 Ayotte resigned as attorney general on July 7, 2009, to explore a run for U.S. Senate in 2010.The crowded Republican primary field included former congressional and gubernatorial candidate Ovide M. Lamontagne, businessman and owner of NH1 News William Harrison Binnie, and State Representative Tom Alciere.Ayotte had never run for office, but won the primary election on September 14, 2010.