Cinde Warmington Secures Democratic Nomination in New Hampshire Gubernatorial Race

Cinde Warmington has secured the Democratic nomination in New Hampshire’s gubernatorial primary after running unopposed. This marks her second attempt to pursue the office. Warmington continues to face criticism for her past work as an attorney for Purdue Pharma, the company known for developing and marketing OxyContin. The Republican Governors Association (RGA) deems her connection to the drug as disqualifying.

Warmington, previously an Executive Councilor in New Hampshire, appears in a campaign video launching her second bid for governor of the northern New England swing state. The RGA commented, “Based on her role in fueling the opioid epidemic and calling OxyContin a ‘miracle drug,’ Cinde Warmington is completely disqualified from being governor. Warmington chose a payday over protecting New Hampshire families.” Purdue Pharma faced investigations and lawsuits for promoting OxyContin as non-addictive while knowing its potential for abuse. In May, the company agreed to a $7.4 billion settlement.

Warmington has described the attacks as baseless, claiming her association with Purdue was limited. In a video titled “setting the record straight,” she stated, “My dad, who I loved very much, struggled with addiction. We did not escape the opioid crisis.” She explained that as an attorney in 2001, she was assigned to represent Purdue Pharma, aiming to secure healthcare access for patients, unaware of the company’s fraudulent activities.

Serving New Hampshire’s 2nd district on the Executive Council from 2021 to 2025, Warmington previously ran for governor in 2024, losing to Joyce Craig. Craig was later defeated by Republican Governor Kelly Ayotte. In her 2026 campaign, Warmington emphasizes her commitment to addressing the rising cost of living, criticizing Republicans for inadequacy on affordability issues. Warmington’s platform includes opposition to Trump’s immigration policies, regulation on data center construction, and preventing investor groups from buying housing. She also promises to eliminate sales or income taxes.

With her nomination secured, Warmington will challenge Governor Ayotte in the general election scheduled for Nov. 3. Ayotte won her position in 2024, defeating Craig with 53.6% to 44.3% of the vote.