CONCORD, N.H. (AP) 鈥� Former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte was sworn as on Thursday, promising to bring people together and prodding young people to 鈥渟tep up and contribute.鈥�
鈥淚 am going to be a governor for you, whether you鈥檙e a Republican, Democrat, independent, you name it. Our state is so much bigger than a party or an ideology,鈥� she said in remarks prepared for delivery. 鈥淕ood government knows no party, so let鈥檚 show folks that even when partisanship is at a fever pitch, we can set a different example.鈥�
Ayotte succeeds , whose decision against seeking a fifth two-year term set up on one of the most competitive gubernatorial races in the country. Promising to continue Sununu's anti-tax, pro-business economic policies, Ayotte defeated five opponents in September鈥檚 GOP primary and Democratic former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig in the November election.
In her inaugural speech, Ayotte said she would keep the state on a prosperous path but warned that belt-tightening would be necessary as lawmakers write the next two-year budget.
"We are going to have to look to find better ways to do things with fewer dollars," she said. 鈥淛ust like that family making hard decisions, there鈥檚 things we can鈥檛 skimp on 鈥� protecting our most vulnerable and serving those most in need.鈥�
Ayotte is the of New Hampshire, following Democrats Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, both of whom are now U.S. senators. They were the first and second women in the nation to serve in the Senate after being governor. Ayotte is the first woman to do so in reverse, according to Eric Ostermeier, a research fellow at the University of Minnesota and author of the Smart Politics news site.
While more than 150 sitting or former governors have become senators, Ayotte is among just 23 sitting or former senators elected governor since 1900, Ostermeier said. In an interview in October, Ayotte said that experience will serve her well.
鈥淣ot only do I understand how Washington works, but also how to fight for New Hampshire. I still have relationships there, across the aisle, with important people making decisions in Washington,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o I do feel like it does broaden my skill set as governor doing this in reverse.鈥�
A narrow loss to Hassan in 2016 ended Ayotte鈥檚 tenure in Washington after one term. Before that, Ayotte spent five years as the state鈥檚 attorney general, and she often highlighted her past as a prosecutor during her campaign.
She repeated that Thursday, saying her top priority remains keeping the state safe. She also cited the state's housing crisis as a top issue she plans to tackle, and she praised Republicans for expanding the state's school voucher program. Without offering details, she also announced plans to ban cellphones in schools.
鈥淪creens are negatively impacting our learning environments, drawing students鈥� attention away from their classes, and becoming a barrier for teachers to do their jobs,鈥� she said. "No more.鈥�
Ayotte said she looks forward to talking to students visiting the Statehouse and urging them to embrace public service.
鈥淚f we don鈥檛 teach our kids about it, they aren鈥檛 going to learn it," she said. "It is so important to root our lives in something bigger than ourselves, and it is critical to the health of our state and our communities that our next generation step up and contribute.鈥�
Holly Ramer, The Associated Press
