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. However, leading up to the Sept. 8 primary, we will post single party forums if we have that information and if it seems they are open to all candidates of that party and to the public.

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. We will schedule a training (one for event organizers, one for moderators) for January 2026, via zoom. (Send us an email if you are interested in joining either training.) Email the League president via our Contact Us page.

  • September 1, 2026 :

    Tuesday, at Meredith Community Center, One Circle Drive in Meredith: Candidates forum for NH House, Meredith District 2.

    Bipartisan voters’ group Citizens for Belknap, partnering with the League of Women Voters NH, announces three pre-primary candidate forums in early September for contested Belknap county races for state representative.  This includes candidates in Meredith’s District 2, Belmont’s Districts 4 & 8, and District 6, which includes Gilmanton, Gilford and Laconia Ward 2.  [warning: "Mobilize Us" has erroneously posted these forums as "hosted by the NH Democratic Party." Correction:   This candidate forum event is hosted by bipartisan Citizens for Belknap and the nonpartisan League of Women Voters NH.  Democratic candidates will participate, but it is NOT sponsored by the NH Democratic Party.]

    ]

    Only Republican seats in those districts are contested, but candidates from both parties are invited to participate. League of Women Voters’ guidelines will be used for the forum. Former NH Senator and Meredith resident Jeanie Forrester will be the moderator for the Meredith forum.

    Voters may submit questions in writing for the candidates. Doors open for all forums at 6 pm, giving voters an opportunity to write out their questions and speak informally with the candidates.  The forum begins at 6:30 pm, and will be video recorded for rebroadcast by Lakes Region Public Access TV. Here is the recording of the forum: (coming soon)

  • September 2, 2026 : Wednesday, Candidates forum for NH House, Belmont Districts 4 & 8,  at Belmont High School cafeteria, 255 Seavey Rd in Belmont.

    Bipartisan voters’ group Citizens for Belknap, partnering with the League of Women Voters NH, announces three pre-primary candidate forums in early September for contested Belknap county races for state representative.  This includes candidates in Meredith’s District 2, Belmont’s Districts 4 & 8, and District 6, which includes Gilmanton, Gilford and Laconia Ward 2.  [warning: "Mobilize Us" has erroneously posted these forums as "hosted by the NH Democratic Party." Correction:   This candidate forum event is hosted by bipartisan Citizens for Belknap and the nonpartisan League of Women Voters NH.  Democratic candidates will participate, but it is NOT sponsored by the NH Democratic Party.]

    Only Republican seats in those districts are contested, but candidates from both parties are invited to participate. League of Women Voters’ guidelines will be used for the forum. Attorney and resident of Belmont, Alvin Nix, has agreed to moderate the Belmont Districts 4 and 8 forum.

    Voters may submit questions in writing for the candidates. Doors open for all forums at 6 pm, giving voters an opportunity to write out their questions and speak informally with the candidates.  The forum begins at 6:30 pm, and will be video recorded for rebroadcast by Lakes Region Public Access TV.

  • September 3, 2026 : Thursday evening, Candidates forum for NH House representing Gilmanton, Gilford and Laconia Ward 2,  at Gilford Community Church, 19 Potter Hill Rd in Gilford.

    Bipartisan voters’ group Citizens for Belknap, partnering with the League of Women Voters NH, announces three pre-primary candidate forums in early September for contested Belknap county races for state representative.  This includes candidates in Meredith’s District 2, Belmont’s Districts 4 & 8, and District 6, which includes Gilmanton, Gilford and Laconia Ward 2.  [warning: "Mobilize Us" has erroneously posted these forums as "hosted by the NH Democratic Party." Correction:   This candidate forum event is hosted by bipartisan Citizens for Belknap and the nonpartisan League of Women Voters NH.  Democratic candidates will participate, but it is NOT sponsored by the NH Democratic Party.]

    Only Republican seats in those districts are contested, but candidates from both parties are invited to participate. League of Women Voters’ guidelines will be used for the forum. Former Gilford Town Moderator Sandy McGonagall will moderate this forum.

    Voters may submit questions in writing for the candidates. Doors open for all forums at 6 pm, giving voters an opportunity to write out their questions and speak informally with the candidates.  The forum begins at 6:30 pm, and will be video recorded for rebroadcast by Lakes Region Public Access TV.

  • 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, then aired on NHPR the following day at 9 am and 7 pm. -- Oct. 6 Congressional District 1, in Meredith. --   Oct. 15, Congressional District 2, in Keene. --   Oct. 22, Governor, in Manchester, --   Oct. 29, US Senate, in Hanover. --   Details of in-person attendance on NHPR website:  This is also where one must register to attend the in-person debates. Rebroadcasts are available on NHPR stations.

       
  • October 21, 2026 : Wednesday, 7 to 9 pm. Portsmouth Civic Organization will host a candidates forum for NH House, Senate, and Executive council Candidates representing Portsmouth, Newington, and New Castle. At Portsmouth City Hall. LWVNH Seacoast Unit is a co-sponsor.

  • October 22, 2026 : Thursday evening, time to be confirmed. Candidates forum for NH House and Senate representing Plaistow. At Plaistow Library. Organized by LWV Southern Rockingham County. Public invited.

  • October 22, 2026 : Thursday, 7 pm.  Rye Civic League will hold a candidates forum. Details to be announced. At Rye Junior High.

  • October 29, 2026 : Thursday evening (start time TBA). Forum for NH House and Senate candidates representing Atkinson.      --  At Atkinson Community Center. Organized by LWV of Southern Rockingham County. Public invited.

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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