| Cinde Warmington | |
| Office: | Member of the New Hampshire Executive Council from the 2nd district |
| Term Start: | January 6, 2021 |
| Predecessor: | Andru Volinsky |
| Birth Date: | 7 December 1957 |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Spouse: | Bill Christie |
| Children: | 2 |
| Education: | University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (BS) University of Texas, Arlington (MBA) University of New Hampshire (JD) |
Cinde Warmington (born December 7, 1957) is an American attorney, politician, and former lobbyist. A Democrat, Warmington was elected to the Executive Council of New Hampshire in November 2020, assuming office on January 6, 2021. She is currently a candidate in the 2024 New Hampshire gubernatorial election.
Prior to her election, Warmington worked in private practice as a healthcare attorney. She formerly worked as a lobbyist on behalf of defunct pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma.[1]
Warmington earned a Bachelor of Science degree in medical technology from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington, and a Juris Doctor from the University of New Hampshire School of Law.[2]
Warmington began her career as a health care administrator. She has since worked as a health care attorney at Shaheen & Gordon, P.A. in the firm's health care practice group. She practiced health care law for 20 years.[3]
In 2002, Warmington lobbied on behalf of Purdue Pharma in Concord, where she defended the company's record on Oxycontin prescriptions. Describing it as a "miracle drug for many patients", Warmington argued the prescription pill "has very few side effects".[4]
In 2020, she ran for the 2nd district of the Executive Council of New Hampshire to succeed fellow Democrat Andru Volinsky.[5] Her campaign received support from pro-choice groups including EMILY’s List and Planned Parenthood's New Hampshire Action Fund PAC.[6] She defeated her Republican opponent, Jim Beard, by a 54.4% to 45.5% margin.
Warmington was reelected in 2022 by a 60% to 40% margin against Republican state senator Harold F. French.[7] As a member of the Executive Council, Warmington urged colleagues to vote down efforts to cancel state contracts with Planned Parenthood.[8]
In June 2023, she announced her campaign for Governor of New Hampshire in the 2024 election.[9] In December 2023, her campaign reported that it brought it over $1 million in donations since she announced her candidacy. She faces Joyce Craig, the former Mayor of Manchester, in the Democratic primary.[10] Warmington has stated that, if elected, her inaugural budget proposal would seek to address housing affordability, childcare, and education.[11]
During the campaign, Warmington has made combating the opioid epidemic in New Hampshire a leading campaign issue. She has received scrutiny over her work on behalf of PMC Medical Group, a network of pain management clinics accused of contributing to the state's opioid crisis.[12] [13] Kathy Sullivan, the former chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, expressed concerns regarding her work for the company.[14]
As a gubernatorial candidate, Warmington has advocated for expanding access to abortion in New Hampshire, and favors repealing the 24-week abortion ban instituted by Governor Chris Sununu.[15] Warmington has identified the state's housing crisis and the fentanyl epidemic as long-term challenges facing New Hampshire residents.[16]