Kelly Ayotte was elected governor of New Hampshire on Tuesday, defeating Democratic former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig to keep the office under Republican control for another two years. Republican Gov.

Former Sen. Kelly Ayotte has won the New Hampshire governor’s race, NBC News projects, defeating Democrat Joyce Craig to keep the seat in Republican hands. Ayotte will succeed Republican Gov. Chris Sununu, who declined to run for a fifth two-year term.

New Hampshire's governorship will stay in Republican hands after former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte beat Democratic opponent Joyce Craig to return to the Granite State's political spotlight, AP reports.

Kelly Ayotte is poised to become the next governor of New Hampshire. With about 47% of the vote tallied, Ayotte held a lead of 51.2% over her opponent, former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig who had 46.8%.

Former GOP Sen. Kelly Ayotte defeated Democratic challenger Joyce Craig, a former mayor, to win the New Hampshire governorship in a tossup state, the Associated Press projected. With 57% of the vote tallied,

Ms. Ayotte entered the race with greater name recognition than the Democrat, Joyce Craig, and was seen as a natural successor to Gov. Chris Sununu, a moderate Republican.

N.D., is projected to win the North Dakota gubernatorial race, replacing sitting Gov. Doug Burgum, who ran for president.

New Hampshire's governorship will stay in Republican hands after former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte beat Democratic opponent Joyce Craig to return to the Granite State's political spotlight, AP reports. The big picture: The race was seen as one of the most competitive gubernatorial contests in the country and Democrats' best hope to flip a governor's mansion to the blue column.