This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2025 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by <a href="https://www.factset.com/" data-omtr-intcmp="topnav_more_factset">Factset</a>. Powered and implemented by <a href="https://www.factset.com/solutions/business-needs/digital-solutions" data-omtr-intcmp="topnav_more_factset_digital_solutions">FactSet Digital Solutions</a>. <a href="https://www.factset.com/privacy" data-omtr-intcmp="topnav_more_factset_privacy">Legal Statement</a>. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by <a href="https://lipperalpha.refinitiv.com/" data-omtr-intcmp="topnav_more_refinitive_info">Refinitiv Lipper</a>. <br>Incoming New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte talks about President Trump and securing the northern border of her state with regard to immigration and border security.<br><strong>EXCLUSIVE: </strong>CONCORD, N.H. — Kelly Ayotte becomes the <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/politics/state-and-local/governors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nation's newest governor </a>on Thursday when she's inaugurated at the New Hampshire State House.<br>The former U.S. senator, who previously served as a state attorney general, takes office in the key New England swing state a week and a half before<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/person/donald-trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> President-elect Trump i</a>s inaugurated.<br>And Ayotte, who succeeds fellow Republican Gov. Chris Sununu in steering the Granite State, says she looks forward to working with the Trump administration.<br>"I'll 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're advocating for New Hampshire, so I look forward to working with the administration," Ayotte said in a national exclusive interview with Fox News Digital ahead of her inauguration.<br><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/one-time-gop-rising-star-reveals-work-with-trump-admin-after-victory-key-race" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>THE COMEBACK KID: ONE-TIME GOP RISING STAR RISES ONCE AGAIN WITH MAJOR GUBERNATORIAL VICTORY</strong></a><br><span>Former Sen. Kelly Ayotte, the Republican gubernatorial nominee in New Hampshire, celebrates her election victory for governor on Nov. 5, 2024.</span> <span>(Kelly Ayotte campaign)</span><br>During last year's gubernatorial campaign, which culminated with Ayotte defeating Democrat gubernatorial nominee and former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig by nearly 10 points in November's election, the <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/immigration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">issue of illegal immigration</a> and border security was often in the spotlight in a state that shares a border with Canada and has long dealt with an acute fentanyl crisis.<br><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/whats-next-popular-republican-governor-after-he-leaves-office" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>WHAT'S NEXT FOR THIS POPULAR REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR WHO DECIDED AGAINST SEEKING RE-ELECTION</strong></a><br>Ayotte, who pledged on the campaign trail to prevent <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/us-regions/northeast/new-hampshire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Hampshire </a>from becoming a sanctuary state for illegal migrants, will have what Sununu didn't enjoy the past four years: a Republican in the White House.<br>"President Trump is going to enforce the laws, and that's important to me. And we have a northern border."<br><span>Republican Gov.-elect Kelly Ayotte, a former U.S. senator, is interviewed by Fox News Digital on Jan. 7, 2024, at the State House in Concord, N.H.</span> <span>(Fox News - Paul Steinhauser)</span><br>Noting her tenure as a state attorney general, Ayotte said, "I believe it's important that criminals are held accountable. And as we look at New Hampshire, we're not going to allow New Hampshire to become a sanctuary state. And 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 need to be held accountable."<br>Ayotte was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010 and was a rising star in the GOP and regarded as a leader on national security and foreign policy.<br>But Ayotte lost re-election in 2016 by a razor-thin margin of just over 1,000 votes at the hands of then-Democrat Gov. Maggie Hassan.<br><span>Gov.-elect Kelly Ayotte, left, and Gov. Chris Sununu meet in the New Hampshire governor's office at the State House in Concord, N.H., on Nov. 7, 2024.</span> <span>(Office of New Hampshire governor)</span><br>Now, as she takes over running the Granite State, she said that "my No. 1 priority is being a governor for everyone in New Hampshire, for all the people, and being accessible to the people of New Hampshire."<br>"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 day one," she added.<br>Ayotte, who made history nearly two decades ago as the state’s first female attorney general, made history again in November as the first <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/politics/elections/republicans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Republican woman</a> to win election as New Hampshire governor.<br><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/apps-products?pid=AppArticleLink" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><u>CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP</u></strong></a><br>"We have so many strong women that have served in this state, a great history," Ayotte said. "There are so many examples of women who have led and great men who have led, too."<br>She said her "hope is that every young girl out there understands that whatever position she strives to attain, it's available to her, and that we aren't even having these discussions about whether a woman's elected or a man's elected because it's just equal for everyone to understand that those opportunities are there, and I think that's what's happening in New Hampshire."<br>Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content.<br>By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a> and <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/terms-of-use">Terms of Use</a>, and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time.<br>Subscribed<br> You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! <br> This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2025 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by <a href="https://www.factset.com/" data-omtr-intcmp="footer_factset">Factset</a>. Powered and implemented by <a href="https://www.factset.com/solutions/business-needs/digital-solutions" data-omtr-intcmp="footer_factset_digital_solutions">FactSet Digital Solutions</a>. <a href="https://www.factset.com/privacy" data-omtr-intcmp="footer_factset_privacy">Legal Statement</a>. 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