5 political differences between Kelly Ayotte and Joyce Craig in the NH governor's race

Public polls suggest Ayotte has a slight lead over Craig in the days leading up to Tuesday's election. For those living in New Hampshire, however, the real-world implications of this race are more important than the gamesmanship and political fireworks, as Ayotte and Craig disagree on key issues.

Here are five notable political differences between the former U.S. senator and the former mayor of Manchester:

Legalization of marijuana

New Hampshire is the only state in New England that has not legalized cannabis for recreational use. Lawmakers came closer to making a change than ever before this year but were unable to agree on a legalization model that would satisfy outgoing Gov. Chris Sununu, a Republican.

Craig said it's “about time” to legalize marijuana. She said she will work with lawmakers to implement a system to capture the revenue New Hampshire is currently “losing to surrounding states.”

Ayotte said she does not support legalization. At a recent campaign stop in Manchester, she cited unresolved concerns about potential impacts on young people, mental health and public safety.

“Right now I'm asking myself the fundamental question: Will it improve our quality of life in New Hampshire?,” she said. “And unfortunately the answer that I have right now to some of those concerns is… no.”

Taxation of certain income

New Hampshire does not have a broad-based income tax, and both Ayotte and Craig oppose the implementation of one. But they disagree over whether Sununu and lawmakers should have eliminated the interest and dividend tax, which is going away at the end of this year.

Ayotte, who enjoys Sununu's support, said the I&D tax is effectively an income tax that burdens retirees and small businesses. She and her allies have criticized Craig for wanting to reinstate a version of the tax that generated nearly $160 million in revenue in the 2022 fiscal year.

Craig said eliminating the I&D tax provided “tax relief for millionaires” at a time when the state government is expected to face a difficult budget cycle.

“I am running for governor to support cities and towns across New Hampshire,” she said, “and reduce out-of-state migration that results in higher local property taxes for hard-working Granite Staters.”

Protection of abortion rights

Democrats have been following the U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 Roe v. Wade has expressed concern about reproductive health care and argued that Ayotte's track record shows she cannot be trusted to protect abortion rights.

Ayotte has accused Democrats of scaremongering and said she will not sign a tougher abortion bill than New Hampshire's current law, which restricts abortions after 24 weeks of pregnancy. Pregnancies beyond this can only be terminated if there are medical emergencies or “fetal abnormalities incompatible with life.” Healthcare providers who violate the law risk civil and criminal penalties.

Craig has called on state lawmakers to adopt affirmative protections for abortion rights, using language similar to that used in all other New England states, and she says she will work to increase access to reproductive health services expand.

Protecting public safety

While concerns about public safety in Manchester were at the forefront of Ayotte's criticism of Craig, the two candidates agree that a bail reform package passed by New Hampshire lawmakers in 2018 created problems for law enforcement, including a “revolving door of criminals,” who were released after their arrest.

Craig joined others in pushing for changes that resulted in a bipartisan compromise this year. Her campaign told the New Hampshire Bulletin that as governor she would oversee implementation of the new law and “make further changes as necessary.” However, Ayotte said during a debate on WMUR that the latest compromise doesn't go far enough and further changes are “absolutely” needed.

Democrats rejected a bill this year that would have banned so-called “sanctuary city” policies that limit local authorities' cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Ayotte criticized Craig's opposition to the legislation and vowed to “strictly enforce a zero-tolerance policy toward sanctuary cities.” Craig claimed during the WMUR debate that she worked with the Manchester police chief on the matter because she recognizes that building trust within local communities is an important aspect of public safety.

To prevent gun violence, Craig called for a ban on the sale of semi-automatic weapons and high-capacity magazines. Ayotte has positioned herself as a defender of Second Amendment rights.

Enable school choice

New Hampshire has significantly expanded programs in recent years that allow K-12 students and their families to exert more control over how tax dollars are spent on schooling, including the state's Education Freedom Account program.

Ayotte has worked to continue this trend and work toward making school choice universal. She has also expressed support for so-called “parental rights” legislation, which is a priority for social conservatives.

However, Craig contends that New Hampshire's EFAs are an “out-of-control school voucher program that is costing taxpayers millions of dollars for private and religious schools” and that it should be ended. She also criticized socially conservative Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut and said she would call for his resignation.

More coverage:

The race for governor of New Hampshire is Ayotte vs. Craig – and Ayotte vs. Massachusetts.

Women have not always been welcome in New Hampshire politics.

“Is New Hampshire still a purple state?” Demographic change is shaping electoral politics.

Steven Porter can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @reporterporter.