Former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte announced her candidacy for governor of New Hampshire

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte announced her candidacy for governor of New Hampshire on Monday, days after fellow Republican Chris Sununu declined to seek a fifth term. Ayotte, who became New Hampshire’s first female attorney general in 2004, would be the state’s third female elected governor, following Democrats Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan. Ayotte was elected to the Senate in 2010 but lost six years later to Hassan by just over 1,000 votes in one of the nation’s most closely watched contests. Since leaving Washington, she has served on several corporate and nonprofit boards. Ayotte said Monday she is returning to politics “to make sure that New Hampshire remains safe, prosperous and free.”