Kelly Ayotte facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kelly Ayotte
Ayotte in 2025
83rd Governor of New Hampshire
Incumbent
Assumed office January 9, 2025
Preceded by	Chris Sununu
United States Senator from New Hampshire
In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2017
Preceded by	Judd Gregg
Succeeded by	Maggie Hassan
27th Attorney General of New Hampshire
In office July 15, 2004 – July 17, 2009
Governor	Craig Benson John Lynch
Preceded by	Peter Heed
Succeeded by	Michael Delaney
Personal details
Born	Kelly Ann Ayotte (1968-06-27) June 27, 1968 (age 57) Nashua, New Hampshire, U.S.
Political party	Republican (2003–present)
Other political affiliations	Independent (before 2003)
Spouse	Joseph Daley ​ (m. 2001)​
Children	2
Education	Pennsylvania State University (BA) Villanova University (JD)

Kelly Ann Ayotte (born June 27, 1968) is an American lawyer and politician. She is the 83rd and current governor of New Hampshire. A governor is the leader of a state's government.

Before becoming governor, Ayotte served in other important roles. She was a United States Senator for New Hampshire from 2011 to 2017. A senator helps make laws for the whole country in Washington, D.C. She was also the attorney general of New Hampshire from 2004 to 2009, serving as the state's top lawyer.

Ayotte is a member of the Republican Party. She is one of only three women in U.S. history to have been elected as both a governor and a U.S. senator.

Early Life and Education

Kelly Ann Ayotte was born in Nashua, New Hampshire, on June 27, 1968. She grew up in Nashua and went to Nashua High School.

After high school, she went to Pennsylvania State University and studied political science. Later, she attended Villanova University School of Law and earned a J.D., which is a degree for lawyers. While in law school, she was an editor for the school's Environmental Law Journal.

Early Career

After finishing law school, Ayotte began her career in law. She first worked as a clerk for a judge at the New Hampshire Supreme Court. From 1994 to 1998, she worked for a law firm in Manchester.

In 1998, Ayotte started working as a prosecutor for the state of New Hampshire. A prosecutor's job is to represent the government in court cases. In 2003, she briefly worked as the legal counsel, or main lawyer, for Governor Craig Benson.

New Hampshire Attorney General

In 2004, Governor Benson appointed Ayotte to be the attorney general of New Hampshire. The attorney general is the highest-ranking lawyer and law enforcement officer for the state government. Ayotte was the first and only woman to ever hold this job in New Hampshire.

As attorney general, she worked on important legal issues for the state. For example, she joined other states to sue the federal government to make sure rules protecting clean air were kept strong. She was reappointed to the job twice by Governor John Lynch, who was from a different political party.

Ayotte left the position in 2009 to run for the U.S. Senate.

U.S. Senate

Ayotte's official U.S. Senate portrait, 2011

In 2010, Ayotte won the election to become a U.S. Senator for New Hampshire. She served one six-year term in the Senate, which is part of the U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C.

In 2016, she ran for reelection but lost to Maggie Hassan in a very close race. The final vote was decided by only 1,017 votes.

Work in the Senate

During her time as a senator, Ayotte worked on many different issues. She served on important groups called committees, including the Armed Services Committee and the Homeland Security Committee.

Helping Students and Businesses

Ayotte worked to improve education in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math). She wanted to encourage more girls and students from all backgrounds to study these subjects. She also supported programs that teach job skills in schools.

She also stood up for New Hampshire's fishermen. When a government agency wanted to pass new costs on to the fishermen, she brought officials to New Hampshire to hear from them directly. The agency later changed its plan.

National Security

As a member of the Armed Services and Homeland Security committees, Ayotte was seen as a leader on national security. She focused on making sure the United States was safe from threats. She supported a strong military and was a critic of the nuclear deal with Iran.

Supporting the Military and Veterans

Senator Ayotte meets with junior officers of the New Hampshire National Guard

Ayotte worked to support military bases in New Hampshire, like the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and Pease Air National Guard Base.

She also helped pass laws to improve healthcare for veterans (people who have served in the military). She wanted to make sure they could get medical care close to home. She also worked on laws to improve mental health services for veterans and their families.

Managing Government Money

Ayotte believed the government should be careful with its spending. She supported a balanced budget amendment, which would require the government to not spend more money than it takes in. She also worked on laws to get rid of wasteful spending in government programs.

Supporting Women and Families

Ayotte introduced a bill to help make sure men and women are paid equally for the same work. She also worked with Senator Jeanne Shaheen on a bill to protect pregnant women from being treated unfairly at work. She supported policies that would make it easier for working parents to have flexible schedules and find affordable childcare.

Post-Senate Career

After leaving the Senate in 2017, Ayotte served on the board of directors for several large companies. A board of directors helps guide a company's decisions. Some of these companies included Caterpillar Inc., News Corp., and BAE Systems.

Governor of New Hampshire

Senator Ayotte speaking at the 2013 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC)

In 2024, after Governor Chris Sununu announced he would not run again, Ayotte decided to run for governor of New Hampshire. She won the election against Democratic nominee Joyce Craig.

She took office on January 9, 2025. As governor, she is the head of the state's executive branch. Ayotte is the third woman to be elected governor of New Hampshire, after Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan.

Political Views

Kelly Ayotte is a member of the Republican Party. Her political views are generally considered fiscally conservative, which means she often supports lower taxes and careful government spending.

While in the Senate, she was ranked as one of the more bipartisan members, meaning she was willing to work with politicians from the Democratic Party to pass laws.

Personal Life

In 2001, Ayotte married Joseph Daley. He is a veteran of the Iraq War and used to be a pilot in the Air National Guard. Now, he owns a small business. They have two children.

Electoral History

See also

In Spanish: Kelly Ayotte para niños

• List of female state attorneys general in the United States
• Women in the United States Senate