Craig and Goodlander set to lead New Hampshire Democrats into high-stakes November races

Former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig and former White House advisor and lawyer Maggie Goodlander won their respective Democratic primary contests for New Hampshire’s top races going into November 2024.

“Our state has real challenges that we need to address. But, taking on tough challenges and getting results is what I’ve done my entire career. I never back down from a fight. And we are up for a fight this November,” said Craig in remarks following her race being called.

Craig held an edge in all public polling leading up to the primary and that edge held throughout the night as results came in, holding 6% above opponent Cinde Warmington at press time, delivering her a strong win with especially high support in her home district of Manchester.

Goodlander captured a landslide victory over primary opponent Colin Van Ostern, capturing 63% of the vote compared to opponent Colin Van Ostern’s 36% at press time, easily overcoming his early advantages. Goodlander captured enthusiasm among grassroots supporters with a strong personal story on the need for robust abortion rights in a state where the overturning of Roe v. Wade and New Hampshire Republicans continued attempts to restrict abortion rights and reproductive healthcare in the state continues to galvanize voters.

“It is the honor of my lifetime to be elected as our Democratic nominee for Congress in New Hampshire’s second District. With so much on the line for hardworking New Hampshire families – from our reproductive freedoms, to economic fairness, to our own democracy – I’m going to work my heart out to bring us together and win in November,” said Goodlander following the win.

Both candidates’ opponents offered messages of unity following the primary result, saying the focus of the party needs to be on defeating Republicans in November.

The New Hampshire Democratic Party celebrated the selection of a candidate in the governor’s race, saying Craig’s long experience leading the city of Manchester prepared her for leading the state.

“Unlike Kelly Ayotte, Joyce will put Granite Staters’ interests first, fight to protect their most essential rights, and won’t cave to extremism. With the primary behind us, New Hampshire Democrats are fired up and ready to unite to flip the governorship and elect a leader who will make housing more affordable, deliver access to a quality public education, and ensure their reproductive freedom is protected,” said NHDP Chairman Ray Buckley.

On the Republican side, Kelly Ayotte dispatched her primary opponent as expected, setting the groundwork for a contest between Ayotte — a Republican with a long-track record of voting for a national abortion ban and pushing greater restrictions on IVF and women’s health, and Joyce Craig, who has spent her career defending Planned Parenthood from attacks by statewide Republicans.

While Goodlander’s opponent in New Hampshire’s 2nd congressional district will be Lily Tang Williams, a far right internet personality and former Libertarian Party Chair and Senate candidate from Colorado who came in third place in a primary contest for the seat in 2022.

Incumbent Congressman Chris Pappas’s opponent will be Russell Prescott, a former New Hampshire Executive Councilor who came in fourth place in the 2022 primary for the seat.