A field of New Hampshire candidates for governor and federal office focused on affordability Sunday at a forum at Temple Adath Yeshurun in Manchester, trading sharply different accounts of how the state is addressing rising costs for housing, energy, health care and child care.
Central theme: cost of living
Gov. Kelly Ayotte, seeking re-election, told the audience that affordability has been a top priority during her term and cited recent legislative action. Ayotte highlighted new housing laws and a business tax credit aimed at encouraging companies to co-locate child care with workplaces.
“Individuals, the people of New Hampshire right now and in Manchester are struggling with the cost of living. One of my top priorities as governor has been affordability,” said Ayotte.
Ayotte also said her administration has confronted utility companies to lower costs and pursued efforts to bring more reliable energy to the state.
Her opponent, former Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington, said Granite Staters are feeling greater financial strain and blamed state policy under Ayotte for worsening conditions.
“I am hearing from Granite Staters that they are being crushed by the cost of housing and healthcare, childcare, gas prices, food prices, rent, property taxes ... it goes on and on,” Warmington said. “People are really struggling.”
Congressional matchup and national links
The forum also drew candidates in New Hampshire’s congressional contests, including U.S. Rep. Maggie Goodlander, D-N.H., who faces Republican Lily Tang Williams of Weare for the 2nd Congressional District seat. Goodlander, who defeated Tang Williams in 2024, linked some cost pressures to national policy.
“You’ve got to lower costs. That means we’ve got to end this war of choice in Iran, we’ve got to end these senseless and costly trade wars that are putting small businesses out of business, that are taxes on everyone in this room,” Goodlander said.
Tang Williams described alternative approaches to reducing costs, and the candidates answered audience questions on a range of topics including Social Security, energy policy and housing supply. The forum illustrated how closely voters are tying local economic concerns to both state and national policy choices as the Nov. 3 general election approaches.
- Where: Temple Adath Yeshurun, Manchester
- When: Sunday (Oct. 25, 2026)
- Focus: housing, energy costs, health care, child care and the cost of living
