America’s new governor looks forward to “working with” the Trump administration

EXCLUSIVE: CONCORD, New Hampshire – Kelly Ayotte is becoming the country’s newest governor on Thursday when it opens at the New Hampshire State House.

The former U.S. senator, who previously served as the state’s attorney general, takes office in the key New England state a week and a half early. President-elect Trump is officially opened.

And Ayotte, who succeeded fellow Republican Gov. Chris Sununa in running the Granite State, says she looks forward to working with the Trump administration.

“I will work with the administration on behalf of New Hampshire and advocate for the Granite State on important priorities here: keeping the state safe, making sure that when it comes to federal resources that we advocate for New Hampshire, so I look forward to working with with the administration,” Ayotte said in an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital ahead of her inauguration.

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Former Sen. Kelly Ayotte, Republican gubernatorial candidate in New Hampshire, celebrates her victory in the gubernatorial election on November 5, 2024. (Kelly Ayotte Company)

During last year’s gubernatorial campaign, which ended with Ayotte defeating Democratic gubernatorial candidate and former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig by nearly 10 points in the November election, the problem of illegal immigration and border security has often been a focus in the state, which borders Canada and has long dealt with an acute fentanyl crisis.

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Ayot, who during the election campaign promised to prevent New Hampshire from becoming a haven for illegal immigrants, will get something Sununu hasn’t enjoyed for the past four years: a Republican in the White House.

“President Trump is going to enforce the law, and that’s important to me. And we have a northern border.”

Republican Governor-elect Kelly Ayotte, a former U.S. senator, is interviewed by Fox News Digital on January 7, 2024. at the State House in Concord, New Hampshire (Fox News – Paul Steinhauser)

Noting her work as the state’s attorney general, Ayotte said, “I believe it’s important that criminals are brought to justice. And as we look at New Hampshire, we will not allow New Hampshire to become a sanctuary state. And that’s why it’s important that we enforce our laws, we welcome legal immigration, but those who come here illegally, and especially those who commit crimes, must be held accountable.”

Elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010, Ayotte was a rising star in the Republican Party and considered a national security and foreign policy leader.

But Ayotte lost re-election in 2016 by a narrow margin of just over 1,000 votes at the hands of then-Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan.

Governor-elect Kelly Ayotte, left, and Governor Chris Sununu meet at the New Hampshire Governor’s Office in Concord, New Hampshire on November 7, 2024. (New Hampshire Governor’s Office)

Now that she’s taking over the Granite State, she said, “my No. 1 priority is to be a governor for everyone in New Hampshire, for all people, and to be accessible to the people of New Hampshire.”

“Making sure that we continue to grow our economy, our prosperity, our freedom here in New Hampshire, with a responsible budget where we live within our means but effectively serve the people of New Hampshire, those will be my priorities on day one,” — she added.

Ayotte, who made history nearly two decades ago as the state’s first female attorney general, made history again in November as the first Republican win the New Hampshire gubernatorial election.

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“We have so many strong women who have served in this state, it’s a great story,” Ayotte said. “There are so many examples of women who have led and great people who have also led.”

She said she “hopes that every young woman understands that whatever position she aspires to is within reach, and that we don’t even have these discussions about whether it’s a woman’s choice or a man’s choice, because it’s just the same. to make everyone realize that these opportunities are out there, and I think that’s what’s happening in New Hampshire.”