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AS A former state representative, co-chair for Trump’s veterans’ coalition in 2016, and advisor to President Donald Trump, I have a duty to speak out when I see a betrayal of trust and conservative principles. It needs to be said that former United States Senator Kelly Ayotte cannot be trusted to support Trump or the Republican values he’s fought for.
Let me begin by highlighting Ayotte’s actions in 2016. During a pivotal moment in our nation’s political landscape, Ayotte did more than just withdraw her lukewarm support of the then-GOP candidate Donald Trump.
She opted to prioritize her own reelection campaign over the unity of the Republican Party and the success of its candidates up and down the ballot. Instead of standing with her party’s nominee and working to secure victory for Republicans, Ayotte publicly criticized him, setting off a chain of events that led to her own electoral defeat and handing our Granite State multiple terms of the disastrous leadership of Senator Maggie Hassan.
Throughout the 2020 and 2024 primary seasons, Ayotte had ample chances to show her support for President Trump by attending events in New Hampshire. However, time and again, she chose to remain absent. What’s more alarming is her refusal to disclose who she even voted for in the primary. This lack of transparency is deeply concerning and casts serious doubt on her loyalty to Republican values. Ayotte’s betrayal goes beyond mere absence. Her refusal to acknowledge President Trump by name and her shameful evasion of questions regarding her primary vote reveal a calculated political cowardice.
She wasn’t just a passive bystander; she actively distanced herself from the man who represented her party’s ideals and the choice of millions of voters across the nation over the course of multiple election cycles. Now, for Ayotte to suddenly campaign on the successes that President Trump has delivered for our country and our state is not only disingenuous but also insulting to the intelligence of voters. It’s a transparent attempt to
garner votes, but it falls flat because no one is buying into her opportunistic tactics.
Furthermore, Ayotte’s record as a supposed conservative is a facade. Despite winning one election during a Republican wave, she betrayed her constituents time and again by siding with Democrats over 260 times during her tenure in the Senate. Her actions speak louder than her hollow campaign promises; she is no ally to conservative principles.
As a Marine veteran who served our country for 22 years, I understand the importance of loyalty and integrity. Kelly Ayotte’s actions in 2016 and her continued refusal to support President Trump are a slap in the face to every Republican who stood by their party’s nominee. Her spineless behavior and blatant disregard for party loyalty demonstrate a fundamental lack of character and leadership.
In conclusion, Kelly Ayotte’s betrayal of President Trump and the Republican Party cannot be understated. She has proven herself unworthy of the trust and support of New Hampshire Republicans. It is time for us to reject her false claims of conservatism and hold her accountable for her disloyalty. Kelly Ayotte cannot be trusted to stand by President Trump or uphold our party’s values, and it is imperative that we send a clear message by rejecting her candidacy.
Al Baldasaro is a former state representative living in Londonderry.
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