2026 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2026 United States gubernatorial elections.

2026 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

←  2024 November 3, 2026 2028 →

Party Republican Democratic

Incumbent Governor Kelly Ayotte Republican

The 2026 New Hampshire gubernatorial election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of the U.S. state of New Hampshire. Incumbent Republican governor Kelly Ayotte is eligible to run for a second term but has not stated if she will do so. Along with neighboring Vermont, this will be one of two Republican-held governorships up for election in a state that Kamala Harris won in the 2024 presidential election.

Republican primary

Candidates

Publicly expressed interest

• Corey Lewandowski, senior adviser to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security ^[1]

Potential

• Kelly Ayotte, incumbent governor (2025–present)

Declined

• Dan Innis, state senator (2016–2018, 2022–present) and candidate for New Hampshire’s 1st congressional district in 2014 (running for re-election) ^[1]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Jon Kiper, former Newmarket town councilor and candidate for governor in 2024 (previously ran as an independent) ^[2]

Publicly expressed interest

• Tom Sherman, former state senator from the 24th district (2018–2022) and nominee for governor in 2022 ^[3]

Declined

• Andru Volinsky, former New Hampshire Executive Councilor (2017–2021) and candidate for governor in 2020 ^[4]

Independents

Withdrawn

• Jon Kiper, former Newmarket town councilor, businessman, and Democratic candidate for governor in 2024 (Running as a Democrat) ^[2]

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report [5]	Likely R	September 11, 2025
Inside Elections [6]	Solid R	August 28, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball [7]	Likely R	September 4, 2025
Race to the WH [8]	Tossup	October 6, 2025

Polling

Hypothetical polling

Kelly Ayotte vs. Generic Democrat

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size [a]	Margin of error	Kelly Ayotte	Generic Democrat	Undecided
co/efficient (R) [9]	October 9–13, 2025	1,034 (LV)	± 3.1%	43%	40%	17%

See also

• 2026 United States gubernatorial elections

Notes

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear

References

1. Kashinsky, Lisa; Garrity, Kelly; Ward, Myah (October 2, 2025). "Lewandowski weighs bid against Gov. Ayotte amid White House pressure campaign". Politico . Retrieved October 2, 2025.
2. Sexton, Adam (September 2, 2025). "Kiper rejoins Democratic Party to continue campaign for New Hampshire governor". WMUR-TV . Retrieved September 2, 2025.
3. Sexton, Adam (May 2, 2025). "Tom Sherman considering campaign for governor or 1st District in 2026". WMUR-TV . Retrieved May 2, 2025.
4. Colson, Nicole (September 12, 2025). "On WKBK, Volinsky Urges Tax Reform to Fix N.H. School Funding". My Keene Now. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
5. "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
6. "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections . Retrieved February 7, 2025.
7. "2026 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
8. "Governor Forecast - 2026-2026". Race to the WH. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
9. "New Hampshire Senate 2026 General Election". co/efficient. October 13, 2025. Retrieved October 15, 2025.

External links

Official campaign websites

• Jon Kiper (D) for Governor