FACT CHECK: Costly Kelly’s Cost-Cutting Claims Fall Flat Against Her Record

FACT CHECK: Costly Kelly’s Cost-Cutting Claims Fall Flat Against Her Record
 

Costly Kelly released a new ad today, claiming she’s focused on lowering costs for families across New Hampshire. Her record tells a different story: a dire housing crisis that has only driven up the cost of living in the state, new, excessive health care costs, and skyrocketing electricity prices.

The facts are clear: under Costly Kelly, New Hampshire families are paying more.

HOUSING: While Kelly Ayotte runs around touting the ‘New Hampshire Advantage,’ the truth is that Granite Staters can’t afford to put roofs over their heads. Ayotte slashed millions in funding for affordable housing initiatives, all while the median price of a single-family home hit another record high under her: $576,000. A mere 15% of New Hampshire families earn an annual salary that allows them to buy a home at that price. In 2026 alone, 83% of households in New Hampshire are priced out of homeownership. 

EDUCATION: Public schools are being screwed by Kelly Ayotte and New Hampshire Republicans' property tax-hiking school voucher scheme. In just one year, Costly Kelly diverted more than $53 million of taxpayer dollars to pay for private school education for wealthy families. On average, taxpayers spend nearly $5,000 per year helping fund private school education for each student enrolled in the voucher program. Meanwhile, the state provides just over $3,000 for a child attending a public school.

HEALTH CARE: Costly Kelly imposed new, excessive Medicaid premiums on an estimated 20,000 Granite Staters, who are now being forced to pay upwards of $270 per month. Ayotte also more than doubled prescription drug copays for Granite Staters.

ELECTRICITY: Granite Staters have already seen their electricity bills increase by nearly 15% under Kelly Ayotte, and Costly Kelly’s Public Utilities Commission just rubber-stamped another rate hike that will raise electricity costs for families by upwards of $18 a month. Ayotte has also slashed renewable energy solutions and has yet to call for a pause on data centers that threaten to drive up electric costs even higher.  

“If Kelly Ayotte wakes up every day thinking about New Hampshire, she’s doing a terrible job,” said NHDP Chair Ray Buckley. “Granite Staters wake up wondering how they’re going to afford their next rent or mortgage payment, pay their electric bill, or cover another month of health insurance. Those are the consequences of Costly Kelly’s record.”