New Hampshire Senate race: Maggie Hassan, Don Bolduc to debate in lead up to Election Day
New Hampshire Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan and Republican Don Bolduc faced off Wednesday night for a rematch after the two U.S. Senate candidates went head-to-head in a debate last week, with questions on abortion kicking off the night.
Incumbent Hassan and GOP challenger Bolduc are debating less than one week before Election Day.
The debate is the first since Bolduc received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump. In a Truth Social post earlier this week, Trump called the candidate a “strong and proud ‘Election Denier,’ a big reason that he won the nomination.”
The candidates have sparred over inflation, 2020 election fraud and abortion.
More:Get political news, fast and to the point, delivered to your inbox. Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter.
The competitive Senate race will determine if Hassan serves another term. The Senate is currently split 50-50, with Vice President Kamala Harris giving Democrats the tie-breaking vote.
Bolduc attacks Hassan on abortion
Bolduc said Hassan’s claims that he would vote for a nationwide abortion ban is “a lie.”
“That is an absolute lie. I have no record,” said Bolduc, citing his military service on his honesty, then accusing Hassan of being out of step with New Hampshire voters. “She’s the one that is extreme.”
— Ken Tran
Bolduc passes on abortion question; says it’s not a federal issue
The first question went to Bolduc and dealt with abortion; Bolduc is anti-abortion, but did not discuss that. He said it’s a state issue, and he will not vote one way or anther on any federal abortion bill. He added he will abide by state law.
– David Jackson
When is the debate?
The live debate will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 8 p.m. It is scheduled to last one hour.
– Rachel Looker
How to watch?
The debate will air live on WMUR-TV and on WMUR.com.
– Rachel Looker
Midterm elections: These races will determine who controls the Senate: Here are eight to watch
This isn’t the first time conservatives have pushed the hoax. A school in Michigan was accused of providing litter boxes to students which the school district’s superintendent quickly debunked.
On Wednesday morning before the debate, Bolduc doubled down on his claims, telling NBC News he was not “backing down,” and that the burden of proof is on the school to prove litter boxes aren’t being used.
— Ken Tran
Fact check:No, a Michigan public school did not provide litter boxes for students identifying as cats
Who is Maggie Hassan?
Maggie Hassan, 64, is running for reelection to keep her Senate seat. The Democratic senator served as the former New Hampshire governor from 2013 to 2016. She was elected to her current Senate seat in 2017.
Hassan serves on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and chairs the subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight. She is also a member of the bipartisan Common Sense Coalition.
Don Bolduc, 60, is vying for the New Hampshire Senate seat. A former police officer and retired Army general, Bolduc is a supporter of former President Donald Trump’s claims that the election was stolen.
He previously ran for a Senate seat in 2020, but lost in the primary.
New Hampshire’s Republican Gov. Chris Sununu described Bolduc as a “conspiracy theory extremist” in August, but vowed to support the Republican challenger one week before Election Day.
“Don and I didn’t see eye to eye during the primary,” Sununu said. “But again, I’m going to support the Republican ticket because the issues that folks are voting on are inflation, gas prices, heating oil, which is skyrocketing here in New Hampshire and causing a major concern.”
– Rachel Looker, Merdie Nzanga
What do the polls show?
Latest polling shows Hassan has a slight lead over Bolduc, but the gap is closing as Election Day approaches, according to FiveThirtyEight, a site that analyzes polls and political data.
At one point, Hassan had an eight point lead over Bolduc toward the beginning of October.
Her lead has shrunk within the last week.
– Rachel Looker
Where do the candidates fall on key issues?
Abortion and inflation are among top concerns for voters nationally and in New Hampshire. They have also been topics of discussion at Hassan and Bolduc’s previous two debates.
bill proposed by Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham in September that would prohibit abortions after 15 weeks across the country.
“It is now a state issue,” Bolduc said. “I support New Hampshire’s law. I support granite staters,” referring to state law that allows abortion up to 24 weeks.
Bolduc and Hassan have also addressed economic issues like inflation in debates and are likely to again on Wednesday. Last week, Hassan attributed rising costs across the state, country and world to the pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
The senator said she would work to lower current costs while addressing the long-term drivers, pointing to a bill she co-sponsored to lower prescription drug costs.
“Right now, these immediate costs are really hurting people,” Hassan said.
Bolduc has said he would tackle high prices by challenging energy policies his opponent has agreed on with President Biden.
“Her policies hurt people. My policies will reverse all of this,” Bolduc said.
– Savannah Kuchar
first debate between U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan and Don Bolduc pitted Hassan’s record against Bolduc’s campaign trail rhetoric.
Bolduc accused Hassan of failing constituents by supporting the Biden administration’s economic and energy policies. She claimed he has undermined democracy and endangered women.
The candidate also sparred over abortion and who should have the authority to set abortion policy. Hassan has made abortion a centerpiece of her campaign. Bolduc has said he opposes a national abortion ban.
Hassan, Bolduc in first Senate race debate: Here’s how they matched rhetoric vs. record
Their second matchup covered election integrity and voter fraud.
Bolduc was asked during the debate whether he believes the governor and secretary of state when they say that there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the state and that elections are secure.
“I believe Granite Staters, and I’m the only one sitting here who’s been to every town and city in the state over two years,” Bolduc said, citing things he said he has heard about voting machines, ballots cast by out-of-state college students and more.
More:Election 2022: Hassan, Bolduc debate election fraud, campaign styles
– Rachel Looker
more Republicans have thrown their support behind Bolduc now that Election Day is nearing.
New Hampshire Republican Gov. Chris Sununu changed his stance on Bolduc, calling him a “conspiracy theory extremist” in August but now vowing to support him.
Rick Scott, a Florida senator and chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, called Bolduc a “true patriot.” At a recent campaign event in New Hampshire, Scott told voters he was there to make sure Bolduc is elected the next senator.
More:Confident Republicans unify behind Bolduc, other candidates once seen as risky
– Rachel Looker
First lady Jill Bidenvisited New Hampshire Saturday to campaign for Democrats on the ballot, including Hassan. Jill Biden pushes for Hassan, Democrats in Portsmouth as election nears
– Rachel Looker, Steven Porter
New Hampshire Democrats focus on abortion
New Hampshire’s current race for U.S. Senate could have major implications for abortion rights nationwide if voters pick Bolduc over incumbent Sen. Maggie Hassan, according to state Democratic leaders.
Polling suggests most Granite Staters will respond positively to messages in favor of abortion rights. What’s less clear is how voters with nuanced views on this topic will make sense of a partisan debate that directly involves shifting policies at both the state and federal levels.
Hassan v. Bolduc:Why Democrats in NH are focused on abortion. What do voters think?
While Democrats argue Republicans intend to clamp down on women’s access to reproductive health care, Republicans contend that Democrats have staked out a position that’s too extreme.
– Rachel Looker, Stephen Porter
Previously:Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, eliminating constitutional right to abortion
took questions from business owners and members of the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth at a candidate forum Oct. 25.
Bolduc called out the Hassan campaign’s “attack” advertisements about him, stating continued political “divisiveness” recently led to an incident when another driver began following his car.
More:Bolduc, Hassan face questions from Seacoast business owners. Here’s how they responded.
“I will tell you all the ads out there about me from my opponent are lies. It’s not true. The (lack of) civility out there, I feel and I see, and it’s wrong,” he said. “And I will not lower myself to that level. I will not do that. You deserve better in your public servants.”
Hassan labeled Bolduc as “possibly the most extreme opponent nominee for the United State Senate that New Hampshire has seen in modern history.”
The first-term senator additionally cast doubt that Bolduc would accept the results of the upcoming election if he loses.
– Rachel Looker, Ian Lenahan