New Hampshire
GOP Candidate Runs From Anti-Abortion Record in Tight Gubernatorial Race
A Republican gubernatorial candidate in New Hampshire is running away from her longtime opposition to abortion, in the latest test of Republicans’ ability to distance themselves from the unpopular policy in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to eliminate the constitutional right to an abortion.
As a U.S. senator and in the years after she left elected office, Kelly Ayotte was consistently involved with efforts to limit reproductive autonomy. But in her race against Democrat Joyce Craig, the former mayor of Manchester, Ayotte has tried to assure voters that she wouldn’t impose additional abortion restrictions in the Granite State, though she’s stopped short of disavowing her previous positions. The state currently bans abortions after 24 weeks, with limited exceptions.
Craig and her supporters have made abortion a central issue in the race, while Ayotte has slammed Democrats for “politicizing abortion to win votes.” The two are facing off in a tight race that the Cook Political Report has described as the only “toss-up” governor’s race this year. Neither Ayotte’s campaign nor Craig’s campaign responded to a request for comment.
Ayotte is far from the only Republican candidate who’s attempted to distance herself from opposition to abortion. Vice presidential nominee and Ohio Republican Sen. JD Vance was caught earlier this year wiping anti-abortion messages from his website. And in some congressional races this cycle, Republicans have attempted to rebrand as “pro-choice,” despite their records to the contrary. GOP candidates are seemingly looking to avoid a repeat of the 2022 midterm elections, when Democrats successfully tied their Republican opponents to the deeply unpopular Dobbs decision, which came down in June of that year.
“New Hampshire voters overwhelmingly support abortion access,” said Kayla Montgomery, vice president of public affairs for Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund, which has endorsed Craig. “So Kelly is trying to rebuild her record on this. And at the end of the day, I don’t think voters are going to be fooled because she has a long record of being anti-abortion.”
No Constituency for Abortion Opposition
A year before Dobbs, New Hampshire’s Republican Gov. Chris Sununu signed into law a 24-week abortion ban — which includes exceptions for fatal fetal diagnoses and to save the life of the pregnant person — along with additional restrictions, including a mandatory ultrasound for anyone seeking an abortion. The measures “hugely backfired” for Republicans, said Linda Fowler, a government professor at Dartmouth University. Last year, lawmakers repealed the ultrasound mandate.
Though New Hampshire’s abortion law is far less restrictive than those of many Southern states, Democrats have noted that it’s out of step with the rest of New England. Neighboring states have all codified a guaranteed right to abortion and pro-actively expanded access to abortion care.
Anti-abortion politics have never been particularly popular in the Granite State, said Fowler. “There’s not much of a constituency for it,” she said.
Craig has vowed to codify abortion rights and to repeal the existing restrictions past 24 weeks. In a platform promise to “champion women’s health,” Ayotte, meanwhile, said she supports the state’s current law and would not change it.
She has emphasized that message in a series of campaign ads. In one ad, Ayotte, who was endorsed by the current Republican governor, argues that Democrats are lying about the state’s abortion ban and that women in New Hampshire have the right to choose. In the same ad, she says that she would “veto” any law that was more “restrictive” than the current abortion ban. However, in a later debate, she refused to answer whether she would support criminal or civil penalties for abortion providers after 24 weeks.
Ayotte, who as a senator supported a measure that state Democrats argue would have allowed employers and insurers to deny coverage for in vitro fertilization, has proactively affirmed her support for the treatment. In another advertisement, the former senator discusses finding out during one of her pregnancies that her fetus wasn’t viable and argues that because she’s experienced loss, she would never outlaw treatments like IVF.
A Clear Record
Democrats and their allies, meanwhile, have been encouraging voters to look at Ayotte’s relatively recent record on reproductive rights.
“Ayotte is purposely rewriting her record on abortion and is, at times, outright lying to Granite Staters about what she would do as Governor of New Hampshire. The reality is that she cannot be trusted to protect reproductive rights in New Hampshire,” wrote the state Democratic Party in a memo outlining Ayotte’s abortion record.
As a senator, Ayotte received a 100 percent rating from the National Right to Life Committee, the largest and oldest anti-abortion organization in the United States, and an A+ rating from Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, a large anti-abortion lobbying group.
In 2014, Ayotte was one of four senators who led the charge to implement a national abortion ban. Ayotte also voted for the controversial Blunt Amendment, which would have weakened the Affordable Care Act’s birth control mandate. And she repeatedly voted to defund Planned Parenthood. Ayotte also served as one of the senators who shepherded Neil Gorsuch through his Supreme Court confirmation process, a crucial vote for overturning Roe v. Wade.
Ayotte lost her reelection bid in 2016 and continued her anti-abortion advocacy outside the Senate.
In 2017, Ayotte reportedly helped found Winning for Women, a political action committee pitched as a counter to EMILY’s List, a liberal group that backs “pro-choice” Democrats. She served on Winning for Women’s board and was listed on its website as recently as 2023, but her name was removed by February 2024, according to a review of internet archives.
Winning for Women poured over $8.3 million into backing dozens of candidates with anti-abortion records during Ayotte’s tenure, according to local reporting. And on the same day the Supreme Court released its Dobbs decision, the organization reportedly launched a joint fundraising committee for six candidates who had previously supported overturning Roe v. Wade. The group has supported a variety of hard-line anti-abortion candidates, including Reps. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., and Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., and former Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Georgia.
Ayotte hasn’t explicitly changed her position on abortion — and that may prove to be a political liability, said Fowler, the Dartmouth professor. “She hasn’t said I’ve changed my mind about being pro-choice. She hasn’t had a Liz Cheney, you know, ‘The anti-abortion movement has gone too far’ kind of moment,” Fowler said. “She’s basically tried to say she won’t change the law and put it behind her. And so it becomes a basis for the Craig campaign to say, “You can’t trust her on this issue,” and anecdotally, when you talk to women about it, that resonates with them.”
Dover, New Hampshire is finally going to see something go into the old Ames Building, (same plaza as Hannaford) at 833 Central Avenue. It’s not just “something,” it’s a Community space we didn’t know we wanted.
Justin Grondahl is the owner of TRAENE Fitness & Pickleball and he’s opening one here in Dover. He has 63,000 square feet to make beautiful. Justin is the son of the co-founder of Planet Fitness that started right here in Dover, New Hampshire.
Justin spent some time with me here in the Townsquare Studios and told me everything we can expect.
You will not believe what he has in store for this place. It makes me want to move to Dover. (although it’s like my 2nd home – I’m here all. the. time.) Check out what his plans are:
- 10 indoor pickleball courts
- 3,000 Square Foot Classroom for Megaformer Pilates Classes
- 20,000 square feet of just gym equipment
- 2 Cold Plunges
- 3 Saunas, with three floors. Lots of people can fit into them
- Big Locker Rooms
- Red Light Beds
- Massage Chairs
- Massage Beds
- Tanning Booths
TRAENE Recently Added a Peptide Clinic to their Plans
If you are unfamiliar with peptides, they are chains of amino acids that help you heal injuries, build muscles and in some cases, lose weight.
After Justin told me all this, I asked if they will have food and drinks too because it was the only thing I could think of that they didn’t mention! He said, “yes, we’ll have something.”
What’s Up With the Penguin?
When Justin came into the studio, he had a TRAENE branded shirt that included a penguin. When I asked him why a Penguin, he said that it has always been his favorite animal because they are very tied to their Community. They never really leave and they are always together.
READ THIS: 6 Reason’s Why Brown’s Lobster Shack is a NH Seafood Treasure
Justin is already under construction of TRAENE. He said they should be open in the Fall of 2026.
Another incredible perk of being part of the TRAENE community is they are going to pick between 10 – 15 Members of the Month who are going to get rewards like:
- Renting out a race track
- Limo service to Bruins or Celtics games, whichever the member chooses
These trips will be all paid for, all free, Justin said.
New Fitness & Pickeball Center Opening Up in the Fall of 2026 in Dover, NH
As soon as I hear about when TRAENE is opening, I’ll let you know and you and I can get our pickleball team together. Justin did say sometime in the fall, but no specific date.. yet.
8 New Hampshire Restaurants That Closed in January/February 2026
Gallery Credit: Sean McKenna
All Team USA New England Athletes Who Won Medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics
As of Sunday, February 22, 2026, 10 athletes from New England won medals in the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Gallery Credit: Sean McKenna
The New Hampshire Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Sunday, April 19, 2026 results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 19 drawing
Day: 8-6-2
Evening: 8-8-9
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 19 drawing
Day: 7-6-9-2
Evening: 6-5-8-4
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the New Hampshire Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Pick 3, 4: 1:10 p.m. and 6:55 p.m. daily.
- Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Megabucks Plus: 7:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
- Gimme 5: 6:55 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a New Hampshire managing editor. You can send feedback using this form.
New Hampshire
‘Not cosmetic’: NH lawmaker wants state to cover GLP-1 drugs for weight loss – Concord Monitor
Two years ago, Sue Prentiss got a sobering reality check at her doctor’s office. The news was blunt: She qualified for bariatric surgery, a procedure for patients whose weight poses life-threatening risks.
She was aware of her weight and had tried everything from high-intensity workouts to weight loss programs and diets. Nothing seemed to help until she started taking GLP-1 medications.
Prentiss said between then and now, she had lost almost 80 pounds.
But at a $500 out-of-pocket monthly fee, every refill is a financial pinch.
“I’m just getting by, but I’m so much healthier, and if this can work for me, think about everybody else’s life where this would impact,” said Prentiss, a state senator.
To keep up with the cost, she’s made hard choices like cutting back on retirement contributions and squeezing her budget wherever possible.
Now, Prentiss is sponsoring Senate Bill 455, which would require the state to provide GLP-1 medications under the state Medicaid plan as a treatment for people with obesity.
As of January, New Hampshire’s Medicaid program has ended coverage for GLP-1 drugs like Saxenda, Wegovy and Zepbound for weight loss. The state still covers the medications when they’re part of a treatment plan for other chronic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, certain cardiovascular diseases, severe sleep apnea and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH).
According to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, the state paid managed care organizations $49.5 million to cover GLP-1 medications between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. The policy change in January reduced that cost to $41 million.
With these drugs gaining popularity, the state estimated that if were to resume covering GLP-1s for weight loss, it would need to spend an additional $24.2 million on top of the $41 million per fiscal year.
Jonathan Ballard, chief medical officer at DHHS, said the agency opposes the bill, which would require Medicaid coverage for anyone with a body mass index above 30 seeking GLP-1 medications specifically for weight loss.
Ballard said the state cannot afford such an expansion when budgets are already tight.
“The department does not have this money today,” he said. “So, living within the realities of our current budget, there will be significant trade-offs. We will have to cut other things that are very important to the health and well-being of New Hampshire to pay for this unless there’s some change.”
GLP-1 drugs carry a steep price tag that puts significant pressure on state budgets, particularly within Medicaid programs. Several states, including California, Pennsylvania and South Carolina, have moved to drop coverage of these medications for weight loss.
Prentiss initially drafted her legislation with private insurers in mind, but later pivoted to focus on Medicaid to serve more vulnerable populations. She is covered by commercial insurance and said the outcome of the bill will not personally affect her.
Lost coverage
GLP-1 medications mimic a natural hormone in the gut that helps regulate blood sugar, digestion and appetite.
Sarah Finn, section chief for obesity medicine at Dartmouth Health, said she has seen firsthand the impact on her patients after the state dropped Medicaid coverage for weight-loss GLP-1 drugs.
Without access to these medications, patients experience increased hunger, cravings and persistent “food noise,” as their bodies attempt to return to a higher fat percentage, a process known as metabolic adaptation, she said.
“This is the reality of the state I’m in right now, where I don’t have options except bariatric surgery for my Medicaid patients and a lot of times patients don’t want to do a surgery,” said Finn, at a hearing for the bill on Wednesday. “What I have to tell that patient is there’s nothing I could do to advocate.”
The Department of Health and Human Services faced a $51 million budget cut when the New Hampshire Legislature passed its biennial budget last year, forcing the department to reduce several services.
While Prentiss acknowledges the financial strain on the department, she wants the state to consider the long-term impact of using GLP-1s to prevent chronic conditions like diabetes, which is largely linked to weight gain and can drive up costs for the state over time.
“By driving down obesity, we can drive down the costs that are related to it,” she said.
Prentiss remains on GLP-1 medications and said she feels much healthier than before.
She said that after a few months on the drugs, her blood sugar levels and kidney function began trending toward more normal ranges.
“It’s not cosmetic,” she said. “Obesity is a medical condition.”
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