America’s newest governor looks forward to “working with” the Trump administration

EXCLUSIVE: CONCORD, NH – Kelly Ayotte becomes the the new governor of the nation Thursday when it opens at the New Hampshire State House.

The former U.S. senator, who previously served as the state’s attorney general, takes office in the key New England state a week and a half early. President-elect Trump andis inaugurated

And Ayotte, who succeeds fellow Republican Gov. Chris Sununu at the helm of the Granite State, says he looks forward to working with the Trump administration.

“I will work with the administration on behalf of New Hampshire and advocate for the Granite State on important priorities here: keeping the state safe, making sure that when it comes to federal resources that we advocate for New Hampshire, so I look we look forward to working with the administration,” Ayotte said in an exclusive national interview with Fox News Digital ahead of his inauguration.

THE COMEBACK KID: ONE GOP RISING STAR RISES AGAIN WITH A BIG GOVERNOR VICTORY

Former Sen. Kelly Ayotte, the Republican candidate for governor of New Hampshire, celebrates her gubernatorial election victory on November 5, 2024. (Kelly Ayotte Campaign)

During last year’s gubernatorial campaign, which culminated with Ayotte defeating Democratic gubernatorial candidate and former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig by nearly 10 points in the November election, the issue of illegal immigration and border security was often in the spotlight in a state that shares a border with Canada and has long faced an acute fentanyl crisis.

WHAT IS THE SECURITY OF THIS PEOPLE’S REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR WHO DECIDED NOT TO SEEK RE-ELECTION

Ayotte, who pledged in the campaign to prevent New Hampshire of becoming a sanctuary state for illegal immigrants, it will have what Sununu did not enjoy for the past four years: a Republican in the White House.

“President Trump will enforce the laws, and that’s important to me. And we have a northern border.”

Republican Governor-elect Kelly Ayotte, former U.S. Senator, is interviewed by Fox News Digital on January 7, 2024 at the State House in Concord, NH. (Fox News – Paul Steinhauser)

Noting his tenure as the state’s attorney general, Ayotte said, “I think it’s important to hold criminals accountable. And as we look at New Hampshire, we’re not going to allow New Hampshire to become a sanctuary state. So it’s important. that we enforce our laws. We welcome legal immigration, but those who come here illegally and especially those who commit crimes must be held accountable.”

Elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010, Ayotte was a rising star in the GOP and regarded as a leader on national security and foreign policy.

But Ayotte lost re-election in 2016 by a margin of just over 1,000 votes to then-Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan.

Governor-elect Kelly Ayotte, left, and Governor Chris Sununu meet in the New Hampshire governor’s office at the State House in Concord, NH, on November 7, 2024. (New Hampshire Governor’s Office)

Now, as he takes over the Granite State, he said “my No. 1 priority is to be a governor for everyone in New Hampshire, for all the people, and to be accessible to the people of New Hampshire.”

“Making sure that we continue to grow our economy, our prosperity, our freedom here in New Hampshire, having a responsible budget where we live within our means but serve the people of New Hampshire effectively, those will be my priorities on the first day.” she added.

Ayotte, who made history nearly two decades ago as the state’s first female attorney general, made history again in November as the first Republican woman to win election as governor of New Hampshire.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“We have so many strong women who have served in this state, a great story,” Ayotte said. “There are so many examples of women who have led and great men who have also led.”

She said her “hope is that every young girl out there understands that whatever position she strives for is available to her, and that we’re not even having these discussions about whether a woman is elected or a man, because it’s the same for everyone to understand that those opportunities are there, and I think that’s what’s happening in New Hampshire.”