SIMS: Governor Ayotte’s Repeated Vetoes Betray New Hampshire Women

Why a “Conservative” Leader Risks Her Office by Ignoring 80% of Voters on Girls’ Safety and Fairness.

As a woman, athlete, and gymnastics coach dedicated to mentoring girls, I was deeply disappointed to see Governor Kelly Ayotte once again veto legislation that would have safeguarded the rights, privacy, and safety of women across New Hampshire. Senate Bill 268—like the earlier House Bill 148—was a commonsense measure designed to ensure fairness in sports and protect women’s single-sex spaces, including locker rooms, restrooms, correctional facilities, and crisis centers.

Governor Ayotte’s repeated vetoes represent not just a political decision, but a moral failure to defend the very women and girls she claims to support.

Senator Kevin Avard said it best when he called on the Governor to reconsider: “This was a commonsense bill focused on protecting the privacy, safety, and fairness young women deserve in sensitive spaces like bathrooms, locker rooms, and on sports teams.” He’s right. The overwhelming majority of parents, athletes, and voters support such protections. These are not fringe concerns—they are shared values rooted in common sense, fairness, and respect for biological reality.

I appreciate that legislators in Concord have continued working to advance these protections, including the upcoming public hearing on Senate Bill 552, which mirrors the language of SB 268. I urge Governor Ayotte to listen to the voices of New Hampshire’s parents, coaches, and athletes and to take seriously the need for sex-based protections in law.

While I commend lawmakers for their intention to protect women’s rights, I also caution against including “gender identity” language in these bills. Doing so undermines the very purpose of protecting female-only spaces by opening legal loopholes that could allow biological males in women’s facilities. New Hampshire has an opportunity to get this right—with a simple amendment that removes this language and fully restores sex-based clarity. That’s how we truly safeguard women.

Governor Ayotte’s rationale for vetoing these bills echoes vague concerns about enforcement or creating an “exclusionary environment.” Yet women do not seek exclusion—they seek safety, privacy, and fairness. Labeling basic protections as “exclusionary” is both misleading and dismissive of legitimate concerns shared by female athletes, coaches, and parents alike.

Women’s sports were built on the foundation of biological fairness. Allowing biological males to compete in female divisions undermines decades of progress under Title IX. Governor Ayotte’s veto leaves these protections vulnerable, weakening a standard that women have fought hard to maintain.

I speak not only as a coach but also as an advocate. I’ve joined a national group of women in support of the United States v. Skrmetti Supreme Court case, standing up for athletic fairness and women’s safety. I also serve as the New Hampshire Chapter Leader for the #WalkAway Campaign—an independent, grassroots movement promoting unity and common sense—and as Southern New Hampshire Chapter Leader for the Independent Women’s Network, which champions practical policy solutions that enhance freedom and opportunity for women.

Through these roles, I have seen firsthand how communities across New Hampshire overwhelmingly support acknowledging biological reality in law. Over 80% of Americans agree that single-sex spaces are vital for women’s privacy and safety. This isn’t a partisan issue; it’s a matter of dignity, fairness, and common sense.

Governor Ayotte once publicly stood beside a banner that read “Save Women’s Sports.” Her recent veto of SB 268, however, tells a different story—a story of political hesitation at the expense of women’s rights. It’s time for her to show the courage to stand by the values she once embraced. ( See the above photo )

Women and girls in New Hampshire deserve leaders who prioritize their protection over political pressure. Legislators have done their part; now it’s time for our Governor to do hers.

I urge the legislature to revisit this bill, remove the “gender identity” loophole, and pass a version that truly protects women’s rights. New Hampshire can and should lead the nation in reaffirming that biological sex matters—that fairness matters—and that the safety and dignity of women and girls are not negotiable.

Governor Ayotte is not just making a policy choice here; she is making a political bet, and it carries real costs for her future in New Hampshire.

As a supposed conservative and as a woman herself, Governor Ayotte should understand that repeatedly vetoing common-sense protections for women and girls is not a victimless decision—it is a direct affront to the voters who put her in office. New Hampshire governors stand for election every two years, and there are no term limits; that means the people have frequent and real power to hold their governor accountable when she abandons them. If Governor Ayotte continues to side with activist lobby groups over the safety, privacy, and fairness of her own female constituents, she should expect a primary challenge from within her own party and a serious effort to remove her from office at the ballot box. We can organize, we can recruit candidates, and we can vote you out.

Governor Ayotte, I ask you directly: Why? Why do you consistently veto bills that simply recognize biological sex and protect women’s single-sex spaces? Why do you dismiss the overwhelming majority of parents and voters who want their daughters to have fair competition, secure locker rooms, and clear rules that reflect biological reality? These are not radical demands; they are the bare minimum any decent society should guarantee its women and girls. By ignoring this, you are not leading—you are abandoning the very people you promised to serve.