With the state primary election over, it’s clear that the stakes for the future of reproductive freedom here in New Hampshire couldn’t be higher. With radical, anti-abortion candidates nominated by Republicans at every level of the ballot, it's critical that we hold these candidates accountable for their extreme positions and remind Granite Staters of their anti-reproductive freedom records and what’s at stake in November.
However, candidates like Ayotte, as well as the NHGOP at large, are continuing their pattern of desperately trying to hide their long record of restricting reproductive rights and deceive Granite Staters ahead of this year’s election. With this in mind, let's take a look at which elected officials we can trust to align with the vast majority of Granite Staters who believe abortion should be safe, legal, and accessible.
Ayotte Lying to Granite Staters on Abortion Record
Throughout her campaign, Kelly Ayotte has sought to cover up her past actions against women’s reproductive care, despite her well-documented anti-abortion track record. This summer, Ayotte released a video claiming that those who criticized her stance were simply “politicizing” her record.
However, this video conveniently neglects to mention her legislative record in the U.S. Senate, where in 2014, she demanded a vote on legislation that would have enacted a national abortion ban. It also excludes her vote in favor of the Blunt amendment, which would have allowed insurers and employers to deny coverage of IVF treatments, birth control, and more.
Ayotte’s anti-abortion track record also includes:
Calling for the overturning of Roe v. Wade, saying the decision was “wrongly decided.”
Voting four times to defund Planned Parenthood – the biggest provider of reproductive health care in the state of New Hampshire – and pledging to do the same as governor.
Voting so consistently against reproductive freedom that she was awarded a “100% rating” from The National Right to Life Committee, an anti-choice extremist group.
Cosponsoring the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act, which, along with the Blunt Amendment, would have allowed insurance companies and employers to deny employees coverage of birth control, fertility treatments like IVF, mental health care, and more.
Leading Trump’s team in shepherding his Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch, who ultimately supported overturning Roe v. Wade.
Ayotte’s hypocrisy only serves to emphasize that she, like the majority of the NHGOP, is more interested in her personal political goals than listening to the concerns and needs of Granite Staters, and she isn’t afraid to bend the truth to achieve it.
NHGOP’s Repeated Gaslighting on Reproductive Freedoms
Kelly Ayotte isn’t the only New Hampshire Republican trying to hide their anti-abortion stances. Earlier this year, the New Hampshire Republican Party tried to mislead voters about their extensive anti-abortion record through the launch of a website and corresponding press conference, even as an overwhelming majority of Granite Staters support abortion rights and oppose their extreme positions and policies on the issue.
In reality, the NHGOP has a deep history of undermining women’s rights. The truth:
NHGOP’s Anti-Choice Platform: The NHGOP platform still states they "believe that life is sacred, from conception to natural death," further emphasizing their commitment to restrictive reproductive policies.
Consistent Anti-Choice Voting Record: New Hampshire Republicans nationally and locally have a long history of supporting restrictive abortion measures. In 2021 the Republican legislature passed and Governor Sununu signed an abortion ban, the most restrictive abortion law in New Hampshire in modern history.
Blocking Attempts to Enshrined Constitutional Right To Abortion: 184 New Hampshire House Republicans voted against an attempt to codify the right to abortion in the New Hampshire constitution during a vote in February 2024, with all 9 Republican Senators following suit in rejecting the same attempt at a constitutional amendment. By blocking this constitutional amendment, they deliberately left the door open to make it easier for future abortion bans to pass in New Hampshire.
Support for Radial Anti-Abortion Candidate Trump: The New Hampshire Republican Party has vocally backed former President Donald Trump, who is responsible for Roe v. Wade being overturned, has advocated for punitive measures against doctors and women involved in abortion services, and is pushing for a new strict national abortion ban.
This hypocrisy from the NHGOP only serves as further proof that Granite Staters can’t trust the NHGOP or candidates like Kelly Ayotte with their reproductive freedoms. New Hampshire is the only state in New England that does not proactively protect abortion rights and with the lack of protections at the national level, the threat of further restrictions looms large.
Granite Post’s Voter Guide is Now Live!
For the last 9 months, the Granite Post has been delivering factual, relevant, pro-democracy, local news to New Hampshire. Just in time for the fall election season, Granite Post has launched their Voter Guide, which will provide information on how to register and to vote, as well as information on the candidates in key races across the state.
Please make sure you check out the Voter Guide before you head to the polls! And if you haven’t signed up for Granite Post newsletter, please sign-up here. They are also on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, and TikTok.
Thank you,
Ryan Mahoney
Executive Director