Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig entered the 2024 governor’s race, and New Hampshire Republicans welcomed the move, NH Journal reported. The GOP response pointed to crime, homelessness, and opioid problems in the city during her tenure as mayor.
House Majority Leader Jason Osborne responded to the announcement. As quoted by Jason Osborne:
Voters don’t want a governor who’ll turn New Hampshire into Manchester,
NH Journal
Osborne predicted the candidacy would energize Republican turnout, according to NH Journal.
“Craig is the New Hampshire Democrats’ Donald Trump: The more she campaigns, the more Republican voters will turn out.”
NH Journal
The report detailed the issues that had defined Craig’s final term leading the Queen City.
Craig is finishing her third term as Queen City mayor, where she has come under fire over the issues of crime, homelessness, and opioid overdoses.
NH Journal
It cited specific figures on the city’s overdose trends during her tenure.
Manchester suffered a 22 percent increase in suspected opioid overdoses in 2022, according to Chris Stawasz, regional director of American Medical Response.
NH Journal
The NH Journal report also described how the city’s homelessness crisis became visible over the winter.
As encampments spread across the city, homeless people began referring to a growing tent community outside the Families in Transition (FIT) emergency shelter on Merrimack Street as “Craigville.”
NH Journal
The state GOP chair added his own criticism of Craig’s record.
“Joyce Craig has unequivocally failed Manchester during her time as mayor,” said state GOP chair Chris Ager.
NH Journal
Read the full story at NH Journal.
