New Hampshire 2022 debates for Senate, House, governor

All the Republican and Democratic nominees for New Hampshire's federal and statewide contests took part in debates ahead of the general election on Nov. 8, 2022.

This list includes information about New Hampshire's 2022 general election debates for U.S. Senate, U.S. House and NH governor, with links to news coverage of each event.

This post was most recently updated on Nov. 6, 2022.

U.S. Senate

Democratic incumbent Sen. Maggie Hassan and Republican challenger Don Bolduc are competing in the Nov. 8, 2022 election. (Steven Porter & Campaign photo | Granite Memo)

Democratic incumbent Sen. Maggie Hassan and Republican challenger Don Bolduc met for three debates for the 2022 general election.

Debate 1: MWVEC

Hassan and Bolduc met Oct. 18, 2022, in Conway for a debate hosted by the Mt. Washington Valley Economic Council. The moderator was George Epstein. The event was livestreamed on Facebook. Video recordings of the debate are available from Valley Vision and WMUR.

Debate coverage:

Hassan and Bolduc "sparred over issues including inflation, foreign policy and abortion in the debate held in Conway" (Adam Sexton for WMUR).
Hassan and Bolduc "pull no punches in first debate" (Lloyd Jones for Conway Daily Sun).
The backstory on 5 key moments in Bolduc and Hassan's first debate (Steven Porter for Granite Memo).
The debate "pitted the Democratic incumbent's record against her Republican rival's campaign trail rhetoric" (Holly Ramer for AP).
Hassan and Bolduc "attacked each other's views ... on a range of issues from inflation, abortion and energy to crime and immigration" (Kevin Landrigan for Union Leader).
Surprising consensus: "Both candidates agreed that the cap on income that is taxed to fund Social Security should be raised" (Trip Gabriel for The New York Times).

Debate 2: NHPR

Hassan and Bolduc met Oct. 27, 2022, in Concord for a debate hosted by NHPR in collaboration with NH PBS and NH Bulletin. The moderators were NHPR's Josh Rogers and NH Bulletin's Amanda Gokee. The event was livestreamed on Facebook and rebroadcast on NHPR and NH PBS. A recording of the debate will be available on NHPR's website.

Debate coverage:

Hassan "defended her comparatively closed-door approach to campaigning" while Bolduc "used his more open style to justify casting further doubt" on integrity of NH elections (Holly Ramer for AP).
Hassan defends campaign style, Bolduc is proud of changing views (Kevin Landrigan for Union Leader).
Both Hassan and Bolduc put spotlight on Hassan's record (Ethan DeWitt for NH Bulletin).
Hassan and Bolduc "faced questioning over shifting positions and disparate campaigning styles" (Adam Sexton for WMUR).
Hassan and Bolduc clash on economy, election integrity, abortion, border (Sarah Ewall-Wice for CBS).
Five takeaways from Hassan and Bolduc's second debate (Caroline Vakil for The Hill)
Bolduc goes on the offensive, but stumbles into contradictions (Jonathan Weisman for The New York Times).
Hassan and Bolduc spar over abortion and election denial in testy debate (Dan Merica for CNN).

Debate 3: WMUR

Hassan and Bolduc met Nov. 2, 2022, in Manchester for WMUR's Granite State Debates. The event began at 8 p.m. and aired live on WMUR's TV and digital channels. A video recording of the debate is available from WMUR in full and in clips.

Debate coverage:

Hassan accused Bolduc of shifting positions to hide his extremism, while Bolduc accused Hassan of evading questions (Holly Ramer for AP via NHPR).
Hassan and Bolduc "stick to scripts" and "favorite attacks" in WMUR debate (Kevin Landrigan for Union Leader).
Hassan and Bolduc "took aim at each other over inflation, abortion, national security, the border crisis, election denialism, and many more issues" (Paul Steinhauser for Fox News).
Hassan and Bolduc "spar over abortion, energy policy" (Kirk Enstrom for WMUR).
Three takeaways: Hassan and Bolduc on "stoking the big lie," abortion rights and combatting fentanyl (Eric Bradner for CNN).
Five takeaways: Biden was invoked repeatedly, while Trump was barely mentioned (Caroline Vakil for The Hill).
Hassan and Bolduc clash as polls tighten (Siobhan Hughes for The Wall Street Journal).
Hassan and Bolduc argue abortion, inflation and more (David Jackson, Ken Tran and Rachel Looker for USA TODAY).
Opinion: Bolduc hands Hassan major defeat in WMUR debate (Michael Graham for NHJournal).

Could-have-been debates:

In addition to the three debates Hassan agreed to attend, Bolduc called for as many as four more:

1. Greater Nashua Chamber: Instead of a debate, Hassan and Bolduc participated Oct. 12, 2022, in a one-candidate-at-a-time forum event. An event organizer told NHJournal that Hassan's team insisted on the non-debate format.

Hassan and Bolduc agree on little during separate pitches to business group (Kevin Landrigan for Union Leader).
Debate issue dogs Hassan at Nashua Chamber forum (Michael Graham for NHJournal)

2. Pulse of NH: Hassan didn't accept an invitation to meet Bolduc for a debate moderated by Jack Heath with the Pulse of NH. In lieu of a debate, Heath had a conversation with Bolduc on Oct. 20, 2022. An audio recording is available from the Pulse of NH.

3. New England College: Hassan didn't accept an invitation to meet Bolduc at New England College for a debate moderated by Chris Ryan from NH Today. In lieu of a debate, Ryan had a conversation with Bolduc on Oct. 26, 2022. An audio recording is available from NH Today.

4. NH Home Builders Association: The organizer decided not to host this event. Matt Mayberry, the association’s executive director, said both Hassan and Bolduc had expressed openness to participate, but the association needed to focus on its existing event lineup. "It was my decision to pull that plug," he said.

Senate debates exclude NH Libertarian candidate. Can they do that?

History suggests the FEC may be unlikely to find fault with WMUR’s debate criteria, but the situation poses interesting questions about NH elections and press freedom.

Granite MemoSteven Porter

1st Congressional District

Republican nominee Karoline Leavitt and Democratic incumbent Rep. Chris Pappas ran in the Nov. 8, 2022 election for New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District. (Steven Porter | Granite Memo)

Democratic incumbent Rep. Chris Pappas and Republican challenger Karoline Leavitt met for three debates for the 2022 general election.

Debate 1: MWVEC

Pappas and Leavitt met Oct. 20, 2022, in Conway for a debate hosted by the Mt. Washington Valley Economic Council. The moderator was George Epstein. The event was livestreamed on Facebook. Video recordings of the debate are available from Valley Vision and WMUR.

Debate coverage:

Pappas and Leavitt "sparred over the problems of inflation, saving Social Security and reforming immigration during their wide-ranging first debate" (Kathy McCormack for AP).
Pappas and Leavitt "clashed on inflation, Social Security and abortion" (Adam Sexton for WMUR).
Pappas and Leavitt "traded shots over inflation, abortion, Social Security, energy and the war in Ukraine" (Kevin Landrigan for Union Leader).
Pappas and Leavitt disagree on almost everything at Conway debate (Paula Tracy for InDepthNH).

Debate 2: Manchester Chamber

Pappas and Leavitt met Oct. 25, 2022, in Manchester for a debate hosted by the Greater Manchester Chamber at the Saint Anselm College NH Institute of Politics. The moderator was Scott Spradling. A video recording is available from WMUR.

Debate coverage:

Pappas and Leavitt "respectfully disagreed over policies" and "fought hardest over the ways their rival campaigns have portrayed them" (Kevin Landrigan for Union Leader).
Pappas and Leavitt battle over business issues in debate produced by Greater Manchester Chamber (WMUR).
The debate "held plenty of direct jabs and revealed a stark contrast" between Pappas and Leavitt (Andrew Sylvia for Manchester Ink Link)

Debate 3: WMUR

Pappas and Leavitt met Nov. 3, 2022, in Manchester for WMUR's Granite State Debates. The event began at 8 p.m. and aired live on WMUR's TV and digital channels. A video recording of the debate is available from WMUR in full and in clips.

Debate coverage:

Pappas and Leavitt "clash in fiery debate," criticizing each other on abortion, immigration and government spending (Kirk Enstrom for WMUR).
High costs, economy, abortion top last Pappas-Leavitt debate (Kathy McCormack for AP).
Pappas and Leavitt "engaged in a heated debate over a wide range of issues from fighting inflation to abortion, immigration, raising the debt ceiling and climate change" (Kevin Landrigan for Union Leader).
Leavitt and Pappas "battle to a draw in final TV debate" (Michael Graham for NHJournal).

Could-have-been debates:

New England College: Pappas did not accept an invitation to meet Leavitt at New England College on Oct. 24, 2022, for a debate moderated by Chris Ryan from NH Today.

NHPR: Leavitt did not accept an invitation to meet Pappas for a debate moderated by NHPR. In lieu of a debate, NHPR interviewed Pappas on Oct. 26, 2022.

NH Politics Calendar: What’s happening in the Granite State

Looking to keep tabs on upcoming events related to New Hampshire politics? Look no further.

Granite MemoGranite Memo

2nd Congressional District

Democratic incumbent Rep. Annie Kuster and Republican challenger Robert Burns are competing in the Nov. 8, 2022 election for New Hampshire's 2nd Congressional District. (Campaign photos)

Democratic incumbent Rep. Annie Kuster and Republican challenger Robert Burns met for two debates for the 2022 general election.

Debate 1: NHPR

Kuster and Burns met Oct. 28, 2022, in Concord for a debate hosted by NHPR in collaboration with NH PBS and NH Bulletin. The moderators were NHPR's Todd Bookman and NH Bulletin's Ethan DeWitt (who filled in for Annmarie Timmins). The event was livestreamed on Facebook and rebroadcast on NHPR and NH PBS. A recording of the debate will be available on NHPR.org.

Debate coverage:

Kuster and Burns battle over inflation, abortion and drug war, "spent much of this hour-long exchange talking over one another" (Kevin Landrigan for Union Leader).
Kuster and Burns "clashed on issues ranging from abortion and immigration to foreign policy and white supremacy" (Annmarie Timmons for NH Bulletin).
Kuster and Burns "frequently took jabs and interrupted one another over COVID funding, drug addiction treatment, and abortion rights" (Kathy McCormack for AP).

Debate 2: WMUR

Kuster and Burns met Nov. 4, 2022, in Manchester for WMUR's Granite State Debates. The event began at 8 p.m. and aired live on WMUR's TV and digital channels. A video recording is available from WMUR in full and in clips.

Debate coverage:

Kuster accused Burns of concealing his position on abortion, while Burns accused Kuster of not doing enough to deal with rising costs (Kathy McCormack for AP).
Kuster and Burns "spar over abortion, inflation, spending" (Kirk Enstrom for WMUR).
Kuster and Burns "disagreed over how to fight inflation, restrict legal abortions and support renewable energy," but they both had family members impacted by opioid addiction (Kevin Landrigan for Union Leader).

Could-have-been debates:

Greater Nashua Chamber: Instead of a debate, Kuster and Burns participated Oct. 25, 2022, in a one-candidate-at-a-time forum event at LaBelle Winery in Amherst.

Kuster and Burns trade views at Amherst forum (Paula Tracy for InDepthNH).

New England College: Kuster didn't accept an invitation to meet Burns at New England College for a debate moderated by Chris Ryan from NH Today.

Others: Burns criticized Kuster in a Facebook post for not attending several events.

Governor

Republican incumbent Gov. Chris Sununu and Democratic challenger Dr. Tom Sherman are competing in the Nov. 8, 2022 election for New Hampshire governor. (Steven Porter | Granite Memo)

Republican incumbent Gov. Chris Sununu and Democratic challenger Dr. Tom Sherman met for six debates for the 2022 general election.

Debate 1: Good Morning NH

Sununu and Sherman met Oct. 11, 2022, for a debate hosted by Good Morning NH with Jack Heath. The moderator was Jack Heath. The event was broadcast on the radio and livestreamed online. An audio recording of the debate is available from Good Morning NH.

Debate coverage:

Gubernatorial candidates clash in first debate (Paula Tracy for InDepthNH).

Debate 2: Nashua Chamber

Sununu and Sherman met Oct. 18, 2022, for a debate hosted by the Greater Nashua Chamber. The moderator was Fred Kocher. A video recording is available from The Nashua Telegraph.

Debate coverage:

Sherman claimed Sununu's failures on mental health reform, substance abuse prevention and homelessness led to higher drug overdose rates, while Sununu defended his record (Kevin Landrigan for Union Leader).

Debate 3: Manchester Chamber

Sununu and Sherman met Oct. 24, 2022, in Manchester for a debate hosted by the Greater Manchester Chamber at the Saint Anselm College NH Institute of Politics. The moderator was Scott Spradling. A video recording is available from WMUR.

Debate coverage:

Sherman warns fate of Medicaid expansion is on the ballot, a prediction Sununu called "boogeyman" politics at its worst. They also "differed over energy, mental health and state budget priorities" (Kevin Landrigan for Union Leader).

Debate 4: NHPR

Sununu and Sherman met Oct. 25, 2022, for a debate hosted by NHPR in collaboration with NH PBS and NH Bulletin. The moderators were NHPR's Josh Rogers and NH Bulletin's Ethan DeWitt. The event was livestreamed on Facebook and rebroadcast on NHPR and NH PBS. A recording of the debate will be available from NH PBS and on NHPR.org.

Debate coverage:

Sununu and Sherman "debated energy policy, abortion and more ... with the Republican incumbent emphasizing his track record and the Democratic challenger arguing the state has veered off track" (Holly Ramer for AP).
Sununu and Sherman spar over abortion, school funding, energy policy (Amanda Gokee for NH Bulletin).

Debate 5: New England College

Sununu and Sherman met Oct. 26, 2022, for a debate hosted by New England College in Henniker. The moderator was Chris Ryan, host of NH Today. The NH Union Leader and C-SPAN were named as media partners, and AARP sponsored the event. A video recording is available from C-SPAN.

New Hampshire Governor Debate in Henniker

New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu (R) and Tom Sherman, his Democratic challenger in the state’s 2022 gubernatorial race, participated in a debate hosted by New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire. The two candidates debated a number of topics, including rising electricity costs for consumer…

C-SPAN.org

Debate coverage:

Sununu and Sherman highlight contrast in outlooks, philosophies in debate (Josie Albertson-Grove for Union Leader).

Debate 6: WMUR

Sununu and Sherman met Nov. 1, 2022, in Manchester for WMUR's Granite State Debates. The event began at 8 p.m. and aired live on WMUR's TV and digital channels. A video recording of the debate is available from WMUR in full and in clips.

Debate coverage:

Candidates for NH governor clash on energy, abortion, housing (Kirk Enstrom for WMUR).
Sununu and Sherman battle over energy, drugs, abortion (Kevin Landrigan for Union Leader)

See something that should be added to this list? Contact editor Steven Porter at news@granitememo.com.