Kelly Ayotte

Candidate's Website, 2023

"Kelly will fight for Universal education freedom because every child should have the same learning opportunities and chance at success, regardless of their zip code or family income."

WMUR, 2023

"The majority of people in New Hampshire support our current law, and our current law gives access to abortion up to six months, and then in the last three months of pregnancy, women can still get access, in consultation with their doctors, if they have a medical emergency, or God forbid a fatal fetal anomaly impacts their baby. And I think that current law really is a consensus here in New Hampshire, and that's what I plan to support as governor, and I don't plan to change it."

Candidate's Website, 2023

"Kelly will never allow an income or sales tax to be imposed in New Hampshire."

Candidate's Website, 2023

"Kelly will never allow an income or sales tax to be imposed in New Hampshire."

Candidate's Twitter Feed, 2023

Ayotte has not said whether she would support further business tax cuts in New Hampshire. However, she made clear she does not support an increase. In July 2023 she twetted, "On CloseUp Joyce Craig couldn’t answer the simple question of whether or not she would raise taxes on New Hampshire's small business owners. My answer is simple — no new taxes, period."

Candidate's Website, 2013

"We need immigration reform that serves the best interests of our country - a solution that finally secures our southern border, implements an employment verification system, stops future waves of illegal immigrants, deports undocumented criminals, creates a tough but fair means for those who are here illegally to earn citizenship, and allows high-skilled and other needed legal immigrants to work here and help grow our economy."

Candidate's Website, 2016

"She believes that education decisions are best made locally - not in Washington. That's why she backed bipartisan education reform that returns control to the local level, lets states and local school districts decide which standards make sense for their students, and gives parents a stronger voice in the way their kids are educated."

Candidate's Website, 2023

Ayotte does not specifically address zoning changes on her website. However, she writes, "As Governor, Kelly will empower the private sector and explore new options to address the rising cost and shortage of housing across the state."

Candidate's Website, 2014

"Some of my colleagues want to expand the broken background check system we have now. In my view, we shouldn't be expanding a flawed system. The focus should be on fixing the existing system, which criminals are flouting. We need to make sure we are enforcing current law and prosecuting those who attempt to illegally obtain firearms."

Candidate's Website, 2016

"Like most working parents, Kelly and Joe keep a close eye on their household budget and put money away for major expenses down the road. Kelly believes that the federal government should have to live within its means, just like we do here in New Hampshire.

"That's why she helped pass the first balanced budget in 14 years and why she's cutting out-of-control spending, eliminating duplicative and wasteful programs, and pushing for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution."

Candidate's Website, 2015

"U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte today announced she will support the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan, which sets targets to reduce carbon emissions from power plants in order to address climate change."

Candidate's Website, 2016

Although Ayotte does not support an outright flat tax, her website states, "Kelly also backs a simpler, fairer tax code that lowers taxes for families and small businesses."

Candidate's Website, 2015

"I do not support the use of taxpayer dollars to fund a private organization that performs hundreds of thousands of abortions each year and harvests babies' body parts, which is why I voted to redirect funding to community health centers that provide women's health services such as cancer screenings, mammograms, and contraceptives."

Other, 2009

Although Ayotte has not staked a position on the enforcement of federal marijuana laws, as New Hampshire Attorney General she wrote a letter opposing medicinal marijuana. The letter stated, "Marijuana is an addictive drug that poses significant health consequences to its users... Studies have shown that very few young people turn to illegal drugs such as cocaine or heroin without first experimenting with marijuana. The New Hampshire law enforcement community works diligently to discourage young people from venturing down that path. Those efforts will be significantly undermined by the passage of legislation legalizing the use of marijuana to any degree."

Candidate's Website, 2016

"Kelly is pushing for a much stronger response to defeat ISIS, including bringing together NATO and our allies in the region, ramping up efforts to take out strategic targets, and denying ISIS the safe havens it now enjoys in Iraq and Syria."

Project Vote Smart Survey, 2010

"She said she is not an advocate for taking Washington out of education altogether; she wants to 'detangle federal requirements' and support school choice, charter schools, and home schooling."

Candidate's Website, 2015

"To reduce our dependence on foreign regimes that are hostile to the United States, she wants to expand domestic sources of energy - including environmentally responsible oil and natural gas production."

Candidate's Website, 2023

"On day one, Kelly will work to strengthen penalties for heroin and fentanyl dealers. In particular, Kelly will work with law enforcement to prosecute dealers who come over the NH-MA border from the drug hubs of Lowell and Lawrence to the fullest extent of the law."

Candidate's Website, 2016

Ayotte supports the Veterans Choice Card program, which allows veterans to receive care at private health care facilities.

Candidate's Website, 2016

"The United States currently has the second highest corporate tax rate in the industrialized world; Kelly wants to see it reduced to keep jobs at home."

Other, 2009

"Ayotte said she is pro-life. She later clarified that she would support abortion in limited cases, such as rape, incest or medical emergency."

Candidate's Website, 2023

"While Joe Biden’s open border policies have led to an exponential increase of illegal crossings at our northern border, New Hampshire’s Border Patrol units in the North Country are severely understaffed. As Governor, Kelly will strictly enforce immigration laws throughout our state and provide additional resources for northern law enforcement to aid in immigration enforcement.

"Kelly will require businesses to use E-Verify, block any attempt to give driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, and strictly enforce a zero-tolerance policy for sanctuary cities in New Hampshire."

Candidate's Website, 2014

Supports allowing insurance to be purchased across state lines, enabling small businesses to form insurance pools, and expanding health savings accounts.

Candidate's Website, 2015

"I believe the New Hampshire Supreme Court made the right decision in upholding the death penalty for Michael Addison. The sentence was the appropriate and just punishment for a violent career criminal who was responsible for the murder of Michael Briggs, a decorated Manchester police officer who dedicated his life to serving the community."

Other, 2013

"I don't think it's an accident that administrations from two very different philosophies have supported keeping this program in place."

Candidate's Website, 2015

"As a member of the Seapower Subcommittee, Senator Ayotte has served as one of the leading advocates in Congress for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and the American naval supremacy that is so crucial for U.S. security and prosperity."

Nashua Telegraph Voter Guide, 2010

Open to raising the Social Security retirement age for young workers.

Other, 2016

"Because of Obamacare, families are facing higher deductibles, higher copays, and less choice. We need to focus on reforms that reduce health care costs, increase competition and allow greater patient choice. I've worked to expand health saving accounts and provide relief from provisions that hurt New Hampshire families, including the medical device tax, the Cadillac tax, and the employer mandate."

Other, 2023

A spokesman for Ayotte told the Union Leader, "Like most people in New Hampshire, Kelly agrees with current law, which aligns us with a majority of states in addressing abortion after six months of pregnancy." This referenced New Hampshire's current ban on abortion after 24 weeks, with exceptions for the life of the mother and fatal fetal anomaly.

Candidate's Website, 2015

"This law is killing small banks. Ayotte is sponsoring a bill to fix that by exempting small banks from some Dodd-Frank regulations."

Candidate's Website, 2023

"Kelly is a strong advocate and defender of our Second Amendment rights. In the Senate, Kelly protected our right to keep and bear arms and fought back against repeated efforts by the left to eliminate or diminish those rights. Kelly sponsored legislation to establish concealed carry reciprocity, so that our right to self-defense would be fully protected while traveling state-to-state. Kelly also fought back against Barack Obama’s plans to fund a United Nations Arms Trade Treaty that would have restricted the Second Amendment rights of American citizens. As Governor, Kelly will defend our constitutional carry status and block the Biden Administration’s efforts to infringe on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Granite State gun owners."

Candidate's Website, 2015

Ayotte sponsored a bill that would allow students to refinance loans in the private sector. "Our legislation would give borrowers flexibility, allowing them to save money by refinancing their student loans the way they would refinance a mortgage. And to better support our younger generation of workers, this bill would allow employers to help qualified employees pay off their student loan debt with pre-tax dollars."

Other, 2015

Ayotte voted in favor of fast-tracking the TPP.

Candidate's Website, 2015

Opposes the Obama administration's nuclear deal with Iran.