Kelly Ayotte

College affordability

Ayotte was a vocal proponent of reauthorizing the Perkins Loan program, as she argued roughly 5,000 New Hampshire students relied on it.

Healthcare

Ayotte favored repealing the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and repeatedly voted to repeal it. She called the ACA a "success tax" on successful businesses and said it drove up the costs of healthcare. In November 2013, amid growing concerns over the launch of HealthCare.gov, particularly relating to delays associated with initial online signups for health coverage, Ayotte called for a "time out" on the ACA, suggesting instead to "convene a group of bipartisan leaders to address healthcare concerns in this country because this is not working."

Ayotte supported state-administered healthcare programs such as SCHIP and federal tax credits that serve to reduce the number of uninsured.

Ayotte received the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's Congressional Award in recognition of her support for increasing mental health resources.

Ayotte advocated passage of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), which was intended to address opioid abuse. The bill would increase funding for treatment of addiction and allow nurses and physician assistants to treat substance use disorder with medication, which Ayotte said would increase the treatment options available.

Same-sex marriage and LGBT rights

Ayotte's views on same-sex marriage as well as adoption by same-sex couples have evolved with time. As New Hampshire's attorney general, she opposed requiring employers to provide benefits to same-sex couples, and sought to appeal a court ruling on the issue; the appeal was dropped after New Hampshire legalized civil unions.

In 2010, Ayotte said of same-sex marriage: "Ultimately I do think this is a matter for the states and states should decide how to define marriage. New Hampshire's already made that decision and I respect the decision." In 2015, she 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, which supports same-sex marriage and other gay rights, gave Ayotte an 80% rating.

Running for governor in 2024, 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. But Ayotte vetoed two anti-LGBT bills in 2025, one that would have banned books with LGBT themes and one that would have created bathroom restrictions. She said she believes "there are important and legitimate privacy and safety concerns raised by biological males using places such as female locker rooms and being placed in female correctional facilities" but that "At the same time, I see that House Bill 148 is overly broad and impractical to enforce, potentially creating an exclusionary environment for some of our citizens".

In 2001, Ayotte married Joseph Daley, an Iraq War veteran and former

A-10 pilot who flew combat missions in Iraq. Daley is retired from the Air National Guard and owns a small landscaping and snowplow business in Merrimack. She and Daley have two children.

Ayotte is a practicing Catholic.

During her U.S. Senate term, Ayotte was described as both a conservative Republican and a centrist. After her 2010 election, the Associated Press called her "a conservative Republican", and two years later NBC News described her "unique identity in the Senate as a Northeastern conservative Republican woman." She demonstrated centrist tendencies in her voting record and worked with Democrats on some issues. The New York Times described her as a moderate Republican. The Lugar Center at Georgetown University ranked Ayotte as the 11th most bipartisan member of the U.S. Senate during the 113th Congress. The American Conservative Union gave her a 64% lifetime score and the progressive Americans for Democratic Action gave her a 35% score; the nonpartisan National Journal gave her a composite score of 67% conservative and 33% liberal based on her voting record.

During her gubernatorial campaign, Ayotte expressed fiscally conservative positions, using the slogan "Don't Mass it up" to contrast her views "against more liberal Massachusetts to the south". She called herself a "strong conservative" while adding she would continue Sununu's legacy. Addressing voters after she was elected governor, she told those who did not vote for her that she was open to bipartisan cooperation.

Donald Trump

Ayotte initially backed Donald Trump's 2016 presidential bid before rescinding her endorsement before the election. She endorsed Trump's 2024 presidential bid.

Immigration policy

Ayotte voted for the comprehensive immigration reform bill (the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013) brought forward by the bipartisan Gang of Eight, calling it a "a thoughtful, bipartisan solution to a tough problem". In 2024, she retracted that support for a pathway to citizenship for immigrants. She has been a vocal critic of the practice of sanctuary cities and voted to withhold federal funding from municipalities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration officials. She also said in a debate that she supports a task force to patrol the U.S.-Canada border.

Ayotte did not support Hillary Clinton's proposal to bring an additional 65,000 Syrian refugees to the United States, unless stricter vetting was implemented to "guarantee to the American people that none of the individuals that are being brought to the United States have any connections to ISIS."

Economic policy

Minimum wage

Ayotte opposes increasing the minimum wage, and opposes federal legislation to index the minimum wage to inflation to reflect adjustments in the cost of living. She said she supports the current federal minimum wage but that "each state should decide what is best" when it comes to raising it.

Social Security

In 2010, Ayotte said she was open to raising the Social Security retirement age for younger workers in an effort to avoid long-term insolvency, but does not support changes for people at or near retirement.

Labor issues

Ayotte opposed passage of the Employee Free Choice Act ("Card Check"), which would have amended the National Labor Relations Act to allow employees to unionize whenever the National Labor Relations Board verified that 50% of the employees had signed authorization cards, therefore bypassing a secret ballot election.

In April 2014, the Senate debated the Paycheck Fairness Act. The bill would have punished employers for retaliating against workers who share wage information and put the justification burden on employers as to why someone is paid less while allowing workers to sue for punitive damages of wage discrimination. Ayotte said that one of her reasons for voting against ending debate on the bill was that Majority Leader Harry Reid had refused to allow votes on any of the amendments that Republicans had suggested for the bill. Ayotte offered her own equal pay bill, the Gender Advancement in Pay Act, which would implement New Hampshire's equal pay law at the federal level, but was "a little stronger in its anti-retaliation provision because it explicitly addresses written policies".

In April 2014, Ayotte voted to extend federal funding for unemployment benefits. Federal funding had been initiated in 2008 and expired at the end of 2013.

In March 2015, 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.

Fiscal policy (taxes and spending)

Ayotte favors a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution. She advocated for such an amendment as a member of the Senate Budget Committee.

In 2010, Ayotte criticized the 2008 bailouts, saying, "I wouldn't have supported the TARP or the bailouts... I do not think we should have bailed out the private sector."

Ayotte called for federal budget cuts to reduce the federal debt and deficits, proposing in 2010 that every government department cut its budget by 20 percent from current levels, though "some may cut more, some may cut less".

Ayotte favored the permanent repeal of the estate tax and has co-sponsored legislation to repeal the tax.

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

Ayotte pushed to end congressional earmarks and cosponsored legislation to ban the practice.

Financial regulation

Ayotte opposed the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. She said that the legislation failed to directly address problems with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and imposed additional regulatory burdens on community banks.

Climate and energy

In 2010, when asked about climate change, Ayotte acknowledged that "there is scientific evidence that demonstrates there is some impact from human activities" but added, "I don't think the evidence is conclusive." She opposed both a cap-and-trade system and a carbon tax to reduce carbon emissions. In 2012, Ayotte voted with four other Republican senators to defeat a proposal to block the Environmental Protection Agency from promulgating the first federal standards regulating air pollution from power plants. In 2013, she voted for a point of order opposing a carbon tax or a fee on carbon emissions.

Ayotte was one of two Republican senators to vote against a Republican measure introduced by Roy Blunt that sought to block President Obama from negotiating an international agreement on climate change. She voted to fast-track approval for the Keystone XL pipeline project.

In October 2015, Ayotte became the first congressional Republican to endorse a measure by President Obama dubbed the Clean Power Plan, which would seek 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."

Judiciary

Ayotte joined all Senate Republicans in refusing to hold a hearing on Merrick Garland's nomination to the Supreme Court. After leaving the Senate, she served as sherpa for Neil Gorsuch's nomination by Donald Trump to the vacancy. In this role, she led the White House team that guided Gorsuch through his confirmation process, escorting him to meetings and hearings on Capitol Hill.

Social issues

Abortion and reproductive rights

In 2024, 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 restricting abortion during the first 24 weeks. Previously, she said she opposed abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or danger to the life of the mother. In 2010, she said Roe v. Wade should be overturned. In 2014, Ayotte led a Republican effort to call for a vote on a bill to implement a 20-week nationwide abortion ban. In 2024, during her gubernatorial campaign, she reversed that position, saying she opposed federal restrictions on abortion. Ayotte said she supported access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment. This shift to a more pro-abortion stance was praised, but Planned Parenthood criticized Ayotte for opposing its state funding.

In the Senate, Ayotte offered legislation to make birth control available over-the-counter without a prescription, which she argued would increase access and allow flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts to be used to purchase it. She voted to shift federal funding from Planned Parenthood to other community health centers that also serve low- and middle-income women and families, but opposed an attempt to shut down the federal government over the issue. For 2016, Ayotte was given a 100% rating by National Right to Life and an 82% by the pro-life Campaign for Working Families.

For 2016, NARAL Pro-Choice America gave 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.

Violence Against Women Act

Ayotte voted to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act in 2012. In 2014, she and Claire McCaskill led passage of a bill to reform the way the military handles sexual assaults, increase prosecutions, and improve support for survivors. In 2015, she and Kirsten Gillibrand introduced the Campus Accountability and Safety Act to combat sexual assault on college campuses and better support survivors.

Gun policy

Ayotte supported the U.S. Supreme Court's decisions in McDonald v. City of Chicago and District of Columbia v. Heller, which invalidated strict gun laws in Chicago and Washington. In 2006, she opposed a Republican-backed bill to establish a castle doctrine for New Hampshire.

In 2013, Ayotte opposed legislation offered by Joe Manchin and Pat Toomey to mandate background checks for all commercial gun sales. As part of the debate over Manchin-Toomey, Ayotte voted for an amendment that would have increased access to mental health records for background checks and provided funding to prosecute background check violations. The amendment did not pass.

In June 2016, Ayotte voted against an amendment offered by Chris Murphy that would have required background checks for gun sales at gun shows, over the internet, and between friends and family. She voted for an amendment to increase funding for the background check system and enhance the definition of "mental competency" for purchasing firearms. She also voted for two amendments to block or delay the sale of firearms to known or suspected terrorists. All four amendments failed.

In the Senate, Ayotte supported proposed compromises on contentious gun legislation. She was part of a bipartisan group of eight senators who supported compromise legislation to close the "No Fly, No Buy" loophole and ensure people on the No Fly list could not purchase firearms.

Foreign policy

Ayotte chaired the Senate Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee and was a leading voice in the hawkish wing of the Senate Republican Conference. She opposed the Iran nuclear deal and called for strict new sanctions on Iran. Ayotte also backed new sanctions on North Korea in the wake of purported nuclear tests and called for a tougher stance on Russia.

Israeli–Palestinian conflict

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

Defense spending

In October 2011, Ayotte cosponsored a bill with John McCain to control costs associated with major defense acquisition programs. She opposed the Defense Department's wish to retire the U.S.'s fleet of Cold War-era A-10 Thunderbolt II jets and redirect those funds elsewhere, arguing that there was no adequate replacement for the plane and citing her husband's experiences flying the A-10 while in the Air Force.

Iraq, Syria, and ISIS

Ayotte criticized President Obama for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq in 2011.

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

Guantanamo Bay prisoners

Ayotte fought attempts by the Obama administration to try terrorism suspects in civilian federal courts. She opposed the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp and introduced a bill in the Senate that would block its closure and ban any transfer of detainees to the United States.

Ayotte criticized the August 2015 transfer of 15 prisoners from the Guantanamo Bay detention camp to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), saying she believed the released prisoners had dangerous ties to terrorism and would resume terrorist activity. She said that the Pentagon told her in 2015 that 93 percent of the detainees in Guantanamo Bay were considered "high risk" for returning to terrorist activities.

Ayotte authored and released an unclassified report that summarized information about the 107 original detainees at Guantanamo Bay, including the detainees' affiliations and terrorist activities before their detention. She pushed for the Pentagon to publicly disclose more details about the detainees; the Pentagon currently releases only detainees' names and countries where they are transferred.