Maggie Hassan Sworn In As N.H. Governor

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Democrat Maggie Hassan is now New Hampshire's 81st chief executive and the second female to lead the state.

Hassan was sworn in at about 12:15 p.m. Thursday by state Supreme Court Chief Justice Linda Dalianis, who is the state's first female chief justice.

The 54-year-old business attorney from Exeter succeeds popular Democrat John Lynch, the governor since 2005 who retired after serving four two-year terms. Hassan won in November by beating conservative Republican Ovide Lamontagne, whom she characterized as too extreme for New Hampshire.

Despite the harshly negative tone of the campaign, Hassan has called for bipartisanship and has included Republicans in her transition team.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.