The former state Senate Majority leader has beaten Republican Ovide Lamontagne, who had tried to portray her as a tax-and-spend liberal who would grow government.

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) _ Former state Senate Majority Leader Maggie Hassan will keep New Hampshire governor's seat in Democratic control after she beat a Republican opponent she argued was too extreme for the state.

Hassan has beaten Ovide Lamontagne in Tuesday's election. She succeeds John Lynch, who has been governor since 2005. He has served four two-year terms and is retiring.

Hassan's campaign stressed the need to repair damage done by the Republican Legislature in its last budget, particularly by restoring deep cuts to public colleges and the state's hospitals. She says the way to grow the economy is to invest in education so business has the workforce it needs.

Lamontagne had claimed Hassan was a tax-and-spend liberal who would grow government.

Both Hassan and Lamontagne are business attorneys.