Dennis Martin heard “Don’t Mass Up New Hampshire” and he was sold. 

The U.S. Coast Guard veteran moved to Londonderry 24 years ago from the “People's Republic of communism, Massachusetts.” He hasn’t looked back. 

“This was the best slogan I’ve heard in a long time,” he said. “She’s a conservative and she’s definitely not going to make this turn into Massachusetts with crazy taxes.”

Martin, 65, stood among the crowd in Manchester, as Kelly Ayotte told him exactly what he wanted to hear. 

“We don’t know yet whether my Democratic opponent will be Cinde Warmington or Joyce Craig but they stand for the same things. They stand for higher taxes, higher crime, sanctuary cities,” she said in her victory speech Tuesday night that occurred before Craig was announced as the Democratic nominee.  “Let’s just be clear. They would ‘Mass up New Hampshire’.”

Minutes after the last polls closed in her hometown of Nashua, former State Sen. Chuck Morse called Ayotte to concede. Ayotte’s night was delayed by technical difficulties at her campaign event – she took to the stage at 8:45 p.m. – to thank supporters with her husband Joe, her mother, aunt and uncle by her side. 

As of nearly 10 p.m., the Associated Press called the Democratic race for Craig. She took a definitive lead over Warmington with 48.5% of the vote, while Warmington garnered 41.5% and Kiper took 9.9%.

The result was the end of an increasingly bitter primary as election day drew near. 

While Warmington made the case to voters that Craig’s tenure in Manchester would be indicative of her future in the corner office, Craig’s attacks on the executive councilor’s past as a Purdue Pharma lobbyist prevailed for some. 

In Manchester on Tuesday morning, Jim Breen, a 68-year-old Navy veteran in Manchester’s Ward 11, said Warmington’s lobbying history was the deciding factor between the two women for him. 

“The thing is, Cinde Warmington, seemed like a pretty decent person, but taking on, taking all that fentanyl money, or oxy money, that's what really killed it for me,” he said. 

 ‘Very down to earth’

From the polls to Bonfire in Manchester, where Ayotte held her campaign event, supporters shared the same refrain: they knew her personally. 

Charlie Pierson, 70, talked to Ayotte outside the Derry polls Tuesday, as he held signs for her throughout the day before heading up to Manchester for results. 

“It was like talking to your next-door neighbor,” he said. “Very down-to-earth person, very solid on family values, which is very important.” 

For Deborah Luszey, joining Ayotte on election night was a no-brainer. She’s known her for years, with Ayotte supporting her nonprofit, Operations Care for Troops, that sends care packages out to U.S. military. 

“We were packing on a Saturday, she had to go to an event, did the whole parade and came back and packed boxes just like a regular,” she said. “Just being a New Hampshire citizen and doing the right thing.” 

At the polls in Loudon, Edward Robinson, 65, voted for Ayotte in hopes that she’ll build off of Gov. Chris Sununu’s four-term tenure. Come November, the independent will split his ticket, though – electing anyone but Trump. 

“I vote for the candidate I think is going to do the best job regardless,” he said. “I wouldn’t vote for Trump. I’d vote for Mickey Mouse before that.” 

Ayotte said the same in 2016, publicly announcing she would not endorse Trump while she was in the U.S. Senate after his Access Hollywood tape leaked. She lost her seat by less than 1,000 votes to Sen. Maggie Hassan. 

Ahead of this election, though, Ayotte’s reversed course on Trump. Robinson doesn’t agree – but he isn’t surprised either. 

“Typical politicians,” he said. “They all do it, depending on where they need the votes.” 

Just over a year ago, Ayotte launched her bid for governor down the street in Manchester from her primary victory party. She ran for office again, after an eight-year hiatus, because “New Hampshire is worth it.” 

“The future of our state is at stake because the other side wants to take us down a very different path,” she said.

Craig looking ahead 

As Craig prepared to take the stage as she clinched victory over Warmington and Kiper, chants of "Our choice is Joyce!" filled the room.

Former Gov. John Lynch introduced her.

“Isn’t it a wonderful day? he said. “Gov. Joyce Craig, doesn’t that sound wonderful?”

Craig began her day telling supporters at the polls that the race for governor was akin to the 10 Boston Marathon’s she ran. Tuesday night, supporters felt she was ready to cross the finish line of her primary campaign

For two hours, supporters waited in the Rex Theater, as the stage was lined with campaign signs and illuminated with a green light. A soundtrack of “Take A Chance On Me” by ABBA and “We Built This City” by Starship played in the background. 

Bruno D’Britto, a Brazilian immigration lawyer in Nashua, attended the Craig’s event. To him, Ayotte was a threat to migrants in the state.

“She became outspoken that she's going to continue Sununu work against immigrants,” said D’Britto. “Their kids are going to school, they have a job that they can go to, they can continue contributing to the economy, and essentially you have oppression, they start living in fear.”

Another supporter, Rik Cornell – husband of Patricia Cornell, Craig’s campaign treasurer – thought state-wide problems like homelessness were not unique to Manchester, yet Craig took a hard fall for as mayor. 

“I think Joyce has a good understanding of what needs to happen to make things better,” he said. “I think she's gotten a rotten deal from a lot of people politically who haven't supported Manchester.”

In her victory speech, Craig praised her hometown before launching attacks at her new opponent. Now, it’s a sprint to November 5, she said. 

“I'll always be proud of the city where I was born, raised, met my husband, raised my family, and served as your mayor,” she said, “The truth is, Kelly is attacking our city and my record because she can't defend her votes as a U.S. Senate and her career as a shadow lobbyist for corporate special interests.”

Warmington in Concord  

Warmington began her day at Christa McAuliffe Elementary School in Concord to cheers from sign-holders and neighbors. 

By 10 p.m., a handful of supporters gathered by in Phenix Hall to watch the election results come in. 

To many Warmington supporters, her two terms on Executive Council as the lone Democrat, instilled confidence in how she would have served as governor.

Epsom resident and former social worker Steve Warner, 70, said it took him a millisecond to look at Warmington’s history and “know she was a slam dunk candidate.” 

“Cinde is gold for this state,” Warner said. “Nobody knows how much this person has to offer, coming out of the Executive Council.”

He especially appreciates her dedication to advocating for mental health and combating substance abuse.

Other supporters appreciated the personal connections she forged with her intended constituents.

Christine Miniman of Surrey met Warmington at a house party in Keene a   few months ago and thought her Council work seemed like “the perfect preparation for being governor.”

Miniman also loved her demeanor.

“She’s so warm and friendly,”  Miniman said. “I thought she’d be perfect for governor. That’s when I started supporting her, and I donated to her campaign.”

 As the night closed, Warmington pledged to support Craig in her campaign for the corner office. 

“While Joyce and I had our disagreements during this campaign, we both love this state and we both know we have to stop Kelly Ayotte from becoming our governor,” Warmington said in her concession speech. “This election was never about me. It was about you, and the future we want and need for our kids and grandkids.”