NEWMARKET — Jon Kiper is wagering his gubernatorial ambitions on one big bet: Forecasts show Gov. Kelly Ayotte coasting to reelection next year are wrong, because voters will be desperate for change.

The Newmarket resident and former owner of the recently closed restaurant Jonny Boston’s International announced Sept. 2 he will be running for governor as a Democrat after initially launching a campaign in June as an independent.

Kiper, a former Newmarket town councilor, also ran for governor in 2024 and came in third in the Democratic primary, although he decisively won Newmarket. The eventual nominee, Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig, lost to Ayotte by about nine percentage points.

In an interview, Kiper described three of his top campaign issues, which he said were interconnected: add

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