Joyce Craig

Joyce Craig (née Hopkins; born March 30, 1967) is an American politician who served as the 56th mayor of Manchester, New Hampshire. She was the first female mayor of the city, having been elected in 2017.

Craig was the Democratic nominee for governor of New Hampshire in the 2024 election. She lost to former Republican U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte.

Early life, education, and career Joyce (née Hopkins) Craig was born on March 30, 1967 into a Jewish family and is a fourth-generation resident of Manchester, New Hampshire. both attended college but did not graduate and pushed her to succeed.

Craig attended Green Acres Elementary, Southside Middle, and Memorial High School. After graduating from high school, she attended the University of New Hampshire, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. Craig finished second in the nonpartisan blanket primary, thus advancing to face incumbent mayor Ted Gatsas in the general election, where she lost in a recount by 64 votes.

In 2017, Craig again challenged Gatsas, this time finishing first in the nonpartisan blanket primary and defeating Gatsas in the general election 53% to 46%. In doing so, Craig became the first woman ever elected as mayor of Manchester.

2024 gubernatorial campaign

In May 2023, Craig formed an exploratory committee for a potential bid for governor in the 2024 election. She announced her bid for the Democratic nomination on July 12. She became the Democratic nominee on September 10, 2024, narrowly defeating New Hampshire Executive Council member Cinde Warmington in the primary. Craig lost the general election 54% to 44%, to Republican Kelly Ayotte, a former U.S. Senator, in the general election.

Personal life Craig and her husband, attorney Michael Craig, have three children.