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 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.  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.

     The forum was 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. 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. (This forum was recorded and is available on demand at Lakes Region Public Access TV.)

  • October 5, 2026 : Monday evening, 6-7:30 At UNH/Memorial Union Building and via zoom:  Candidate policy forum - Congressional District 1. "This forum brings the CD-1 candidates Anthony DiLorenzo (R) and Stefany Shaheen (D) to UNH for a moderated, in-depth conversation — not a debate, but a real discussion on the policy issues that affect daily life in New Hampshire. " Hosted by Carsey School of Public Policy, UNH. Advance registration for zoom or in person required: Here's the link: https://carsey.unh.edu/calendar?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D1446958406

  • 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. ----   Oct. 15 Congressional District 2, in Keene. ----   Oct. 22 Governor, in Manchester, ----   Oct. 29 US Senate, in Hanover. ----   Details of in-person locations on NHPR website:  This is also where one must register to attend the in-person debates. Rebroadcasts are available on NHPR stations.

     

       
  • October 7, 2026 : Wednesday evening, 6 to 7:30. Candidate policy forum - Congressional District 2. "This forum brings the CD-2 candidates Maggie Goodlander  (D) and  Lily Tang Williams (R) to UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law (in Concord) for a moderated, in-depth conversation — not a debate, but a real discussion on the policy issues that affect daily life in New Hampshire. " Hosted by Carsey School of Public Policy, UNH. Advance registration for non UNH students/faculty zoom or in person required: Here's the link: https://carsey.unh.edu/calendar?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D1446958406

  • October 17, 2026 : CANCELLED.  VENUE CONFLICT. NOT ENOUGH TIME TO RESCHEDULE. Candidate forum for NH House and Senate and Executive Council districts that represent the towns of Greenfield, Hancock, Peterborough and Sharon. "Attempted" by League of Women Voters PeterboroughPlus unit, the Monadnock Ledger-Transcript, and Friends of the Greenfield Community Meetinghouse.

  • October 19, 2026 : Monday evening.   Candidates representing Sunapee. Doors open at 6:30 for candidates and voters to mix and mingle. Forum starts at 7 pm. Lake Sunapee United Methodist Church, 9 Lower Main St in Sunapee. Public invited to bring questions. Organized by Project Sunapee, moderated by LWV board member. https://projectsunapee.org/candidates-forum/

  • October 20, 2026 : Tuesday, 5:30 - 7:30 pm (doors open at 5).  At Spagnola Hall at Franklin Pierce University. Candidates for NH Executive Council, NH Senate, and NH House reps from Dublin, Jaffrey & Rindge.    -  Hosted by The Monadnock Ledger-Transcript  in partnership with Franklin Pierce University and the League of Women Voters of NH PeterboroughPlus unit.  Public welcome.

  • October 20, 2026 : Tuesday evening, 7 pm, at Warner Town Hall.  Candidates forum for NH House Mer. District 7,  representing Warner, Bradford, and Henniker. NH Senate district 8 candidates have also been invited.  Public is encouraged to bring questions. Organized by League of Women Voters Kearsarge/Sunapee Area.

  • October 21, 2026 : Wednesday, 5:30 - 7:30 pm (doors open at 5).  At Spagnola Hall at Franklin Pierce University. Candidates for Governor, U.S. Senate and NH’s Second Congressional District.    -  Hosted by The Monadnock Ledger-Transcript  in partnership with Franklin Pierce University and the League of Women Voters of NH PeterboroughPlus unit.  Public welcome.

         

  • 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 Library. -- Candidates forum for NH House district 20 representing Plaistow, Newton, and South Hampton and district 36 same towns plus Kensington and Hampton Fall, and Senate district 22 .    Co-sponsored by Plaistow Public Library and LWV Southern Rockingham County. Public invited; bring your questions.

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

  • 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. For more information contact edschoen47@gmail.com.  League has no further details.

  • 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 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.

  • 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.

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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