Ayotte or Craig will replace Republican Chris Sununu, who announced last year that he would not be seeking reelection. Sununu has been in office since 2016, serving four two-year terms. Before announcing he would not seek reelection, Sununu considered becoming a candidate for president, but he eventually decided not to run.

Ms. Ayotte entered the race with greater name recognition than the Democrat, Joyce Craig, and was seen as a natural successor to Gov. Chris Sununu, a moderate Republican.

Republican Gov. Chris Sununu’s decision not to seek a fifth two-year term set up on one of the most competitive gubernatorial races in the country, with voters choosing between one candidate trying to jump from local to statewide office and another seeking to bring federal experience to the Statehouse.