By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org

CONCORD – Flanked by leaders of a number of labor groups who have endorsed her, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joyce Craig launched her “Freedom and Opportunity Tour” of the state Monday.

Craig noted the two most important issues she is hearing from residents in her quest to replace Republican Gov. Chris Sununu is reproductive freedom followed by the lack of opportunity to find affordable living in the Granite State.

Sununu has chosen not to run for another term.

Craig won the Democratic nomination for the job over Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington earlier in September.

Joyce Craig endorsements: https://joycecraig.org/endorsements

The former mayor of Manchester is facing a general election fight for the job with Kelly Ayotte, a former U.S. Senator and the former Attorney General who won her primary over former Senate President Chuck Morse. Her endorsements here: https://kellyfornh.com/endorsements/

The general election is Nov. 5.

Labor unions are very active in this race and polls indicate it is very close.

Craig went to the state headquarters of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 490 where her father was a member and electrician to announce the launching of her statewide tour.

She was praised and supported as the best choice for governor by Nick Lydon of IBEW Local 490;

Kim Hokanson, of Carpenters Local 352; Lt. Chad Gamache of the Manchester Fire Local 856; and Deb Howes, president, American Federation of Teachers – NH who all spoke.

Ayotte, her opponent, has been endorsed by the 10,000-member State Employees Association and in a rare decision, SEA had also backed Warmington on the Democratic side during the primary, though Warmington is now out.

In its announcement May 29, Rich Gulla of the SEA said it selected Ayotte for her “steadfast leadership during times of crisis,” her ability to reach out across party lines and her “values.”

Craig said from now through Election Day she will continue traveling across the state to share her vision for a stronger New Hampshire for all Granite Staters.

She noted growing up in Manchester in a union household with middle class values and understandings and highlighted her record as mayor, where she said she created thousands of jobs and lowered costs for families. 

She noted that the state needs to grow its housing market to help with job growth, pledging to work with local communities to see that the estimated 60,000 new housing units needed by 2030 are here.

And she touted her executive experience as mayor of the state’s largest city and her different approach to the job would be in sharp contrast to Ayotte whom she noted that since losing her seat in the United States Senate, has worked on corporate boards of companies that shipped American jobs overseas, laid off thousands of workers, and raised rents – all while Ayotte lined her own pockets. 

Ayotte has criticized Craig’s tenure in Manchester and both have pledged to not increase broad-based taxes.

Craig said she would not raise an income or sales tax and would look to legalize cannabis sales as a way to increase state revenue among other options to be explored.

Pressure will be on to figure out a new tax strategy with voters concerned about rising property taxes.

“There is a balance, right?” Craig said. “And I have experience in putting forward a budget in the City of  Manchester, $400 million dollars and in that process I did have to balance the needs of local community members and keeping taxes low. And that is what I would do as governor. Right now, we have Republicans like Kelly Ayotte who are fine with giving tax breaks to the most rich in our state like herself and now the tax burden is going on our hard-working families. We need to think hard about that and I don’t agree with that. As governor I will do everything I can to decrease costs for hard working families in this state and we will look good and hard at the money that is going out from the state to programs within our state to make sure that they are being used most effectively and efficiently,” Craig said.

She said what she hears most from the voters is concern for freedom of reproductive choice.

She has criticized Ayotte on this subject.

Ayotte said she would not change the state’s current abortion laws which allow women to choose an abortion without exception during the first 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Craig has said she would work to codify abortion rights into law and repeal the current restrictions.

The second most important job people want the governor to tackle is affordable housing, Craig said.

From energy prices among the highest in the nation, “costs are too high and wages haven’t kept up,” she said. “And on top of that, our most fundamental rights are under attack. This is a critical moment. And it is one that I am ready for.”

On Tuesday, Craig will continue her statewide Freedom and Opportunity Tour across New Hampshire, making a stop in Nashua. The stop will include a conversation on affordable housing, highlighting a key element of Joyce’s agenda.