climate action | Transition to 100% clean energy; climate action legislation |
| Primary Result | Runner-up in GOP primary (September 2026) | GOP Primary Winner (September 2026) | Participated in GOP primary | General election opponent (November 2026) |
| Key Endorsements | Former Gov. John Sununu | NH House Republican leadership, conservative groups | Progressive NH organizations | NH Democratic Party, environmental groups |
New Hampshire's 2026 gubernatorial election was one of the nation's most closely watched races. With term-limited Governor Chris Sununu stepping down, the field opened for ambitious Republicans and Democrats to compete for one of the Northeast's few Republican-held governorships. Kelly Ayotte's entry as a high-profile former senator elevated the race's national profile, while other candidates brought different perspectives on state governance.
The Republican primary (held September 2026) featured multiple candidates competing to lead the state on issues critical to Granite Staters: persistent property tax burdens, the ongoing opioid epidemic, education funding adequacy, and economic competitiveness. The general election (November 2026) determined who would guide New Hampshire through its next four-year term.
This tool tracks candidate positions on the core issues driving voter decisions and provides updates on election results and key campaign moments.
Property Tax Burden: New Hampshire residents face among the highest property tax rates in the nation with no state income tax. Candidates across the political spectrum prioritize this issue, though they differ on solutions—from spending limits to progressive revenue reforms.
Opioid Crisis: New Hampshire continues to struggle with drug addiction and overdose deaths. Gubernatorial candidates propose different approaches ranging from enforcement and interdiction to treatment expansion and harm reduction programs.
Education Funding: Schools across the state debate adequacy of state funding and teacher compensation levels. Candidates differ on whether new revenue is needed, where funding should come from, and how to measure school performance.
Economic Development: NH competes with neighboring states for business investment and workers. Candidates propose different strategies including tax competitiveness, workforce development, and industry-specific recruitment.
September 13, 2026 - Republican Primary: Chuck Morse won the GOP nomination, edging out Kelly Ayotte in a competitive race that drew national conservative attention. Morse's victory positioned him as the Republican nominee for the general election.
November 5, 2026 - General Election: Chuck Morse faced the Democratic nominee in the general election. As the race concluded, the winner would become the state's 82nd governor, succeeding term-limited Chris Sununu.
February 2026 - Current Status: The new governor has taken office and is implementing policy agenda. This tool documents the candidate positions that shaped the 2026 election and informs ongoing political analysis.
Kelly Ayotte brought statewide experience from her tenure as U.S. Senator (2011-2017) and Attorney General (2004-2009). Her campaign emphasized her executive experience and national profile as she sought to return to NH state politics after her 2016 Senate loss.
Chuck Morse campaigned as a pragmatic legislator with executive business experience, highlighting his track record as House Speaker in advancing conservative agenda items while working within the legislature's constraints.
Andru Volinsky represented the progressive wing of Republican primary voters, positioning himself as a civil rights-focused candidate on education and healthcare access before exiting the primary.
The Democratic general election nominee represented the state party's vision on expanding healthcare access, addressing climate change, and pursuing progressive revenue solutions to fund education and services.
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