Here’s a deep‐dive article on the candidates for Governor of New Hampshire, with a focus on Jon Kiper — his background, his shifts (“flip-flops”), his current standing — plus what WMUR and other media have reported, and what people are saying.
Who’s Running, Broadly
The 2026 New Hampshire gubernatorial race is still forming, but some key figures already declared or highly involved:
- Jon Kiper: Business owner, former Newmarket town councilor, ran in the 2024 Democratic primary.
- Kelly Ayotte: Current governor (Republican) since 2025.
- There are potential candidates (especially on the Democratic side) like Tom Sherman.
So far, Kiper is the major non-incumbent Democrat in the mix. Many of the debates revolve around housing, taxation, education, and what party alignment (or independence) really means in NH politics.
Jon Kiper: Background
Here’s what is known about him:
- He has held local office (Newmarket Town Council, Zoning Board of Adjustment).
- He’s a small business owner.
- His campaign has stressed working-class issues: affordable housing, reducing property taxes, changing school funding, etc.
The Shifts / “Flip-Flops”
This is the part where political commentators have focused: Kiper has made some public reversals in how he positions himself, especially with regard to party affiliation. Here are the major points:
- 2024 Democratic primary run In 2024, Kiper ran as a Democrat. He lost the Democratic primary.
- Announcing a run as an Independent (2025) In June 2025, he announced that for the next run (2026), he’d run as an independent. He expressed frustration with the Democratic Party leadership, both state and national, saying that the party was inflexible and failing to adapt. He said he wanted to be outside the two-party system; that message, including discussing taxes, housing affordability, etc., was part of that independent run pitch.
- Return to Democratic Party Then, in September 2025, Kiper reversed that independent bid and rejoined the Democratic Party. He said that after being on the campaign trail, he saw fewer realistic ways to get things done outside the party structure. He also pointed to the partisan struggle (especially around opposition to Donald Trump and “authoritarianism” as he put it) as reasons to work within a party.
These shifts have opened him up to criticism from political opponents (especially Republicans) who cast this as opportunism, or uncertainty, or lack of consistency. Some Democrats may also view it with wariness (how strongly will he align with the party, given that he left it and criticized it).
What Media (WMUR, etc.) Are Saying
WMUR has covered these developments fairly closely. Key coverage includes:
- A WMUR article reporting “Kiper rejoins Democratic Party to continue campaign for New Hampshire governor” (Sep 2, 2025). This covers his switch back, why he did so, and what analysts think.
- Another WMUR story on “Kiper drops independent bid for governor to continue campaign as Democrat”, which captures the same reversal.
- Earlier coverage when he announced his independent run (June 2025). WMUR noted that issue priorities (housing, taxes, school funding) would likely shape the campaign.
In video form, WMUR has hosted debates, candidate announcements, “final pitches,” etc., including ones involving Kiper.
Analysis: What These Shifts Mean—and Criticisms
Here are some observations on what Kiper’s flip-flops may mean, and how they may help or hurt him.
Pros
- Flexibility & responsiveness: His willingness to adjust could be seen as adaptiveness: recognizing what works in terms of electoral strategy, what party infrastructure matters, how the two-party system still dominates realities (ballot access, fundraising, media attention).
- Appealing to independents and disaffected voters: His independent phase could attract voters dissatisfied with both major parties. That gives him some uniqueness.
- Messaging on working class issues: Regardless of party label, his theme of affordability, property taxes, housing, etc., resonates in NH. If he can keep those clear, it helps to differentiate.
Cons
- Trust / authenticity questions: Shifting from Democrat → Independent → back to Democrat gives critics reason to question consistency. Does he mean what he says, or is he changing for political gain?
- Party skepticism: Some Democrats may not fully trust him if he’s seen as having left the party once, criticized leadership, etc. That could complicate getting full party support, fundraising, endorsements.
- Republican attacks: Opponents are likely to use his changes as fodder: e.g. “income tax supporter Jon Kiper is returning to his rightful home” (a quote in coverage). Suggesting that his positions are tied more to political calculation.
Where Kiper Stands Now (As of ~Early September 2025)
- He’s officially running as a Democrat for Governor in 2026, having dropped the independent bid.
- His priorities remain consistent (housing, education, school funding, property tax relief, etc.).
- He positions himself as a working-class candidate, someone outside of the “usual political insiders” narrative.
Other Gubernatorial Candidates / Comparisons
To contextualize what Kiper is up against, it’s useful to think about other past or possible candidates:
- Kelly Ayotte, the incumbent Republican, with party backing and name recognition.
- On the Democratic side, in 2024, Joyce Craig won the primary; Cinde Warmington also was a serious candidate. Their platforms (education, housing, opioid crisis, etc.) overlap in many ways with Kiper’s, but also differ in experience, coalitions, etc.
Verdict / What to Watch
In a way, Jon Kiper embodies some of the tension in modern American politics:
- The push from voters for candidates who are willing to challenge party structures or status quos.
- The limitation of doing so when it comes to actually winning and governing, given how much infrastructure, resources, and institutional support still depend on party label.
If Kiper is to succeed, he’ll need to:
- Convince Democratic voters and leaders that despite his time outside the party, he is a loyal and effective candidate.
- Maintain clarity in his message so that shifts (not just of party label, but of policy stance) don’t become a distraction or mistrust factor.
- Navigate the independent voter base carefully: tap into their dissatisfaction but avoid alienating the party base.
