Despite the fact the New Hampshire primary must be held before either of them starts running for governor in earnest, it’s clear from her messaging that former U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte has zeroed in on Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig as her most likely 2024 rival.
On Wednesday, Ayotte issued a statement demanding to know Craig’s stance on so-called sanctuary cities while pointing south toward the Bay State, where Gov. Maura Healey recently declared a state of emergency existed due to an influx of migrants.
“Like her Massachusetts Mentor Maura Healey, Joyce Craig has supported radical immigration policies like Sanctuary Cities,” Ayotte said. “Our neighbors are being forced to pay millions for services for illegal immigrants and they are even being asked to house illegals in their private homes. New Hampshire residents deserve to know: Does Joyce Craig still support these disastrous sanctuary policies after the damage caused in Massachusetts?”
Ayotte’s campaign went on to cite testimony which Craig delivered to the New Hampshire House in May, explaining her opposition to a proposed state law banning cities and towns from adopting a “sanctuary city policy,” and reference Healey’s July endorsement of the Mayor. Ayotte also mentioned Craig in several social media posts Wednesday.
Ayotte’s targeting of Craig comes following a recent survey by Emerson College showing the first woman elected as the Queen City’s mayor just nine points behind Ayotte in a hypothetical matchup, with 17% of polled Granite State registered voters undecided.
Craig still has to face New Hampshire Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington in their party’s primary. Emerson’s poll showed 30% of left leaning voters behind Craig, twice Warmington’s 15%, though half of surveyed Democrats said they aren’t sure yet.
Ayotte leads former New Hampshire Senate President Chuck Morse 45% to 9%, with former Hillsborough County Treasurer Robert Burns at 3% and 35% unsure.
A spokesperson for Craig’s campaign said that it’s clear Ayotte is threatened by Craig’s candidacy, considering her recent focus.
“Joyce Craig is building a strong coalition around her vision to ensure every Granite Stater has access to the opportunities to thrive, which is why she’s in the strongest position to take on the extreme Republican that comes out of their primary — and Kelly Ayotte and Republicans know it,” campaign spokesperson Craig Brown said. “Kelly Ayotte has done nothing but offer tired partisan political attacks because she can’t defend her record as a shadow lobbyist and putting greedy corporations ahead of Granite State families.”