New Hampshire Republicans contend with the Trump Era

New Hampshire's Republican Party is grappling with the legacy of Donald Trump, who won the state's 2024 presidential election. As the party tries to navigate this shift, moderates are being squeezed out by a rising tide of MAGA supporters.

The state has long been known for its moderate politics, but that may no longer be the case. According to Andrew Smith, director at the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, Trump's victory has led to moderates "laying low." The MAGA movement is gaining traction in the state, with some Republicans running on a more extreme platform.

Despite this, Republican Governor Kelly Ayotte remains in office, despite being a moderate. She has managed to stay ahead of potential challengers by threading the needle around parts of Trump's national agenda. However, her efforts may not be enough to prevent the party from becoming more Trumpian.

Ayotte's approach is described as "New Hampshire-first," where she tries to channel the state's classic Republican politics while dealing with Trump as little as possible. This approach has earned her praise from some, but criticism from others who argue that it's not enough to distance herself from Trump entirely.

The party's leadership is now under pressure to adopt a more Trumpian approach, or risk facing tougher challengers. A potential challenge to Ayotte's governorship comes in the form of Corey Lewandowski, a Trump ally and de facto chief of staff for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. While Lewandowski has downplayed his interest in running for office, some Republicans are eager to see him take on Ayotte.

The Senate seat up for grabs in 2026 will also be a battleground between moderate Republican John E. Sununu and right-wing Scott Brown. Sununu has taken a hardline stance against Trump, while Brown has expressed admiration for the president's policies.

For now, New Hampshire Republicans are walking a tightrope, trying to balance their loyalty to the state's classic Republican politics with the reach of Trumpism. If they fail to adapt, they may face significant challenges in the future.

I'm getting this vibe that Ayotte's 'New Hampshire-first' approach is more about survival than actual policy changes . It's like she's trying to keep the party afloat by appeasing everyone except Trump, but ultimately, that's just delaying the inevitable. The MAGA movement is gaining momentum and it's only a matter of time before the whole party gets swept up in it . Meanwhile, I'm curious about Sununu vs Brown - it'll be interesting to see how the moderates hold up against this new wave of Trump loyalists .

I'm not surprised to see the NH GOP getting eaten up by MAGA supporters... it's like they're intentionally trying to lose control. The fact that moderates are "laying low" is pretty clear - Trump's winning ways have got them scared . And what's with this "New Hampshire-first" approach from Gov Ayotte? It's just a weak attempt to distance herself from Trump without actually doing anything about it. Meanwhile, Lewandowski is just waiting in the wings, ready to pounce on anyone who thinks they can take down Ayotte. The party leadership needs to get their act together and stop playing games... or risk getting steamrolled by Trumpian candidates . It's going to be a long 2-4 years for NH Republicans...

I'm worried about what's happening to the Republican Party in New Hampshire... They're supposed to be all about moderate politics, but now it seems like Trump is dominating everything. Moderates are getting pushed out and Ayotte is trying this "New Hampshire-first" approach, which is cool, I guess, but not really enough to distance herself from Trump. It's like she's stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I don't think Lewandowski would make a great governor, though... he seems too tied to Trump and it's hard to see him doing anything other than what the president wants. And with Brown running for Senate, it just feels like the party is becoming more extreme by the day. What's next? Is this how politics is supposed to work now?

I think it's gonna be super easy for Corey Lewandowski to take down Kelly Ayotte , she's already getting pummeled by her own party members over being a "RINO" (Republican in Name Only). And Scott Brown is like the ultimate MAGA boy, I mean who needs moderate Republican politics when you can just scream Trump 24/7? The whole thing feels like a rigged game to me, and I think the real winner here is gonna be whoever takes down Ayotte.

I think it's really fascinating how the Republican Party in New Hampshire is struggling to reconcile its moderate roots with the influence of Trump's brand of politics . The rise of MAGA supporters and the growing pressure from party leaders to adopt a more Trumpian approach are creating an interesting dynamic, where moderates like Governor Ayotte are finding it harder to assert themselves.

It's also worth noting that while Ayotte's "New Hampshire-first" approach has earned her some praise, it may not be enough to completely distance herself from Trump's legacy . The fact that Corey Lewandowski, a Trump ally, is rumored to be considering a challenge to her governorship highlights the tension within the party.

Ultimately, this is a classic case of a party trying to navigate its own identity crisis . As the party continues to grapple with these issues, it will be interesting to see how they balance their loyalty to the state's traditional politics with the need to stay relevant in the modern era .

I'm getting worried about what's going on with the NH GOP . They're basically getting squeezed out by all these MAGA folks and it's hard to see how they can compete with that kind of passion and enthusiasm. I mean, I get it, Trump won the state fair and square, but come on, he's not exactly a moderate dude .

Kelly Ayotte is trying her best to stay neutral, like threading that needle between staying true to herself and not ruffling any feathers, but I'm not sure how long she can keep that up. She needs to make some tough decisions, or else the party will just get more and more Trumpy. It's like they're stuck in this limbo where they're not quite sure what they believe anymore .

And then you got these newbies, like Corey Lewandowski, trying to swoop in and take over. Like, dude, if you want to run for governor, just own it already . It's time for the NH GOP to get real about their future, or they'll just be stuck on repeat forever .

I think Ayotte's "New Hampshire-first" approach is actually a pretty good strategy . She's managing to stay relevant and popular without fully embracing the Trump vibe, which can be tough to do. I mean, who wants to get totally roasted by Trump supporters? Plus, being a moderate is not always seen as a bad thing in NH - it seems like a refreshing change from the typical party line. Lewandowski might think he's got a shot at taking down Ayotte, but honestly I don't see him being a strong candidate... he just comes off too scripted .

I'm tellin' ya, this is gonna be crazy! The MAGA movement is like a wild card, and New Hampshire Republicans are playin' with fire. They need to get real about Trump's influence and not just try to appease everyone. It's all about the moderates gettin' squeezed out, and I think that's a shame 'cause they bring some much-needed balance to the party.

And what's up with Corey Lewandowski? Dude's got baggage, and if he runs for governor, it'll be a circus! The party needs someone who can take on Trump and not just play nice. John E. Sununu's all right, but I think Brown's gonna win that Senate seat – he's got theTrump- approval ratings, haha!

I was just thinking about how much I love summer days when you can finally enjoy the outdoors without being stuck inside. You know, like that perfect day where the sun is shining, and a gentle breeze blows through your hair . It's so easy to get caught up in politics, but sometimes it's nice to just take a step back and appreciate the little things in life. Like how amazing it feels to watch a beautiful sunset or go for a hike with friends. I mean, what's more American than that?

The way the party is shifting towards Trumpism in NH is wild, man! I mean, it's like they're being pulled left and right by these two factions - moderates who want to stick with traditional values and MAGA supporters who are all about that Trump life . And it's not just the politicians, either - every single candidate is playing the Trump card now, whether it's Lewandowski throwing his hat into the ring or Brown running for Senate on a more extreme platform .

I love how Ayotte is trying to thread the needle and stay neutral, but at the same time, she can't avoid being tied to Trump entirely. It's like she's trying to make a New Hampshire-first approach work, while still appeasing the base . I don't know if it'll be enough to save her from the next challenger... but one thing's for sure: this whole situation is making me super anxious about the direction of politics in NH .

Anyway, can someone please explain to me what a "New Hampshire-first" approach even means? Is it like a weird middle ground between Trump and not-Trump?

the whole MAGA thing is like a big ol' awkward party that nobody wants to leave but seriously though NH republicans are stuck between being loyal to their state's moderate roots and going full-on Trumpian...it's like they're trying to thread a needle while blindfolded ayotte's approach might just be the best way to keep her job, but it's not gonna save the party from becoming all about trump for real tho

OMG I'm literally freaking out thinking about this... like what's gonna happen next?! so the party is stuck between being loyal to their roots or embracing this super divisive figure... it's a tough spot to be in. and I feel for Ayotte, she's trying her best with the "New Hampshire-first" approach, but I'm not sure if that's enough to keep the MAGA folks at bay Corey Lewandowski is like the ultimate wildcard... if he runs against Ayotte, it's gonna be a whole thing. and can we talk about how weird it is that Trump won the state in 2024? like what even happened there?! I just hope they figure out a way to make this work for everyone, not just the die-hard MAGA fans

omg i just saw this news and its all like whoa... so basically new hampshire rep party is struggling with trump's legacy and its getting super competitive between moderates and maga supporters

i feel bad for governor ayotte tho, she's trying to stay neutral but its hard when everyone around her is kinda radicalizing i mean what if the party becomes so trumpian that ayotte gets ousted?

and omg corey lewandowski might run against ayotte?! that would be epic... or super scary depending on how you look at it

omg, i'm literally shook about this whole situation! like, trump winning nh is a huge deal and it's gonna take some time for the rep party to figure out how to navigate this shift. i mean, kelly ayotte is trying her best with that "new hampshire-first" thing but honestly, it's hard to see how she'll avoid being seen as too tied to trump given the way things are going meanwhile corey lewandowski is like the ultimate wildcard - will he run for governor? and what about sununu vs brown in 2026? can we get a team of moderates back in there or are we doomed to be stuck with more trumpian rep politics?

OMG I'm literally freaking out about this!!! Like what even is happening to the Republican party in New Hampshire?! They're basically being taken over by MAGA supporters and moderates are getting pushed out, it's crazy! And Ayotte is trying to play it cool with her "New Hampshire-first" approach but honestly I don't think that's gonna cut it if everyone else is running Trump-style . And Corey Lewandowski? Like what a wildcard! He could totally take down Ayotte and it would be a huge deal, like, the party is literally going to implode . The Senate seat in 2026 is gonna be SO intense between Sununu and Brown, both of whom have strong feelings about Trump... it's anyone's game at this point

So I'm wondering, do you think the Republican Party's gotta change its direction and be more like... *ahem* Donald Trump? or can they find a way to keep their moderate roots and just deal with Trump's influence from the outside? Personally, I think it's gonna be tough for them to do that. They're already having trouble finding someone who's not too extreme... Corey Lewandowski might be a good example of this. What do you think?

I'm thinking NH is kinda like that one friend who's still holding on to their old crew from college lol ... you know, the ones who are all about keeping it real, but also kinda stuck in the past? It's like, they're not gonna let go of the good ol' days just 'cause Trump won. Meanwhile, the rest of the country is over here moving on with their lives . But hey, I guess that's what happens when a state's identity gets tied to one person's legacy... it's like, can't move forward till you acknowledge the elephant in the room

omg i feel like nh republicans r caught between a rock and a hard place they gotta either go full trump or stay true to their moderate roots... meanwhile ayotte's trying to navigate this whole new landscape and it's honestly super impressive of her but at the end of the day, if they wanna stay relevant, they need to find that sweet spot where they can still represent nh values without alienating the trump crowd fingers crossed for sununu in 2026 tho!

omg have you guys seen the drama unfolding in NH? its like they're stuck between a rock and hard place trump's influence is super strong out there but at the same time they wanna hold onto that moderate vibe ayotte's trying to thread the needle but it feels like she's just delaying the inevitable corey lewandowski's name keeps popping up as a potential challenger & honestly i think he'd be a dark horse candidate john sununu vs scott brown for senate in 2026... whoever wins that seat better have some big shoes to fill