Kelly Ayotte was elected governor of New Hampshire on Tuesday, defeating Democratic former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig to keep the office under Republican control for another two years. Republican Gov.

Republican Kelly Ayotte won the New Hampshire governor's race on Tuesday, The Associated Press projected, defeating Democrat Joyce Craig in one of the nation's only closely fought gubernatorial contests.

Ms. Ayotte entered the race with greater name recognition than the Democrat, Joyce Craig, and was seen as a natural successor to Gov. Chris Sununu, a moderate Republican.