NASHUA, N.H. — Opioid Lobbyist Cinde Warmington’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad summer has only gotten worse. The Opioid Lobbyist’s recent troubles include a widening campaign cash gap, double-digit polling deficit, a notable lack of support from prominent Democrats, and renewed scrutiny of decades of work representing the opioid industry including Purdue Pharma and a notorious pill mill.
What They’re Saying about Opioid Lobbyist Warmington:
“Financially, the race for governor right now is not a fair fight. According to their latest campaign finance reports, Gov. Kelly Ayotte is sitting on a $3 million war chest that’s seven times bigger than that of Democratic nominee-to-be Cinde Warmington of Concord. And that’s after Ayotte has spent more than $1 million on TV and streaming platforms. Warmington has spent so far $9,000 on TV.”
— Union Leader, 8/21/26
“Warmington has also been snubbed by the sort of high-profile Democrats who would be expected to back her campaigning, including the party’s 2024 nominee for governor, former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig. According to Warmington, Craig rejected a direct appeal for an endorsement. And while Democratic New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill traveled to New Hampshire to campaign for U.S. Rep. Maggie Goodlander and congressional candidate Maura Sullivan this week, Warmington — who would become a fellow member of the Democratic Governors Association if elected — did not make the cut.”
— NH Journal, 8/20/26
“Not until November, but still part of the polling, Republican incumbent Kelly Ayotte holds an 11-point lead over Democratic challenger Cinde Warmington in the governor’s race, 49% to 38%.” — WMUR, 8/20/26
“In 2024, Massachusetts Gov. and New Hampshire native Maura Healey was a permanent fixture on the Granite State campaign trail… Healey chairs the Democratic Governors Association’s Women Governors Fund but has yet to weigh in on this year’s race or throw her support behind Warmington. The Ayotte camp privately wonders if there’s any hesitation because as attorney general, Healey made her bones through legal action against Purdue Pharma, that company Warmington had said made a “miracle drug” in OxyContin.”
— Union Leader, 8/14/26
“Warmington: Purdue Pharma duped me into becoming opioid lawyer/lobbyist”
“Democratic gubernatorial front-runner Cinde Warmington broke months of silence to say she was duped into becoming a lawyer/lobbyist for Purdue Pharma two decades ago, unaware the OxyContin painkiller would get innocent people hooked on opioids… The Ayotte campaign fired back that Warmington failed to mention a controversy the Union Leader first reported on during her 2024 run for governor. For more than a decade, Warmington served as a lawyer for Dr. Michael O’Connell and his PainCare network with one providing staffer convicted for taking illegal kickbacks… She also accepted more than $50,000 in campaign donations from O’Connell, family members and his business associates.”
— Union Leader, 8/11/26
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