Cinde Warmington

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.

Education
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.

Legal career
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.

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".

Executive Council of New Hampshire
In 2020, she ran for the 2nd district of the Executive Council of New Hampshire to succeed fellow Democrat Andru Volinsky. Her campaign received support from pro-choice groups including EMILY’s List and Planned Parenthood's New Hampshire Action Fund PAC. 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. As a member of the Executive Council, Warmington urged colleagues to vote down efforts to cancel state contracts with Planned Parenthood.

2024 gubernatorial campaign
In June 2023, she announced her campaign for Governor of New Hampshire in the 2024 election. 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. Warmington has stated that, if elected, her inaugural budget proposal would seek to address housing affordability, childcare, and education.

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. Kathy Sullivan, the former chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, expressed concerns regarding her work for the company.

Political positions
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. Warmington has identified the state's housing crisis and the fentanyl epidemic as long-term challenges facing New Hampshire residents.