Union leaders said Ayotte was the union's unanimous selection when it decided to endorse earlier this month, and that she had earned the union’s fealty due to her push to restore retirement benefits some firefighters lost in 2011, as well as her support for a firefighters’ cancer screening program and mental health initiatives.

"These actions are not symbolic, these actions are tangible,” said Brian Ryll, the union’s president. “They reflect a deep understanding of the unique risks faced by firefighters, and a genuine commitment to standing with working families across New Hampshire."