“Always be selling.”
It’s a basic tenet of the capitalist system that New York City’s new Socialist Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani rejects. But when he was elected Tuesday night, Gov. Kelly Ayotte saw an opportunity to make a sales pitch for New Hampshire.
“My message to business owners in New York City is this: Come to New Hampshire,” Ayotte said Wednesday as she announced a new marketing campaign in Manhattan. “We’ll help your business make the switch, and you’ll keep more of your hard-earned money!”
Using mobile billboards on Gotham’s streets, Ayotte’s message is aimed directly at Mamdani.
“NYC Business Owners: Mamdani got you down? Come on up to New Hampshire for no Communism, less red tape, and less taxes!”
Another billboard reads: “Safe. Prosperous. Free. What New York used to be.”
Ayotte, a first-term Republican governor, isn’t known for aggressive partisan politics. However, New Hampshire has been a magnet for business growth thanks to its low tax, business-friendly environment, and it hasn’t been shy about reminding New Yorkers of that fact.
Still, calling out a Democratic Party star like Mamdani over his “Communism” and claiming he will undermine safety and prosperity is pretty hardball. It’s the sort of political attack that would be expected to draw return fire.
Instead, Granite State Democrats have been silent. Not a single elected Democrat has publicly defended Mamdani or suggested that Ayotte’s critiques are untrue. None of them has congratulated Mamdani on his historic victory — he’s the first Muslim to be elected mayor of America’s largest city — either.
Only one Granite State Democratic candidate, longshot U.S. Senate candidate Karishma Manzur, has publicly celebrated Mamdani’s win.
“Congratulations to Zohran Mamdani on a true victory for the people of New York,” she posted.
A pro-New Hampshire (and anti-Mamdani) billboard rolls through NYC streets the morning after the Democratic Socialist’s big win.
(CREDIT: Kelly Ayotte campaign)
Her opponent, U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, was asked about Mamdani’s victory and whether he agreed with Ayotte’s critique. He declined to respond.
In the NH-01 Democratic primary, Democrats have been mum about Mamdani, too. Maura Sullivan posted praise “for my friends Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherill” on social media. “The people have spoken in Virginia and New Jersey.”
The people also spoke in New York City, but Sullivan had no statement about that.
Stefany Shaheen would not respond to any request for comment about Mamdani’s victory or Ayotte’s attack.
Christian Urrutia, seen by many political professionals as the most viable progressive in the race, did post a cryptic message on Wednesday morning:
“The winds of change are here. The question is: will we harness them?
“From day one, I’ve said people are done with politics run by insiders. The same tired campaigns and the same tired politics won’t meet this moment. Yesterday spoke to that truth.”
Asked if this was a reference to Mamdani, a Urrutia spokesperson told NHJournal, “Christian is plainly the change candidate in this election. He is the credible outsider in this race. And calls it like it is: America and New Hampshire are hungry for change and honesty.”
Meanwhile, Ayotte is being crystal clear about her view of what happened in New York City on Tuesday.
“New York can experiment with socialism — New Hampshire will stick with lower taxes and more freedom with Gov. Ayotte in the Corner Office,” said Ayotte spokesman John Corbett. “Anyone seeking freedom from Mamdani’s disastrous policies is welcome to join us in the Granite State.”
