A New Hampshire politician faces scrutiny over her past work for the opioid industry

Cultures · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Cinde Warmington, a former Executive Councilor and two-time gubernatorial candidate, built a career as a healthcare attorney before entering politics. While she now campaigns on addressing the state's opioid crisis, her past professional ties to pharmaceutical companies and pain management clinics have sparked intense debate among voters and recovery advocates.

Born in 1957, Cinde Warmington transitioned from a career in healthcare administration and law to public office. She served on the Executive Council of New Hampshire for four years, starting in 2021. During her tenure, she became a prominent voice for reproductive rights, securing endorsements from organizations like EMILY’s List and Planned Parenthood. However, her political trajectory has been complicated by her previous legal work, particularly her representation of entities involved in the opioid crisis.

In 2002, Warmington lobbied for Purdue Pharma, defending the company's Oxycontin prescriptions as a miracle drug with minimal side effects. Decades later, while running for governor, she faced criticism for her legal representation of PMC Medical Group, a pain management network linked to a kickback scandal. Her work for the group included lobbying against legislation that would have restricted medical practice ownership by individuals with revoked licenses. Following these revelations, recovery advocates labeled donations she received from the clinic's owner as blood money, and party figures have questioned her past alignment with the industry.

Warmington’s 2024 gubernatorial bid ended in a primary defeat to Joyce Craig. Undeterred, she launched a second campaign for the 2026 election, challenging incumbent Kelly Ayotte. Her current platform emphasizes housing affordability, childcare, and a transition away from natural gas by 2040. Despite her policy focus, she faces significant electoral headwinds, with recent data indicating that unfavorable views of her candidacy outnumber favorable ones by more than two to one, and her fundraising efforts have struggled to match the pace of her previous campaign.

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