Joyce Craig (née Hopkins; born March 30, 1967) is an American politician who served as the 56th mayor of Manchester, New Hampshire.[1] She was the first female mayor of the city, having been elected in 2017.[2][3]
Joyce Craig | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Craig in 2020 | |
| 56th Mayor of Manchester | |
| In office January 2, 2018 – January 2, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Ted Gatsas |
| Succeeded by | Jay Ruais |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joyce Hopkins March 30, 1967 Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Michael Craig (m. 1994) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of New Hampshire (BS) |
| Website | Campaign website |
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
editJoyce (née Hopkins) Craig was born on March 30, 1967 into a Jewish family[4] and is a fourth-generation resident of Manchester, New Hampshire.[5] She grew up in the South End of the city, near Crystal Lake in Ward 8. Hopkins was an only child.[5] Her parents, Janet (née Hoffman) and Thomas Hopkins,[6] both attended college but did not graduate and pushed her to succeed.[5]
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.[4][5]
After college, she moved to Boston to work at the advertising agency Hill Holiday. She started in the message center and worked her way up to an account executive position. Later, she worked for Cynthia Fisher's ViaCord, a Boston-based cord blood stem banking company. She then worked for herself as a property manager.[5]
Mayor of Manchester
editElections
edit
Craig's first political campaign came in 2007, when she was elected to the Manchester School Board. In 2009, she was elected to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, where she represented Ward 1 from January 3, 2010 to January 3, 2016, until her first campaign for mayor in 2015, which she narrowly lost.[7] 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.[8]
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.[3]
Tenure
editCraig was sworn in as the 56th mayor of Manchester on January 2, 2018, promising in her inauguration to focus on improving school quality, combating the opioid epidemic, and promoting the creation of high-tech jobs in the city. On March 16, 2023, Craig announced that she would not seek a fourth term as mayor.[9]
2024 gubernatorial campaign
editIn May 2023, Craig formed an exploratory committee for a potential bid for governor in the 2024 election.[10] She announced her bid for the Democratic nomination on July 12.[11] She became the Democratic nominee on September 10, 2024, narrowly defeating New Hampshire Executive Council member Cinde Warmington in the primary.
Despite an endorsement from EMILY's List, the powerful Political Action Committee which supports Democratic pro-choice women, she lost the general election by nine points to Republican Kelly Ayotte, a former U.S. Senator, in the general election.
Personal life
editCraig and her husband, attorney Michael Craig, have three children.[12] She enjoys running and has completed 14 marathons, including 10 Boston Marathons.[12]
References
edit- ^ "Craig Sworn in as First Woman Mayor of Manchester". January 2018.
- ^ DiStaso, John (March 21, 2017). "Craig Running for Mayor". WMUR. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
- ^ a b Sutherland, Paige (November 8, 2017). "Joyce Craig Becomes Manchester's First Elected Female Mayor". NHPR. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
- ^ a b Sexton, Adam (August 19, 2024). "Joyce Craig, D, 2024 candidate for New Hampshire governor". WMUR. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Feely, Paul (September 27, 2015). "The Interview: In Joyce Craig's mayoral run, the talk is education, heroin". Union Leader. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
- ^ "Thomas "Tom" Arthur Hopkins". Connor-Healy Funeral Home - Manchester Obituary. January 2, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
- ^ DiStaso, John (March 21, 2017). "Updated NH Primary Source: Gabby Giffords gun control group to air radio ads hitting Sununu on carry law". WMUR. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- ^ DiStaso, John (September 19, 2017). "Manchester mayoral primary: Craig finishes first, Gatsas second; both advance to general election". WMUR. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- ^ "Joyce Craig announces she will not run for reelection as mayor of Manchester". WMUR. March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
- ^ Sexton, Adam (May 1, 2023). "Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig forms exploratory committee for run for New Hampshire governor". WMUR. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
- ^ "Joyce Craig, the Democratic mayor of Manchester, launches bid for governor of New Hampshire". Associated Press. July 12, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- ^ a b Niroula, Tilak (November 6, 2019). "Wishing Joyce Craig good luck in her second term as mayor of Manchester". Manchester Ink Link. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
External links
edit
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Appearances on C-SPAN