By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org

CONCORD – Attorney General John Formella will continue in his capacity in a holdover status, Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte announced Monday.

His four-year term as the state’s top law enforcement officer ends in April and there has been speculation as to whether Ayotte would pick Formella for another term, announce a replacement to a job she once held or keep him in hold-over status working at the governor’s pleasure without a specific term.

She has chosen the latter.

Her spokesman, John Corbett, released the following statement Monday afternoon that “as a former murder prosecutor and Attorney General, Governor Ayotte cares deeply about the Department of Justice and its future. Attorney General Formella will continue in holdover to provide the Governor additional time to work with him and evaluate the operations at the Department.”

Formella said: “I look forward to continue working with Governor Ayotte to address the challenges facing our state and keep our citizens safe. Every day I am proud to work alongside the dedicated public servants at the Department of Justice. As I have for the past four years, I will continue to devote my best efforts to this Office.”

Formella is currently president of the National Association of Attorneys General which he was elected to in December of 2024.

He has made a name for himself nationally for his work on fighting the opioid crisis and securing funding from drug companies to help treat and prevent more deaths which are currently on the decline in the Granite State.

Formella is also credited with creating a northern border alliance with Canada.

A resident of Portsmouth, Formella was in private practice until he became legal counsel to former Gov. Chris Sununu from 2017 until 2021. He was tapped for the job of attorney general after former Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald was approved on a 4-1 Executive Council vote to become Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court.