Career Timeline of Kelly Ayotte: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Kelly Ayotte built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Kelly Ayotte is an American attorney and politician currently serving as the 83rd governor of New Hampshire since 2025. As a member of the Republican Party, she previously served as a United States Senator for New Hampshire from 2011 to 2017. Prior to her senatorial tenure, Ayotte was the 27th Attorney General of New Hampshire from 2004 to 2009. Her career demonstrates a significant presence in New Hampshire's political and legal landscape.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

1994: Joined McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton

In 1994, Kelly Ayotte became an associate at the law firm McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton in Manchester.

1998: Left McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton

In 1998, Kelly Ayotte left her position as an associate at the law firm McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton in Manchester.

June 2004: Appointed Attorney General of New Hampshire

In June 2004, Craig Benson appointed Kelly Ayotte as the Attorney General of the state of New Hampshire after Peter Heed resigned from the position.

2006: Opposed bill to establish castle doctrine for New Hampshire

In 2006, Kelly Ayotte opposed a Republican-backed bill to establish a castle doctrine for New Hampshire.

2006: Prosecuted Michael Briggs Murder Case

In 2006, as attorney general, Kelly Ayotte prosecuted the high-profile case surrounding the murder of Manchester police officer Michael Briggs in the line of duty, which resulted in a conviction and death penalty sentence.

July 7, 2009: Resigned as Attorney General

On July 7, 2009, Kelly Ayotte resigned from her position as Attorney General to explore a run for U.S. Senate in 2010.

September 14, 2010: Won Republican Primary for U.S. Senate

On September 14, 2010, Kelly Ayotte, who had never previously run for office, narrowly won the Republican primary election for U.S. Senate.

September 2010: Defeated Ovide Lamontagne in Republican primary for U.S. Senate

In September 2010, Kelly Ayotte narrowly defeated lawyer Ovide M. Lamontagne in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate.

2010: Proposed 20% budget cuts

In 2010, Kelly Ayotte called for federal budget cuts to reduce the federal debt and deficits, proposing that every government department cut its budget by 20 percent.

2010: Criticized the 2008 bailouts

In 2010, Kelly Ayotte criticized the 2008 bailouts, stating that she wouldn't have supported TARP or the bailouts, and that the private sector shouldn't have been bailed out.

2010: Said Roe v. Wade should be overturned

In 2010, Kelly Ayotte said that Roe v. Wade should be overturned.

2010: Stated views on same-sex marriage

In 2010, Kelly Ayotte said that same-sex marriage should be a matter for the states to decide.

2010: Acknowledged climate change but opposed cap-and-trade and carbon tax

In 2010, when asked about climate change, Kelly Ayotte acknowledged some human impact but stated that the evidence wasn't conclusive. She also opposed both a cap-and-trade system and a carbon tax to reduce carbon emissions.

October 2011: Cosponsored bill on defense acquisition costs

In October 2011, Kelly Ayotte cosponsored a bill with John McCain to control costs associated with major defense acquisition programs. She also opposed the Defense Department's plan to retire the U.S.'s fleet of A-10 Thunderbolt II jets.

2011: Criticized Obama for troop withdrawal from Iraq

In 2011, Kelly Ayotte criticized President Obama for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq.

2011: Pushed for spending cuts during debt limit standoff

In 2011, during the standoff over increasing the national debt limit, Kelly Ayotte pushed for greater cuts in government spending and voted against the eventual deal.

2012: Voted to reauthorize Violence Against Women Act

In 2012, Kelly Ayotte voted to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.

2012: Voted against blocking EPA air pollution standards

In 2012, Kelly Ayotte voted with four other Republican senators to defeat a proposal to block the Environmental Protection Agency from issuing the first federal standards regulating air pollution from power plants.

2012: Mentioned as a possible running mate

In 2012, Kelly Ayotte was mentioned as a possible running mate for Republican nominee Mitt Romney in the presidential election.

November 2013: Called for a "time out" on the ACA

In November 2013, amid growing concerns over the launch of HealthCare.gov, Kelly Ayotte called for a "time out" on the Affordable Care Act (ACA), suggesting instead to "convene a group of bipartisan leaders to address healthcare concerns in this country because this is not working."

2013: Opposed Manchin-Toomey legislation

In 2013, Kelly Ayotte opposed legislation offered by Joe Manchin and Pat Toomey to mandate background checks for all commercial gun sales. She also voted for an amendment that would have increased access to mental health records for background checks and provided funding to prosecute background check violations, but the amendment did not pass.

2013: Voted against a carbon tax

In 2013, Kelly Ayotte voted for a point of order opposing a carbon tax or a fee on carbon emissions.

October 2014: Criticized Mahmoud Abbas in op-ed

In October 2014, Kelly Ayotte wrote an op-ed in The Hill criticizing Mahmoud Abbas, stating that the Palestinian Authority president "has embarked on a destructive course harmful to the prospects for rebuilding Gaza and achieving Israeli–Palestinian peace."

2014: Led passage of bill to reform military handling of sexual assaults

In 2014, Kelly Ayotte and Claire McCaskill led passage of a bill to reform the way the military handles sexual assaults, increase prosecutions, and improve support for survivors.

2014: Led a Republican effort to call for a vote on a bill to implement a 20-week nationwide abortion ban

In 2014, Kelly Ayotte led a Republican effort to call for a vote on a bill to implement a 20-week nationwide abortion ban.

March 2015: Voted for paid sick time amendment and offered flex-time bill

In March 2015, Kelly Ayotte voted for an amendment to establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund to allow employees to earn paid sick time. She also offered a bill to give private-sector employers the statutory authority to offer optional flex-time.

August 2015: Criticized transfer of Guantanamo prisoners

In August 2015, Kelly Ayotte criticized the transfer of 15 prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay detention camp to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), expressing concern about their ties to terrorism and potential resumption of terrorist activities.

October 2015: Endorsed Clean Power Plan

In October 2015, Kelly Ayotte became the first congressional Republican to endorse President Obama's Clean Power Plan, which sought a 32 percent cut in the power sector's carbon emissions. That same year she was one of five Republican senators to vote to pass a non-binding amendment stating that "climate change is real and human activity significantly contributes to climate change."

2015: Introduced Campus Accountability and Safety Act

In 2015, Kelly Ayotte and Kirsten Gillibrand introduced the Campus Accountability and Safety Act to combat sexual assault on college campuses and better support survivors.

2015: Voted to extend benefits to same-sex married couples

In 2015, Kelly Ayotte was one of 11 U.S. Senate Republicans who voted to extend Social Security and veterans' benefits to all same-sex married couples. The Human Rights Campaign gave Ayotte an 80% rating.

June 2016: Voted against background check amendment

In June 2016, Kelly Ayotte voted against an amendment that would have required background checks for gun sales at gun shows, over the internet, and between friends and family. She voted for other amendments related to funding the background check system and defining "mental competency", as well as amendments to block or delay gun sales to known or suspected terrorists, but all four amendments failed.

July 2016: Released plan to defeat ISIS

In July 2016, Kelly Ayotte released a comprehensive plan to defeat ISIS, including a "more aggressive" campaign of U.S. airstrikes against ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

2016: Legislation on birth control and Planned Parenthood funding

In 2016, Kelly Ayotte offered legislation to make birth control available over-the-counter without a prescription. She also voted to shift federal funding from Planned Parenthood to other community health centers. She received a 100% rating from National Right to Life and an 82% from the pro-life Campaign for Working Families.

2016: Defeated in Reelection Bid

In 2016, Maggie Hassan defeated Kelly Ayotte in her reelection bid by a narrow margin of 1,017 votes (0.14%).

2016: NARAL and Planned Parenthood ratings and criticism

In 2016, NARAL Pro-Choice America gave Kelly Ayotte a 15% rating, and pro-choice Planned Parenthood gave her a 6% rating. Also in 2016, Ayotte's Senate reelection campaign was criticized for giving away free condoms at the University of New Hampshire.

2017: Began working in the private sector

In 2017, after her Senate career ended, Kelly Ayotte began working in the private sector and was named to several corporate boards of directors.

2024: Supported current New Hampshire abortion law

In 2024, Kelly Ayotte said she supported current New Hampshire abortion law, which permits abortion on request until 24 weeks of pregnancy. She said she would veto any legislation to restrict abortion during the first 24 weeks. During her gubernatorial campaign, she reversed her previous position and said she opposed federal restrictions on abortion. Ayotte said she supported access to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.

2024: Elected Governor of New Hampshire

In 2024, Kelly Ayotte was elected as the governor of New Hampshire, defeating Democratic nominee Joyce Craig.

2024: Opposition to Laws Keeping Gender Identity Confidential

In 2024, while running for governor, Kelly Ayotte said she opposes laws that keep a student's gender identity confidential and supports laws requiring schools to inform parents about a student's gender identity at school.

2025: Vetoed anti-LGBT bills

In 2025, Kelly Ayotte vetoed two anti-LGBT bills: one that would have banned books with LGBT themes and another that would have created bathroom restrictions.