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This article is part of The 74鈥檚 EDlection 2024 coverage, which takes a look at candidates鈥� education policies and how they might impact the American education system after the 2024 election.

Former Republican U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte won the New Hampshire governor鈥檚 seat Tuesday, giving her a platform to push for the universal school choice and 鈥減arental rights鈥� she called for during the campaign.

Ayotte beat Democrat Joyce Craig, the former mayor of Manchester, the state鈥檚 largest city, with 53.6 percent of the vote. Ayotte previously served one term in the Senate from 2011 through 2016 after four years as New Hampshire鈥檚 attorney general. 

The race gained national attention after Ayotte backed, then criticized; and then again backed iPresident-Elect Donald Trump between 2016 and today. Ayotte鈥檚 anti-abortion stance was another sharp difference between her and Craig that attracted attention.

But the candidates also took different positions on school choice issues, mostly centering on New Hampshire鈥檚 鈥淓ducation Freedom Accounts,鈥� a plan the state created in 2021 to give parents money to spend on private school tuition or approved homeschooling expenses.

Similar to vouchers, the accounts give parents $4,100 a year if family income is under 350 percent of the federal poverty level, or $109,000 a year for a family of four. More money is available for families with lower income, English language learners or students with disabilities.

Attempts to expand eligibility for the money this year won some support in the state legislature, but not enough to pass. Ayotte has repeatedly called for choice to be 鈥渦niversal,鈥� not just expanded to some groups. 

鈥淚 believe that parents make the best decisions for their children,鈥� Ayotte last year. 鈥淚鈥檓 a strong believer in education freedom鈥�we want to give every child in this state the opportunity to go to the school or the educational setting that is best for them.鈥�

Ayotte鈥檚 husband, Joseph Daley is a math teacher at a private school, St. Christopher Academy in Nashua, where students use the accounts.

Her opponent vigorously opposed the accounts, calling them a that takes millions of dollars of tax money away from public schools. The American Federation of Teachers – New Hampshire endorsed Craig,

Ayotte also pledged to back and sign a 鈥減arental bill of rights鈥� if elected. There have been and nationally. Ayotte鈥檚 campaign did not clarify what the bill would include.

The most prominent in New Hampshire, , required schools to share with parents if students identify as a different gender at school, including using different names. That bill sparked emotional debate last year, with the LGBTQ community saying students have the right to not be 鈥渙uted鈥� to judgmental parents and parents saying they have a right to raise their children as they want.

from parents, the first state supreme court to rule on an issue flaring up in several states.

Ayotte, however, said throughout the campaign and on that she will 鈥渆nthusiastically work to pass and sign the Parental Bill of Rights.鈥�

鈥淧arents have a right to decide what is best for their child 鈥� period,鈥� according to her site.

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