N.H. governor’s race rocked by Healey comments over alleged migrant child rape

Former U.S. Senator and candidate for New Hampshire governor Kelly Ayotte is calling on her Democratic opponent to reject an endorsement by Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, over comments the Bay State’s chief executive made after it was learned a migrant housed by the state allegedly raped a disabled child.

Ayotte, in a Monday morning statement to supporters, called on former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig to “denounce” Healey’s endorsement of her campaign.

The call comes after Cory Alvarez, a 26-year-old migrant sheltered by the state at Comfort Inn in Rockland, allegedly raped a 15-year-old disabled girl. Alvarez has pleaded not guilty in Hingham District Court to one count of aggravated rape of a child and is being held in jail ahead of a dangerousness hearing scheduled for Friday.

“It’s a horrible situation. It’s a horrible allegation. My thoughts are with the victim and her family,” Healey told Boston25. “I think we have the right systems in place. Unfortunately this is a terrible incident.”

When asked if future acts of violence could be prevented by a more stringent vetting process, Healey said that Alvarez was in the U.S. legally according to federal law and that “it is unfortunate, from time to time, things will happen.”

According to Ayotte, the Commonwealth’s governor went too far.

“This is the problem with politicians. There are real consequences for these dangerous sanctuary policies and when the system fails our children, it is not good enough to say it will happen — it is unacceptable, and it must be fixed. Maura Healey should be ashamed of herself,” Ayotte said in a statement.

Craig received Healey’s endorsement last July, not long after she announced she would take a run at the executive seat currently occupied by Republican Gov. Chris Sununu, who is not seeking reelection.

Ayotte has hammered Craig on her leadership of the state’s Queen City, claiming that the Democrat supports “radical immigration policies like Sanctuary Cities” and warning that a statewide emergency declared in Massachusetts foreshadows a similar threat facing New Hampshire.

“Unfortunately, Joyce Craig agrees with her Massachusetts mentor’s dangerous sanctuary policies and would bring this crisis to New Hampshire. Craig needs to denounce Healey’s endorsement, and once and for all condemn sanctuary policies,” Ayotte said.

Craig’s campaign staff did not return a request for comment by press time.