Claremont voters will help choose New Hampshire's next governor on Tuesday, Nov. 3, as Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte seeks reelection against Democrat Cinde Warmington and Libertarian Stephen Villee.

Ayotte, elected in 2024, is seeking a second two-year term. New Hampshire is one of two states with two-year gubernatorial terms, according to the New Hampshire Bulletin.

The candidates

Before becoming governor, Ayotte served as a U.S. senator from 2011 to 2017 and New Hampshire attorney general from 2004 to 2009.

Warmington served two terms on the New Hampshire Executive Council, an elected body that reviews certain decisions by the governor. She previously ran for governor in 2024 but lost the Democratic primary to Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig, who later lost to Ayotte in the general election.

Villee, a software designer, is running as the Libertarian candidate, according to the New Hampshire Bulletin's candidate guide.

What they're running on

Ayotte has pointed to her first-term record on crime and housing. She signed bail reform legislation, restrictions on cellphones in schools and several housing measures, she told WCAX in October.

Ayotte said she wants to implement those housing laws during a second term and continue focusing on public safety.

Warmington has promised to reverse budget cuts signed by Ayotte, legalize marijuana and dismantle the Education Freedom Account Program, which provides public funding for eligible education expenses outside traditional public schools.

Warmington has also made affordability a central issue. She has proposed temporarily suspending the state gas tax and pursuing consumer refunds related to tariffs.

Both candidates have called for a moratorium on new data centers amid concerns about their potential effects on communities, according to the New Hampshire Bulletin.

The opioid dispute

The candidates have also disagreed over their records involving the opioid crisis.

Warmington practiced health care law for approximately two decades, and her former clients included Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin.

Ayotte has criticized Warmington's past legal and lobbying work for the company, according to New Hampshire Public Radio.

Warmington has defended her past work, saying she was representing clients as an attorney and has argued that Ayotte's criticism overlooks her own political connections to Purdue's former owners.

The dispute has become one of the central disagreements in the campaign.

How to vote in Claremont

Claremont has three voting wards. Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, according to the city's voter registration and election information page.

Ward 1 and Ward 2 voters cast ballots at Claremont Middle School, 107 South St. Ward 3 voters cast ballots at Disnard Elementary School, 160 Hanover St.

New Hampshire allows same-day voter registration. People registering at their polling place must provide proof of identity, age, U.S. citizenship and domicile.

The New Hampshire Secretary of State lists acceptable documentation and explains the registration requirements. Student identification cards can no longer be used as proof of identity under guidance updated Oct. 22.

Voters who lack certain citizenship documents may qualify to use a qualified voter affidavit under the state's registration rules.

Residents can find their polling location and sample ballot through the Secretary of State's voter information lookup.