Empowering Voters

Defending Democracy

Candidate Forums and Debates

Candidate forums for local, state and federal offices are scheduled around NH. Events listed here are NOT all sponsored or moderated by the League of Women Voters. When we know who is moderating or hosting, we list that info. (Note: events are deleted after they occur unless they have been recorded for public access. We will post the link when we have that information.) We do not post single candidate or one-party candidate meet & greets.

If you have information about an upcoming candidate forum in NH, please send the information for posting via email to the League president on our Contact Us page.

Forums and Debates Calendar

Training or Assistance Offered for Candidate Forum Organizers

If your civic club or organization is interested in organizing a candidates forum for local or state races in your community, the League of Women Voters New Hampshire is happy to work with you. With years of forum experience in our background, we have prepared a manual to make it easy for any civic group to organize and to run a forum. We offer free training, or if you have some experience and just want advice on a point or two, feel free to contact us. We can advise you on protocols. Email the League president via our Contact Us page.

  • October 6, 2026 – October 29, 2026 : 4 debates for the top slots on the NH Ballot. On NH Public Radio. In person at the following venues, 5 to 6 pm, then aired on NHPR the following day at 9 am and 7 pm.   ---- Oct. 6 Congressional District 1, in Meredith. Here is the video recording: https://www.nhpr.org/politics/2026-10-06/1st-district-newhampshire-congress-dilorenzo-shaheen-live-debate-youtube  ----   Oct. 15 Congressional District 2, in Keene  (here is the video recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NND7rzfs5I     ------   Oct. 22 Governor, in Manchester, recorded audio. Listen at this link.  ----   Oct. 29 US Senate, in Hanover. CANCELLED, announced by NHPR on 10/22----   Rebroadcasts are available on NHPR stations.

     

       
  • October 21, 2026 : Wednesday, 7 to 9 pm. Citizens for Voter Education under the auspices of the Portsmouth Public Library will host a candidates forum for NH House, Senate, and Executive council Candidates representing Portsmouth, Newington, and New Castle.  Specifically NH State Representative candidates for Rockingham Districts 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 37, 39;   NH State Senate District 21;   NH State Executive Council District 3.  --- At Portsmouth City Hall, City Council Chambers, 1 Junkins Ave, Portsmouth. LWVNH Seacoast Unit is a co-sponsor. The public is invited and may submit written questions for the moderator to ask. The forum will be filmed and broadcast live by Channel 22. The program will be re-run at later dates before the election.

  • October 22, 2026 : Thursday evening, 7 to 8:30 pm.  At Plaistow Public Library. -- Candidates forum for NH House district 20 representing Plaistow, Newton, and South Hampton and district 36 same towns plus Kensington and Hampton Fall .    Co-sponsored by Plaistow Public Library and LWVNH Southern Rockingham County.   The event was recorded. A glitch created 4 minutes dead space. Forward to 4:06 to watch.  https://vimeo.com/1238211793

  • October 22, 2026 : Thursday, 7 pm.  Rye Civic League will hold a candidates forum at Rye Junior High covering Greenland, Rye, and North Hampton. NH Senate district 24, NH House districts Rockingham 24 & 38, and Executive Council district 3.  Details in this poster for submitting questions: https://ryecivicleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Candidates-Night-Flyer-October-22-2026-1.pdf  . Event will be streamed at www.townhallstreams.com.

  • October 23, 2026 – November 2, 2026 : Child Care Forum via zoom, hosted by Early Learning NH.org on Oct. 21.. It was recorded and can be viewed here. Major party candidates for Governor, US House CD 1 and 2, and US Senate were invited to answer questions about Child Care issues.

  • October 25, 2026 : Sunday morning, 10:30, on channel WMUR. Their newsletter of 10/23 states "You can hear more from Pappas and Sununu this weekend on "CloseUp" at 10:30 a.m. on WMUR."  League has no further information on whether they will or won't be on the stage at the same time.

  • October 25, 2026 : Sunday morning, doors open at 8:30 am, forum listed for 8:45-12:15. All major candidates for Governor, US Senate and US House races have confirmed to attend the 50-years traditional candidates forum at Temple Adath Yeshurun Brotherhood in Manchester. 152 Prospect St. Admission is free. This was recorded. Here is the link to view it.

  • October 27, 2026 : Tuesday, 6:30 pm (doors open at 6 for informal mingling and submission of questions).   Forum for Laconia candidates for NH House Belknap Dist. 5, including Laconia wards 1, 3, 4, 5, 6.  At Leavitt Park Clubhouse, 334 Elm St., Laconia.  Voters from District 5 only may submit questions in writing, for the moderator to ask of the candidates. Co-sponsored by Citizens for Belknap and the League of Women Voters NH. Public welcome. The event will be recorded for rebroadcast on Lakes Region Public Access TV.

     
  • October 28, 2026 : Wednesday evening, on WMUR - TV  and streamed on WMUR.com.  Televised NH Congressional District 2  (candidates Maggie Goodlander and Lily Tang Williams) at 8 pm. US Senate debate, candidates Chris Pappas and John Sununu at 9 pm.

  • October 29, 2026 : Thursday evening 7 to 8:30 pm. Forum for NH House district 18 and Senate district 22 candidates representing Atkinson.      --  At Atkinson Community Center. Organized by LWV of Southern Rockingham County. Public invited, bring your questions.

  • October 29, 2026 : Thursday evening, forum for NH House candidates representing Center Harbor/New Hampton. Public invited. Voters from the district may submit written questions. Doors open at 6 pm for informal mingling with the candidates. Forum runs 6:30 to 7:45  at Meredith Community Center, 1 Circle Dr in Meredith . Organized by League of Women Voters New Hampshire with assistance from Citizens4Belknap.  Click this link to watch the forum online.

  • October 29, 2026 : Thursday 6:30-8:30 PM. Candidates forum for NH Senate representing State Senate Districts 16, 18 and 20 (Manchester, Hooksett, Goffstown, Candia, Raymond, Litchfield). Issues that affect all of us... immigration, healthcare, climate change, education funding, housing & cost of living. Meet & greet the candidates after the forum. Light refreshments. Held at Unitarian Universalist Church, 669 Union St, Manchester NH 03104. Sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Manchester, Unitarian Universalist Action New Hampshire, Granite State Organizing Project, and Young Organizers United.
  • October 29, 2026 : Thursday evening, WMUR will air debates. Congressional District 1 (Anthony DiLorenzo  and Stephany Shaheen) at 8 pm. Governor (Kelly Ayotte and Cinde Warmington) at 9 pm. Watch on TV or at WMUR.com online.

The League of Women Voters of New Hampshire is a 501(c)4 organization

League of Women Voters of New Hampshire

4 Park Street Room 200, Concord NH 03301    (603) 225-5344

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