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Running for: NH Governor

Kelly is a former murder prosecutor, New Hampshire's first female Attorney General and former United States Senator. Kelly lives in her hometown of Nashua with her husband, Joe, and son Jake. Kelly's daughter is currently a cadet at the United States Air Force Academy. Kelly has spent the past several years raising her family in Nashua, while working with companies in New Hampshire and across the country, including serving on the boards of BAE Systems Inc., New Hampshire's largest manufacturing employer, and Cirtronics, an employee-owned manufacturing company in Milford. Kelly helps several local non-profit veterans organizations, including Swim with a Mission and Veterans Count, and also serves on the school board of Saint Christopher Academy in Nashua.

Position on Issues

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Do you support the “Education Freedom Account” program, which gives students access to the per-pupil share of state school funding to spend on private school or home school expenses?
"Kelly supports Education Freedom Accounts and will fight for Universal education freedom because every child should have the same learning opportunities and chance at success, regardless of their zip code or family income."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the first trimester (e.g. after 6 weeks gestation)?

"Kelly supports and will not change New Hampshire's existing abortion law, which protects women's freedom to obtain an abortion up to six months of pregnancy and addresses late term abortions with exceptions for medical emergencies."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should New Hampshire ban abortions during the second trimester (e.g. after 15 weeks gestation)?
"Kelly supports and will not change New Hampshire's current abortion law, which protects women's freedom to obtain an abortion up to six months of pregnancy and addresses late term abortions with exceptions for medical emergencies."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should NH add an income tax on earned income?

"Kelly will never allow an income or sales tax to be imposed in New Hampshire. As Governor, she will protect our state's economic advantage to allow families and small businesses to thrive."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should NH add a broad-based sales tax?

"Kelly believes in protecting New Hampshire's economic advantage to help businesses create jobs and keep costs low for working families. Kelly will never allow an income or sales tax to be imposed in New Hampshire."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should New Hampshire lower business taxes?

"Kelly’s answer is simple — no new taxes, period. Kelly will always look to cut taxes wherever possible and will look closely at potential future business tax cuts in her first budget."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should New Hampshire add a tax on capital gains?
"New Hampshire does not have a capital gains tax, and like an income or sales tax, Kelly would never allow New Hampshire to implement one."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should New Hampshire government do more to address climate change?
"Kelly believes it is important to protect New Hampshire's natural beauty and our environment for future generations to enjoy. Kelly supports an all-of-the above energy strategy, including renewable and other clean energy sources. Her focus will be on reducing energy costs for all Granite Staters by expanding our access to all forms of energy. She thinks it's important that New Hampshire is positioned to adopt new technologies like small modular nuclear reactors that would allow our state to produce its own clean energy."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Do you support giving voters who register without ID on Election Day a ballot that only counts if they return identifying documents to the state before a deadline?
"Ensuring New Hampshire continues to have free, fair, and secure elections is critical to our state. Kelly supports conditional affidavit ballots for same-day registrants that do not have proper identification in order to allow every voter to make their voices heard while maintaining election integrity."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should the state do more to encourage municipalities to remove zoning barriers to housing development?
"Kelly will work to streamline the state permitting process and cut unnecessary red tape to make it easier to build new housing in New Hampshire. Kelly respects local decision making and will work with local communities to build more housing by partnering with them on issues like infrastructure, including roads, water and sewer. Finally, Kelly will convene state and municipal officials and the private sector to bring all of the stakeholders to the table to determine how we can work together to build more workforce housing in New Hampshire."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Do you support legislation to expand the net energy metering system capacity cap from 1 MW to 5 MW for all residential and commercial customers in New Hampshire?

"Kelly will examine ways to expand net metering capacity while protecting rate payers."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should New Hampshire guarantee the right to access abortion before 24 weeks?

"Women in New Hampshire are guaranteed access to abortion under current law, which protects their freedom to obtain an abortion for any reason up to six months of pregnancy with exceptions for medical emergencies in the last trimester."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should the state increase funding for child care providers?

"To help recruit and retain our workforce, we must address issues with childcare affordability and availability. Kelly will continue to evaluate eligibility to the state's child care scholarships, which was expanded under the last biennium budget. Kelly will also look for ways to elevate the child care profession through our community college and university system. Kelly will also work with the private sector to encourage and incentivize private employers to expand child care options for their work force."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Do you support New Hampshire’s current system of public school funding, with about two-thirds of total funding coming from local property taxes?

"Kelly believes that the legislature and Governor working with local communities should decide how to fund education in New Hampshire to ensure we have the best schools in the country. She does not believe these issues should be decided by the courts."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by allowing home-growing and private use without sales?

"Kelly would not sign a bill legalizing marijuana as she is concerned that legalizing marijuana would negatively impact our quality of life. Specifically, she has examined the studies showing the negative impact of marijuana on youth mental health. As Attorney General, she worked closely with law enforcement in New Hampshire and is concerned that legalization will increase the number of deaths and injuries on our roads as it has in other states which have legalized the drug. Finally, she has met many people working on prevention and recovery in New Hampshire and they have consistently told her that legalizing marijuana is not a good idea given the opioid crisis our state continues to face."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by licensing growers and private retail locations?

"Kelly would not sign a bill legalizing marijuana as she is concerned that legalizing marijuana would negatively impact our quality of life. Specifically, she has examined the studies showing the negative impact of marijuana on youth mental health. As Attorney General, she worked closely with law enforcement in New Hampshire and is concerned that legalization will increase the number of deaths and injuries on our roads as it has in other states which have legalized the drug. Finally, she has met many people working on prevention and recovery in New Hampshire and they have consistently told her that legalizing marijuana is not a good idea given the opioid crisis our state continues to face."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should New Hampshire legalize the recreational use of marijuana by establishing state-run cannabis stores?
"Kelly would not sign a bill legalizing marijuana as she is concerned that legalizing marijuana would negatively impact our quality of life. Specifically, she has examined the studies showing the negative impact of marijuana on youth mental health. As Attorney General, she worked closely with law enforcement in New Hampshire and is concerned that legalization will increase the number of deaths and injuries on our roads as it has in other states which have legalized the drug. Finally, she has met many people working on prevention and recovery in New Hampshire and they have consistently told her that legalizing marijuana is not a good idea given the opioid crisis our state continues to face."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should New Hampshire raise the minimum wage?

"Businesses in New Hampshire are paying their workforce well above minimum wage in order to recruit and retain workers. Kelly believes that the market should decide wages and is concerned that the government setting minimum wages will eliminate jobs and hurt workers as it has done in some states like California."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should New Hampshire add legal protections for residents of other states who travel here for health care related to abortion or gender transition?

"Kelly supports and will not change New Hampshire's current abortion law."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should New Hampshire repeal the ban on abortion after 24 weeks gestation?

"New Hampshire does not have an abortion ban. In New Hampshire, women have the freedom to obtain an abortion up to six months of pregnancy in the last three months for medical emergencies. Kelly supports and will not change that law."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should NH require local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement?

"As Governor, Kelly will ban sanctuary cities to keep New Hampshire communities safe."

Citizens Count Issue Survey, 2024

Should NH pass stricter gun control laws?

"Kelly supports our current laws and will enforce them."
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