Kelly Ayotte announced she would write in Mike Pence for president.
Posted by Bannon`s War Room, Checked
- Sources
- 4 support3 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 92%
Bannon`s War RoomOct 7, 2026
Multiple independent sources from October 2016 report that Sen. Kelly Ayotte announced she would not vote for Trump or Clinton and would write in Mike Pence for president, so the claim holds. The statement dates from October 2016, not a recent event, and the post is recirculating that older news.
The played clip relays this claim without endorsing it. It counts as passed on, not against the post.
What was said
… Illinois Republican Senator Mark Kirk, who is in a tough reelection campaign, agreed that Trump should step aside, calling him a malignant clown. New Hampshire Republican Senator Kelly Ayotte, also in a very competitive race, said she would write in Pence for president. She announced on Twitter today, "I cannot and will not support a candidate for president who brags about degrading and assaulting women." …
Bannon`s War Room · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Supports. BBC reports that Ayotte said in a statement she 'cannot and will not support a candidate for president who brags about degrading and assaulting women' and would instead 'write in' Mike Pence on her ballot.[2]
Supports. Politico reports that Ayotte said she would not vote for Trump or Clinton and would write in the GOP vice-presidential nominee, Mike Pence, for president.[3]
Supports. Business Insider and NHPR both report Ayotte announcing she would write in Pence for president, with NHPR tying the announcement to a Sunday press conference in Manchester.[4][5]
Context. The statement was made in early October 2016 after the Access Hollywood tape surfaced, so the claim describes a 2016 announcement that the 2026 post is repeating. Sources published up to 2016-11 (AP, Defense News) consistently describe the write-in pledge.[1][6][7]
Sources
7 sources: 1 fact-checker, 1 tier 1, 1 tier 2, 4 not rated
- 1Ayotte concedes US Senate race to Hassan in New Hampshireapnews.com · fact-checker · cited for: context
- 2US election: More top Republicans drop support for Trumpbbc.com · tier 1 · cited for: supports
- 3Ayotte to write in Pence for presidentpolitico.com · tier 2 · cited for: supports
- 4IT'S A STAMPEDE! Republicans flee Trump in unprecedented fashion month before electionbusinessinsider.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 5Citing Her Daughter, Ayotte Says She'd Support Trump Stepping Asidenhpr.org · not rated · cited for: supports
- 6Races to Watch: Ayotte Faces Trump Effectdefensenews.com · not rated · cited for: context
- 7Voters stand by Ayotte because of and despite Trump decisionboston.com · not rated · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
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