Cinde Warmington secured the Democratic nomination for governor in New Hampshire on Tuesday evening, running unopposed in the primary. The victory sets up her second consecutive attempt at the state’s highest office, though her candidacy continues to draw scrutiny over her past legal work for Purdue Pharma.
The pharmaceutical company gained national notoriety in the early 2000s for its development and marketing of OxyContin, the prescription painkiller that became central to America’s opioid crisis. Purdue Pharma faced extensive investigations and litigation over allegations that it aggressively promoted OxyContin as non-addictive while deliberately concealing evidence of its high abuse potential. The company was ordered to pay a $7.4 billion settlement in May following years of legal proceedings.
The Republican Governors Association has deemed Warmington’s connection to Purdue Pharma disqualifying. The organization stated that her role in what they characterize as fueling the opioid epidemic, including references to OxyContin as a “miracle drug,” renders her unsuitable for the governor’s office. The RGA accused Warmington of prioritizing financial gain over the welfare of New Hampshire families.
Warmington has responded to these attacks by addressing the matter directly. In a campaign video, she provided context for her involvement with the pharmaceutical company. She explained that in 2001, as a practicing attorney, she was assigned to represent Purdue Pharma by a partner at her firm. At the time, she stated, her work focused on advocating for patients to access healthcare treatments prescribed by their physicians.
The candidate emphasized that the extent of Purdue Pharma’s criminal fraud was not known to her during her representation. That fraudulent conduct, she noted, would only come to light through years of subsequent litigation. Warmington also revealed a personal connection to the crisis, disclosing that her father struggled with addiction and that her family did not escape the opioid epidemic’s reach.
Warmington previously served on the New Hampshire Executive Council, representing the state’s 2nd district from 2021 to 2025. This marks her second gubernatorial campaign. In 2024, she competed in the Democratic primary against Joyce Craig, losing by a margin of 47.9 percent to 41.8 percent. Craig went on to face Republican Kelly Ayotte in the general election, ultimately losing to Ayotte, who now serves as governor.
For her 2026 campaign, Warmington has positioned herself as a champion for addressing the rising cost of living. She has emphasized concerns about housing prices, grocery costs, electricity rates, and property taxes. Following a pattern common among Democratic candidates in this election cycle, Warmington has criticized Republicans for insufficient action on affordability issues affecting New Hampshire families.
The gubernatorial race will test whether voters in this key northern New England swing state accept Warmington’s explanation of her Purdue Pharma work or side with Republican arguments that her involvement disqualifies her from leadership. New Hampshire’s political landscape remains competitive, and the outcome will likely depend on how effectively each side frames the opioid connection alongside broader policy concerns.
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