After losing the Democratic primary for governor in 2024, Jonathan Kiper launched a 2026 campaign as an independent candidate. However, after many months without a Democratic challenger for Ayotte, in September 2025 Kiper announced he was going to run as a Democrat again. He wrote, "I'm running for governor to address the three most pressing issues in our state which are: unsustainable property tax increases, a lack of affordable housing and the unconstitutional system of funding public education which sees the poorest towns in our state, paying the most and the rich paying the least towards public education."

Kelly Ayotte has vowed to keep New Hampshire on the "Sununu path." Like former Governor Chris Sununu, she has bucked her party on some hot issues. For example, she vetoed a bill that would have allowed some spaces to segregate based on biological sex (HB 148). That independent streak makes her more appealing to voters in the middle, and so far no Republicans are challenging her reelection. She has also focused on law-and-order issues in her first year as governor, tightening bail laws and restoring retirement benefits to law enforcement.