Cinde
Warmington

NHPR and New England College advertised a public candidate forum scheduled for October 22 in Manchester featuring both gubernatorial nominees. As of October 11, the event had not yet taken place.

The Union Leader reported that four Ayotte–Warmington joint appearances were planned, with the first being an October 20 Manchester Chamber of Commerce event before the Institute of Politics. The debate had not yet taken place as of October 11.

The Union Leader reported that prominent Democrats were publicly criticizing what they described as inadequate financial backing for Warmington from wealthy donors and outside organizations. The paper also reported the Sierra Club had endorsed Warmington and that her campaign was debuting a digital ad featuring Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais endorsing her.

WCAX reported Warmington was proposing to suspend the state gas tax and seek consumer refunds related to tariffs. Both candidates had also pledged not to support a broad-based sales or income tax.

An AARP New Hampshire poll reported Ayotte leading Warmington 52% to 45%, with 3% undecided and a 3-point margin of error. Among voters age 50 and older, Ayotte led 57% to 40%.

NHPR summarized attacks by Ayotte's campaign over Warmington's past legal and lobbying work for Purdue Pharma and a pain-clinic chain. Warmington said her Purdue work was long ago and that she was misled. Warmington's allies countered by criticizing Ayotte's opioid record. NHPR noted it was unclear whether the controversy was changing voters' views.

Warmington called for three state Supreme Court justices to recuse themselves pending an investigation related to circumstances surrounding Justice MacDonald's resignation. The demands and allegations were made by her campaign and are not findings of wrongdoing.

Warmington's campaign reported she received 126,223 votes in the primary compared with 100,920 for Ayotte. These figures were presented in a campaign fundraising and election memo dated September 28.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who chairs the Democratic Governors Association, appeared with Warmington in Concord and expressed support. He did not disclose a financial commitment from the DGA. Reporting also noted Warmington had raised less than $1 million in the latest filing period, compared with Ayotte's $6.4 million.

A University of New Hampshire Granite State Poll of 1,418 likely voters (surveyed September 17–21) showed Ayotte ahead 47% to 43%, within the ±2.6 point margin of error. Warmington's campaign characterized the result as a statistical tie.

Warmington visited C&J Bus Lines as part of a campaign tour. She discussed funding the state's Housing Champions program to address affordability and said she would pursue a temporary pause in the state gas tax.

Following Justice Gordon MacDonald's resignation, Warmington called for public hearings on the state Supreme Court. The demand and its allegations were stated by her campaign.

Warmington's campaign stated she supported a data-center moratorium and pledged to issue a Day One executive order on the issue if elected. The campaign also deployed a billboard truck highlighting Ayotte's data center record.

In the New Hampshire state primary, Warmington advanced unopposed as the Democratic nominee for governor. Ayotte won the contested Republican primary, setting up the November general election matchup.