Full video: 2024 debate between New Hampshire GOP candidates for governor

THIS IS A WMUR COMMITMENT 2024 SPECIAL. THE GRANITE STATE DEBATES. KELLY AYOTTE WAS BORN IN NASHUA, GRADUATING FROM WHAT WAS THEN KNOWN AS NASHUA HIGH SCHOOL. SHE SERVED AS NEW HAMPSHIRE'S ATTORNEY GENERAL FROM 2004 TO 2009. BETWEEN 2011 AND 2017, SHE REPRESENTED THE GRANITE STATE IN WASHINGTON AS A U.S. SENATOR. NOW SHE'S RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR. I THINK I'VE GOT THIS KIND OF THE RELATIONSHIPS I WORKED ACROSS THE AISLE IN THE U.S. SENATE TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR STATE AND TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR PEOPLE AND TO REALLY BE A VOICE AS GOVERNOR. ORIGINALLY ELECTED TO THE STATE SENATE IN 2002, CHUCK MORSE HELPED LEAD THE PUSH THAT MADE NEW HAMPSHIRE THE ONLY STATE TO FLIP ITS LEGISLATURE TO REPUBLICANS IN 2020. FOR THAT, HE RETURNED TO HIS SEAT AS SENATE PRESIDENT. THE BUSINESS OWNER AND ARCHITECT OF MANY A STATE BUDGET NOW WANTS TO TAKE HIS KNOW HOW TO THE CORNER OFFICE. I'VE BEEN TRAVELING THIS WHOLE STATE. I STARTED AS A CONSERVATIVE AND I FINISHED AS A CONSERVATIVE. AS SENATE PRESIDENT, I PROMISE YOU, I WILL BE A GOVERNOR. THAT'S A CONSERVATIVE. TONIGHT, THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT FOR THE GRANITE STATE DEBATES. I'M WMUR POLITICAL DIRECTOR ADAM SEXTON. TONIGHT WE'RE HEARING FROM THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR. TWO OF THOSE CANDIDATES ARE JOINING US LIVE TONIGHT. THEY'LL BE ANSWERING QUESTIONS FROM ME AND FROM OUR PANELISTS. THOSE PANELISTS TONIGHT ARE WMUR ANCHORS ARIEL MITROPOULOS AND STEVE BOTTARI. HERE'S A LOOK AT OUR FORMAT. EACH CANDIDATE WILL GET UP TO 60S TO ANSWER A QUESTION. THEY'LL HAVE UP TO SECONDS FOR A REBUTTAL IF NECESSARY, AND THOSE WILL BE GRANTED AT MY DISCRETION. CANDIDATES WILL ALSO BE GIVEN SECONDS AT THE END OF THE HOUR FOR A CLOSING STATEMENT. LET'S GET THINGS STARTED TONIGHT WITH STEVE BOTTARI. ADAM. THANK YOU. THE MEDIAN SALES PRICE FOR HOMES IN JULY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE WAS $530,000. THAT IS A METEORIC RISE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. MANY GRANITE STATERS HAVE TOLD US AT THIS POINT, SOME OF THEM ARE PRICED OUT OF THE HOUSING MARKET IN OUR STATE ALTOGETHER. AND WHAT COULD YOU DO IMMEDIATELY AS GOVERNOR? SENATOR MORSE, TO INCREASE NEW HOUSING UNITS AND MAKE SURE SOME OF THEM, AT LEAST, ARE WITHIN REACH FOR FAMILIES THAT ARE AVERAGE HERE IN THE STATE? YEAH, I BELIEVE IN LOCAL CONTROL. AND AS SENATE PRESIDENT, I ALREADY STARTED WORKING ON THIS. I BELIEVE WHAT WE HAVE TO DO WITH THE COMMUNITIES THAT WANT TO WORK WITH US AND CREATE HOUSING STOCK IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. WE HAVE TO HELP THEM CREATE INFRASTRUCTURE, WHETHER THAT'S THROUGH WATER OR BRINGING THEM ROADS. WE CAN DO THAT, AND WE'VE ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED SOME OF THAT. WHEN WE WORKED WITH SOME OF THE FEDERAL FUNDING THAT WE GOT. BUT WE CAN DO EVEN MORE NOW, AND WE CAN WORK WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES. BUT I THINK IT'S PRETTY TROUBLING, YOU KNOW, WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP CAME OUT TODAY AND TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT OUR HOUSING PRICES ARE HAVE RISEN THE HIGHEST IN THE NATION, AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF THINGS LIKE KELLY SITTING ON THE BOARD OF BLACKSTONE. I MEAN, THAT'S TRUE. THESE COMPANIES COME IN, THEY DRIVE UP THE COST OF HOUSING AND THEY MAKE IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THINGS. AND THE OTHER THING WE SHOULD REMEMBER IS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS DRIVEN UP INFLATION SO HIGH AND THEY'VE DRIVEN UP INTEREST RATES THAT IT'S MAKING IT SO HARD FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET A LOAN. THESE DAYS, AND WE CAN HELP WITH THAT BY ELECTING A PRESIDENT TRUMP. SENATOR AYOTTE, YOU WERE INVOKED SECONDS. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, CHUCK, SOUNDS LIKE A DEMOCRAT BLAMING THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHEN WE HAVE A HOUSING CRISIS. WHEN IT COMES TO SUPPLY, WE NEED TO BUILD HOUSING OF ALL FORMS, MORE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, MANUFACTURING. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE OVERHAUL THE STATE PROCESS TO MAKE IT BETTER. YOU HAVE TO GET MULTIPLE STATE APPROVALS. I'M GOING TO DO THAT AS GOVERNOR. WE'RE GOING TO GET THE PRIVATE SECTOR AT THE TABLE, ALONG WITH THE STATE, ALONG WITH THE LOCAL OFFICIALS AND PARTNER, TO BUILD MORE HOUSING IN THIS STATE. SENATOR AYOTTE, LET'S NOT FORGET ABOUT RENTERS AS WELL. A RECENT REPORT SAYS ONLY 13% OF TWO BEDROOM RENTALS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE ARE CONSIDERED AFFORDABLE. WHAT INNOVATIVE IDEA DO YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THAT? AGAIN, I THINK IT'S A SUPPLY ISSUE. WHEN I TALK ABOUT BUILDING MORE HOUSING, WE NEED TO BUILD MORE APARTMENTS TOO, AND WE NEED TO MAKE THEM MORE ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE BY HAVING MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES. SO AGAIN, BUILDING MORE, GETTING CREATING THOSE PARTNERSHIPS. YES, USING OUR TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS TO INCENTIVIZE THOSE LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS WHILE STILL MAINTAINING THAT LOCAL CONTROL THAT WE RESPECT HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. BUT THE STATE PROCESS IS NOT WHERE IT SHOULD BE. I'M GOING TO OVERHAUL THAT. BUT THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT PEOPLE ARE PAYING TOO MUCH RIGHT NOW. BUT MORE APARTMENTS WE WILL NEED OF ALL KINDS AND ALSO SINGLE FAMILY HOMES, YOU NAME IT. AND THEN OF COURSE, BRINGING INTEREST RATES DOWN SO THAT WE CAN BUILD THINGS IN A MORE AFFORDABLE WAY MAKES SENSE TOO. BUT THAT HAPPENS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. WE NEED NEW LEADERSHIP. THERE. AND SENATOR MORSE, WHEN IT COMES TO RENTERS, ONLY 13% OF TWO BEDROOM RENTALS HERE IN THE GRANITE STATE ARE AFFORDABLE. HOW DO YOU CHANGE THAT? YEAH, BUT WHAT YOU'RE SEEING HAPPEN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE IS WE'RE A SUCCESS STORY. WE DROVE OUR ECONOMY, AND YOU'RE SEEING LIKE, APARTMENTS BEING BUILT IN SALEM, NEW HAMPSHIRE, BECAUSE WE BROUGHT THEM THE INFRASTRUCTURE. AND THAT'S HOW IT WORKS. WHEN WE BROUGHT THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THEY BUILT MORE. BUT I GOT TO TELL YOU, WHEN KELLY TALKS ABOUT BLACKSTONE AND BASICALLY SAYS, I'M ACTING LIKE A DEMOCRAT, THE ONLY ONE THAT'S ACTING LIKE A DEMOCRAT IS THE BOARD OF BLACKSTONE. THEY CONTRIBUTED TO THE DEMOCRATS CONSTANTLY WHEN THEY MADE THESE RECORD PROFITS IN THE STATES. SENATOR, YOU HAVE SECONDS TO RESPOND. YEAH. I WOULD JUST SAY, LISTEN, WHAT CHUCK IS SAYING IS JUST FALSE WHEN IT COMES TO THAT COMPANY HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. BUT WHAT WE NEED IS ACTUALLY TO PARTNER WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, AND HE'S GOING TO TURN THEM AWAY BECAUSE HE DOES SOUND LIKE A DEMOCRAT. WE NEED TO PARTNER WITH DEVELOPERS AND BUILDERS IN THIS STATE, PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BUILD ONE HOME, MULTIPLE HOMES. I WILL BRING EVERYONE TOGETHER IN THIS STATE TO GET THAT DONE. AND WE DO NEED PEOPLE AT THE TABLE. WE NEED THE PRIVATE SECTOR AT THE TABLE. WE NEED EVERYONE. SO YES, HE DOES SOUND LIKE A DEMOCRAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT DEMOCRATS DO. THEY ATTACK PRIVATE BUSINESS INSTEAD OF WORKING WITH THEM. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO THE NEXT QUESTION NOW FROM ARIELLE MITROPOULOS. THANK YOU. ADAM. AFTER A RECENT SUPREME COURT DECISION, THE CITY OF MANCHESTER ENACTED AN OUTDOOR CAMPING BAN IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY. LACONIA IS NOW CONSIDERING DOING THE SAME. SENATOR AYOTTE, IS THIS AN APPROPRIATE WAY TO HANDLE THIS CRISIS? AND IF CAMPING IS BANNED AND THERE'S NOT ENOUGH SHELTER, SPACE SHOULD THE STATE BE STEPPING UP TO HELP? I ACTUALLY THINK THESE CAMPING ORDINANCES ARE APPROPRIATE. JUST LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED IN MANCHESTER UNDER JOYCE CRAIG'S FAILED LEADERSHIP. MASSIVE HOMELESS CAMPS. PEOPLE WERE WALKING DOWN THE STREETS, THEY SAW URINE, FECES, NEEDLES AND SO ALLOWING MAKING SURE THAT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, LOCAL OFFICIALS CAN, IF APPROPRIATE, MOVE HOMELESS. BUT YES, THIS GETS US BACK TO THE STATE. SHOULD BE A PARTNER ON ISSUES LIKE HOUSING AND FEDERAL FUNDS THAT COME IN, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHY ARE PEOPLE HOMELESS? THERE'S UNDERLYING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS. SO IT CAN'T JUST BE ABOUT PROVIDING MORE HOMES AND OPPORTUNITIES. IT ALSO HAS TO BE WITH MAKING SURE THAT WE GET THE SERVICES TO THE PEOPLE. SO THAT THEY CAN GET OUT OF THAT CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS. SENATOR MORSE, THE SAME QUESTION TO YOU, DO YOU THINK THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE? WELL, WHEN I STARTED RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, THE FIRST THING I DID WAS GO OUT AND START TO MEET WITH CHURCH LEADERS BECAUSE I SAW AN OPPORTUNITY HERE FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE TO SAY HOMELESSNESS IS UNACCEPTABLE. AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE HAVE TO DO. WHEN I MET WITH THESE LEADERS, I SAID, YOU NEED TO JOIN IN WITH THE STATE BECAUSE GOVERNMENT ISN'T THE ANSWER TO EVERYTHING, AND WE NEED TO DO THINGS LIKE WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IN MANCHESTER. IT'S A SUCCESS STORY. WHAT HE'S DOING RIGHT NOW AND MAKING SURE THAT THE HOMELESS ACTUALLY HAVE A PLACE TO GO TO IS THE PART THAT I BELIEVE GOVERNORS PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN. AND WHEN IT COMES TO MENTAL ILLNESS, I STARTED THE REPUBLICANS GETTING INVOLVED WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE SOLVE THE PROBLEMS HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. WE STARTED THAT IN 2016. THERE'S A LOT MORE TO DO, AND THAT WILL HELP WITH THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS. BUT IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES NOW FROM STEVE BOTTARI. FOR DECADE NOW, THE STATE HAS BEEN GRAPPLING WITH THE CRISIS OF OPIOID ADDICTION AND WITH DEATH, 430 PEOPLE DIED LAST YEAR FROM DRUG OVERDOSES. THE NUMBERS GO UP, THEY GO DOWN. FAMILIES ARE STILL BEING RIPPED APART BY THIS. SENATOR AYOTTE, HOW SATISFIED ARE YOU WITH THE STATE'S APPROACH CURRENTLY? I WOULD SAY THAT WE AREN'T DOING ALL THAT WE CAN. IT'S SO IMPORTANT. I'VE MET SO MANY FAMILIES THAT HAVE LOST SOMEONE THAT THEY LOVE, AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE WE ARE STILL STRUGGLING WITH A DRUG CRISIS. I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE ON THE DOORWAY PROGRAM AND THAT'S VERY POSITIVE. BUT AGAIN, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT THE PROGRAMS ARE ALL MEASURED, THAT THEY'RE EFFECTIVE, THAT WE BUILD PARTNERSHIPS WITH CITIES LIKE MANCHESTER, OTHER AREAS LIKE NASHUA THAT ARE STRUGGLING WITH THE DRUG ADDICTION CRISIS. AND LET'S GET PEOPLE THAT HAND UP SO THAT THEY CAN SUCCEED THROUGH TREATMENT AND RECOVERY. AND THEN ALSO, LET'S GET TO PREVENTION, WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY GETTING INTO OUR SCHOOLS MORE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE SO THAT WE CAN PREVENT PEOPLE FROM USING OPIOIDS IN THE FIRST PLACE. SENATOR MORSE, YOU'VE BEEN A PART OF STATE GOVERNMENT AS THIS CRISIS HAS UNFOLDED. WHAT HAS NOT WORKED, IN YOUR VIEW, THAT YOU COULD IMMEDIATELY FIX IF ELECTED GOVERNOR? YEAH. WHAT HASN'T WORKED IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THAT'S WHY WHEN I GOT INTO THIS RACE, I ENDORSED DONALD TRUMP BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO IN NEW HAMPSHIRE IS STOP THE DRUGS. WE NEED TO CLOSE OUR BORDERS. THE NORTH, THE SOUTH, THE EAST, THE WEST. WE NEED TO HAVE A PRESIDENT TRUMP THAT'S GOING TO CLOSE THE BORDERS IN OUR COUNTRY. STOP THE ILLEGALS FROM COMING IN, STOP THE DRUGS FROM COMING IN. YOU KNOW, IF WE HAD A KELLY'S WAY, SHE VOTED FOR AMNESTY FOR 11 MILLION ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO COME INTO OUR COUNTRY OR WERE IN OUR COUNTRY. AND SHE VOTED FOR THAT. THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT ANSWER TO STOP THIS DRUG PROBLEM, WE NEED TO CLOSE THE BORDERS AND STOP THE DRUGS. SENATOR AYOTTE RESPONSE THIS IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE. I VOTED FOR MORE BORDER SECURITY, DOUBLING THE AMOUNT OF ICE AGENTS SHIPPING BACK THE CRIMINALS, BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, I'M A FORMER PROSECUTOR. WE SHOULD HAVE THE TOUGHEST PENALTIES FOR FENTANYL DEALERS IN THE COUNTRY. HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. AND WHEN I'M GOVERNOR, WE WILL DO THAT. AND BY THE WAY, CHUCK MORRIS ACTUALLY KILLED THE SANCTUARY CITY BILL THAT WOULD HAVE BANNED SANCTUARY CITIES FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS THROUGHOUT OUR STATE. AS GOVERNOR, I WILL GET THAT BILL PASSED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ADDRESS THAT ISSUE HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND THAT OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN COOPERATE WITH FEDERAL AUTHORITIES. SENATOR MORSE 30S TO RESPOND. WELL, I CERTAINLY DIDN'T GO AGAINST SANCTUARY. BANNING SANCTUARY CITIES. AND AS GOVERNOR, IT'S ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT I WILL DO. BUT UNDERSTAND ONE THING SHE VOTED TO GIVE 11 MILLION ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AMNESTY AND CITIZENSHIP THAT CITIZENSHIP. THAT MEANS 11 MILLION PEOPLE THAT WILL BE VOTING AGAINST US HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. THAT'S WHAT SHE VOTED FOR. WE'RE GOING TO STAY WITH THE IMMIGRATION TOPIC. THERE WILL BE MORE TO DISCUSS HERE, BUT A QUESTION FOR YOU TO ADDRESS THAT. OKAY. LET'S HAVE A QUESTION FROM ARIELLE. AND YOU CAN FIT IT IN THERE. LAST OCTOBER, GOVERNOR SUNUNU FORMED THE NORTHERN BORDER ALLIANCE TASK FORCE TO CONDUCT ADDED PATROLS ALONG THE NORTHERN BORDER AT A COST OF $1.4 MILLION. BUT U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION DATA SHOWS THAT THERE WERE NO REPORTED APPREHENSIONS OR ENCOUNTERS AT NEW HAMPSHIRE'S BORDER WITH CANADA DURING THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF 2024. SHOULD MORE FUNDING BE GOING TO THIS TASK FORCE, GIVEN THE FEW APPREHENSIONS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED? SENATOR MORSE TO YOU FIRST, AND THE ANSWER IS YES. I BELIEVE WHAT THE GOVERNOR WAS TRYING TO DO AND THE SENATE PROPOSED IT WAS TO ADD THE TOOLS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CLOSE OUR BORDERS. AND THAT WAS THE INTENT OF IT. THAT'S WHAT WE TRIED TO DO. YOU KNOW, I WENT UP TO THE NORTH COUNTRY AND I TOURED. I HAD A WOMAN TAKE ME FOR A DRIVE AND SHE GOT OUT AND SHE PLACED A STICK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND SHE SAID, THIS IS WHAT MY HUSBAND AND I COME HOME TO AT NIGHT. THAT STICK MEANS THE DRUGS ARE RIGHT OVER THE BORDER, OVER THE EDGE OF THE ROAD. SAME THING THAT'S GOING ON IN TEXAS BECAUSE I WENT AND SAW IT THERE. WE HAVE TO STOP THE ILLEGALS FROM COMING INTO OUR COUNTRY AND FROM COMING INTO OUR NORTH COUNTRY. SENATOR AYOTTE, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS? I WAS JUST UP AT THE NORTH COUNTRY FOR MOOSE FESTIVAL. I MET WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT UP THERE, AND THEY SAID THE REASON THAT THEY'RE NOT COMING OVER THE BORDER IS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS KNOW ABOUT THE INCREASED PATROLS THAT WE HAVE UP THERE. SO I SUPPORT WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAS DONE ON THAT FRONT. BUT LET ME GET BACK TO THE CLAIMS THAT CHUCK MORRIS IS MAKING. THERE'S SIMPLY NOT TRUE. AND BY THE WAY, THIS IS COMING FROM SOMEONE WHEN IN HIS OWN BUSINESS, HE COULD HAVE USED E-VERIFY TO MAKE SURE THAT HE WASN'T HIRING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, BUT HE CHOSE NOT TO, WHICH IS THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT MY HUSBAND DID IN HIS SMALL BUSINESS. AND HE ALSO KILLED THE SANCTUARY CITY BILL FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE, WHICH WE WOULD ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE, WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE CAN'T HAVE WHAT HAPPENED IN MASSACHUSETTS, WHERE THEY SPENT $1 BILLION HOUSING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, AND THEY HAVE SANCTUARY POLICIES THAT ARE MAKING THEIR STATE LESS SAFE. SO AS GOVERNOR, I'LL GET IT DONE. SENATOR MORSE 30S TO RESPOND. WELL, LET ME BE CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC. I WOULD NOW SUPPORT E-VERIFY. YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE KELLY WANTED 11 MILLION ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN THIS COUNTRY. PEOPLE LIKE JOE BIDEN WANTED 8 MILLION MORE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN THIS COUNTRY. THEY'RE MAKING IT SO HARD FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. SO YES, I WOULD SUPPORT IT BECAUSE IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR MY COMPANY. BUT THAT'S THE REASON I HAVE TO DO IT. AND WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT IN THIS COUNTRY. WELL, I CAN TELL YOU ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. HE NEVER DID IT FOR HIS COMPANY. MY HUSBAND DID IT FOR HIS COMPANY. THAT PROGRAM HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR A LONG TIME. SO IF YOU'RE COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE YOU DON'T HIRE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, YOU WOULD FOLLOW THAT. AND BY THE WAY, WHEN WE LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW AS A STATE, CHUCK MORRIS IS THE ONE WHO ACTUALLY VOTED FOR THE FAILED BAIL REFORM EFFORT THAT HAS CAUSED A REVOLVING DOOR OF CRIMINALS ON OUR STREETS, AND THAT DOESN'T HELP OUR SAFETY AS WELL AS GOVERNOR AND A FORMER PROSECUTOR, I'LL NEVER LET THAT HAPPEN. CRIMINALS WILL FACE THE TOUGHEST PENALTIES IN THE COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY VIOLENT CRIMINALS AND FENTANYL DEALERS. WHEN I'M GOVERNOR. SENATOR MORSE. 30S. YEAH. LET ME JUST BE CLEAR. ACTIONS DO SPEAK A LOT OF THEM WORDS. NO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WORKED AT MY COMPANY. AND WHEN IT COMES TO BAIL REFORM AS GOVERNOR, I WILL MAKE SURE THAT BAIL REFORM HAPPENS IMMEDIATELY. YOU KNOW, GOVERNOR SUNUNU WAS THE ONE THAT CAME OUT AND SAID IT WAS ON HIS WATCH BECAUSE HE WAS SOLD A BILL OF GOODS. I WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE BAIL REFORM AND REFORM IT. CHUCK WAS SOLD A BILL OF GOODS TO AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT WHEN THEY TRIED TO MAKE CHANGES TO FIX THE BAIL REFORM MESS IN 2022, HE VOTED AGAINST IT AGAIN. SO I'M A FORMER PROSECUTOR. I KNOW HOW TO KEEP OUR STATE SAFE. I'M PARTNERING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. I'VE DONE THAT BEFORE. I HAVE THE ENDORSEMENT, FOR EXAMPLE, OF THE MANCHESTER SUPERVISORS UNION LAW ENFORCEMENT KNOWS, AND THE TROOPERS THAT I CAN WORK WITH THEM TO KEEP THIS STATE SAFE. ALL RIGHT, SENATOR MORSE, 15 SECONDS ON BAIL REFORM. AND WE'RE MOVING ON TO ANOTHER CRIME TOPIC. WELL, IT'S SIMPLY NOT TRUE. YOU KNOW, KELLY TALKS ABOUT HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. WHERE THE HELL WAS SHE WHEN SHE WAS ATTORNEY GENERAL? WHEN THE SUNUNU CENTER WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH KIDS BEING RAPED AND MOLESTED? BECAUSE THOSE REPORTS THAT CAME OUT SAID IT WAS DURING HER WATCH. SO SHE EITHER KNEW IT OR SHE IGNORED IT. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO I'M GOING TO ADDRESS THIS. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST BLATANT LIES THAT CHUCK NORRIS HAS TOLD. IN FACT, WE WERE AT A FORUM TOGETHER ON JUNE 21ST IN CHESTER AND PLEASE, I URGE YOUR VIEWERS TO GO AND LISTEN TO HIM IN HIS OWN WORDS, KNOWING THAT THIS IS NOT TRUE, THAT I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. CHUCK NORRIS LIES DOT COM. YOU CAN HEAR HIM IN HIS OWN WORDS AND BY THE WAY, I'M THE ONE WHO, AS A PROSECUTOR, I HANDLED THE RAPE AND MURDER OF A SIX YEAR OLD GIRL. I HELD THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ACCOUNTABLE. I TAKE PROTECTING CHILDREN SO SERIOUSLY. SO I WOULD URGE YOUR VIEWERS, PLEASE GO TO CHUCK MORSE LIVES.COM AND YOU CAN HEAR HIM IN HIS OWN WORDS. HE'S JUST DESPERATE, RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE POLLS AREN'T GOING HIS WAY. SO NOW HE'S CHANGING HIS TUNE ON THIS. 30S SENATOR MORSE, AND WE'RE GOING TO GET BACK ON TRACK WITH QUESTIONS. YEAH, I THINK IF THE PUBLIC WANTS TO GO AND READ A REPORT, KELLY, THEY SHOULD READ A REPORT ON JANUARY 9TH OF 2009. IT WAS SENT TO YOUR DEPARTMENT AND YOU WERE THERE. AND IT BASICALLY TALKED ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON AT THE SUNUNU CENTER. AND THAT'S WHAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE LOOKING AT, BECAUSE YOU WERE THE TOP LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL IN THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE DURING THAT TIME PERIOD. CHUCK, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT TRUE. YOU ADMITTED IT WASN'T TRUE. SO PLEASE HEAR HIM IN HIS OWN WORDS. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO ANOTHER QUESTION. SO A REPORT WAS JUST RELEASED LAST MONTH BY THE NEW HAMPSHIRE ATTORNEY GENERAL ABOUT A DEADLY SHOOTING AT THE NEW HAMPSHIRE HOSPITAL LAST YEAR, IT CONFIRMED SOMETHING THAT OUR NEWS NINE INVESTIGATES TEAM HAD REVEALED EARLIER THAT THE SHOOTER HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN COMMITTED TO A MENTAL FACILITY, BUT WAS STILL ALLOWED TO BE ABLE TO PURCHASE A FIREARM BECAUSE HE LIED ON HIS PURCHASE FORM AND THERE WAS NO INFORMATION IN THE SYSTEM TO CATCH THAT LIE. NOW, NEW HAMPSHIRE IS ONE OF ONLY A HANDFUL OF STATES THAT DOES NOT SEND THIS INFORMATION TO THE MENTAL HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT COMMITMENTS TO THE FEDERAL BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM. SENATOR MORSE, SHOULD THIS CHANGE? WHY OR WHY NOT? NO, I BELIEVE IN LAW ABIDING CITIZENS AND THIS PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE WITH MENTAL HEALTH IS WHAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS AS A SOCIETY. I'VE WORKED HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GIVE OPTIONS. I'VE MADE IT EVEN EASIER FOR GROUPS TO COME INTO COMMUNITIES, AND THE STIGMA AND STIGMA OF MENTAL HEALTH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO ELIMINATE THAT IN SOCIETY. I THINK THAT'S THE IMPORTANT WAY OF DOING THINGS IN OUR STATE, IS TO TAKE ACTION AND GET IT DONE. I'VE WORKED ON MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. SENATOR AYOTTE, YOU WERE OBVIOUSLY ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR A TIME THERE. THIS INFORMATION WAS NOT ENTERED DURING THAT TIME. IN RETROSPECT, SHOULD IT HAVE BEEN ADAM? SO UNDER FEDERAL LAW ALREADY, THAT INFORMATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE SYSTEM. BUT THE PROBLEM IS FEDERAL LAW DOES NOT HAVE A DUE PROCESS MECHANISM TO ALLOW SOMEONE WHO SEEKS MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT TO ACTUALLY GET OFF OF THAT SYSTEM. SO IN OTHER WORDS, WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO SEEK MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT. WE DON'T WANT A SYSTEM WHERE SOMEONE'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS ARE TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM. YET THERE IS NO DUE PROCESS MECHANISM FOR THEM TO ACTUALLY PETITION A COURT WHEN THEY'RE WHEN THEY'RE BETTER, WHEN THEY'VE RECEIVED TREATMENT. AND SO THAT'S THE IMPORTANT THING. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. YES. THOSE RECORDS SHOULD BE IN. BUT WE NEED A DUE PROCESS SYSTEM IN PLACE. THE FEDERAL LAW DOESN'T PROVIDE THAT. AND THAT'S IN FAIRNESS HAS TO BE PROVIDED SO THAT WE CAN SUPPORT THOSE WHO ARE SEEKING TREATMENT AND NEVER DISCOURAGE TREATMENT FOR MENTAL HEALTH. NEXT QUESTION FROM ARIELLE MITROPOULOS. THANK YOU. ADAM. SENATOR AYOTTE, AS A U.S. SENATOR, YOU WERE STAUNCHLY PRO-LIFE, BUT NOW YOU'VE PROMISED NOT TO CHANGE NEW HAMPSHIRE'S CURRENT ABORTION LAW, WHICH ALLOWS AN ABORTION FOR UP TO 24 WEEKS. WOULD YOU SIGN OFF ON ANY ATTEMPTS TO STRENGTHEN ABORTION RIGHTS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, SUCH AS CODIFYING THEM INTO STATE LAW? ARIELLE I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT THIS SHOULD BE AN ISSUE LEFT TO THE STATES AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE SUPREME COURT DID IN THE DOBBS DECISION. AND NEW HAMPSHIRE PASSED A LAW THAT GIVES WOMEN THE FREEDOM TO OBTAIN AN ABORTION UP TO SIX MONTHS OF PREGNANCY FOR ANY REASON. AND IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS, IF GOD FORBID, A WOMAN HAS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY OR A FATAL FETAL ANOMALY, SHE CAN STILL OBTAIN AN ABORTION. I SUPPORT THAT LAW. AND AS GOVERNOR, I WILL NOT CHANGE IT. I BELIEVE IT WAS THE CONSENSUS OF THE STATE AND THAT WE SHOULD NOT REOPEN THAT LAW. SO IF SOMETHING CAME TO YOUR DESK TO STRENGTHEN IT, YOU WOULD NOT CHANGE THE STATE LAW. ARIELLE I BELIEVE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WE HAVE THIS CONSENSUS IN PLACE WHERE WOMEN HAVE THE FREEDOM TO OBTAIN AN ABORTION UP TO SIX MONTHS, AND OBVIOUSLY EXCEPTIONS IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS. SO I BELIEVE THAT CONSENSUS IS IMPORTANT TO RESPECT. I'VE BEEN VERY CLEAR THAT IF SOMETHING MORE RESTRICTIVE COMES TO MY DESK, I WILL VETO IT. SENATOR MORSE, YOUR OPPONENT HAS SAID SHE WON'T CHANGE NEW HAMPSHIRE'S CURRENT ABORTION LAW AND THAT SHE WOULD VETO ANY LEGISLATION THAT WOULD BE MORE RESTRICTIVE FOR ABORTIONS. WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON THIS? WELL, LET ME BE VERY CLEAR TO THE PUBLIC WHAT WE DID WE DID NOT BAN ABORTION IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. YOU KNOW, I WORKED PRETTY COMPASSIONATELY WITH MY WIFE, MY DAUGHTER, THE WOMEN IN THE SENATE TO PASS A LAW THAT SAID IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS THAT A MOTHER AND HER DOCTOR AND HER FAMILY COULD MAKE A CHOICE. BUT IN THE THIRD TRIMESTER, WE WOULDN'T ALLOW PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. AND WE PROTECTED THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER. I SUPPORTED IT THEN AND I SUPPORT IT NOW. NEXT QUESTION COMING FROM STEVE BOTTARI. ALL RIGHT, ADAM, THANK YOU. BOTH OF YOU SUPPORT WHAT ARE KNOWN AS EDUCATION FREEDOM ACCOUNTS, WHICH CURRENTLY ALLOW FAMILIES UNDER A CERTAIN INCOME CAP TO USE PUBLIC MONEY FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL, THE CAP FOR FAMILY FOR RIGHT NOW IS ABOUT $105,000. THE POINT OF THE PROGRAM WAS TO GIVE KIDS IN FAILING SCHOOLS OPTIONS, BUT THE STATISTICS FROM THE LAST SCHOOL YEAR SHOW THAT TWO THIRDS OF KIDS CURRENTLY USING THESE FUNDS WERE ALREADY ATTENDING PRIVATE SCHOOLS. BOTH OF YOU SUPPORT UNIVERSAL ACCESS FOR THESE, REGARDLESS OF INCOME. SO, SENATOR MORSE TO YOU FIRST. WHY SHOULD NEW HAMPSHIRE TAXPAYERS FOOT THE BILL FOR FAMILIES THAT COULD ALREADY AFFORD THIS? AND HOW WOULD YOU PAY FOR ALL OF THAT? WELL, I STRONGLY SUPPORT EDUCATION CHOICE. I WAS PART OF BUILDING THIS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. UNLIKE KELLY THAT WENT TO WASHINGTON AND VOTED AGAINST CHOICE FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES. YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE NEW HAMPSHIRE IS, RIGHT NOW. NEW HAMPSHIRE IS BASICALLY SPENDING MORE THAN $4,000 PER STUDENT THAN THE HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. BUT YET IN NEW HAMPSHIRE IN THE LAST 15 YEARS, WE HAVE 11% LESS KIDS IN THE SYSTEM. WE HAVE A GROWTH OF BUREAUCRACY OF OVER 50%. IT'S MY BELIEF THAT WE SHOULD GIVE EVERY CHILD CHOICE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO WORK HARD TO FIGHT. BUT I'M ALSO GOING TO WORK HARD TO HELP THOSE TEACHERS AND THOSE STUDENTS THAT AREN'T GETTING THEIR SHARE OF THE MONEY THAT'S GOING DOWN TO THE HELP, THE COMMUNITIES. IT'S NOT GETTING TO THEM. AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE IT NEEDS TO GET TO TO MAKE US THE BEST PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY. SENATOR, AIR WITH THE STATISTICS THAT TWO THIRDS OF THE KIDS WERE ALREADY ATTENDING PRIVATE SCHOOLS, THAT THEIR FAMILIES WERE ALREADY PAYING. WHY SHOULD NEW HAMPSHIRE TAXPAYERS FOOT THE BILL FOR SOMETHING THAT THE FAMILIES PRESUMABLY COULD AFFORD? I BELIEVE THAT EVERY CHILD SHOULD BE IN THE BEST SETTING FOR THAT CHILD, AND EDUCATION, FREEDOM ACCOUNTS ALLOW CHILDREN TO BE IN A SETTING WHERE I'M A PRODUCT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHETHER IT'S A CHARTER SCHOOL, WHETHER IT'S A PRIVATE SCHOOL, WHETHER IT'S HOMESCHOOLING, AND MY HUSBAND ACTUALLY TEACHES AT A CATHOLIC SCHOOL, I'VE SERVED ON THE BOARD OF THAT FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS. I'VE SEEN HOW EDUCATION, FREEDOM ACCOUNTS HAVE BEEN USED, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE SCHOOLS WERE SHUT DOWN IN COVID. THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT THEY WERE BEING USED BY STUDENTS TO ALLOW THEM TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND I SUPPORTED EDUCATION, FREEDOM. WHEN I WAS IN THE SENATE. BUT ALSO, CHUCK, IN 2004 VOTED AGAINST EDUCATION FREEDOM ACCOUNTS. WE COULD HAVE HAD EDUCATION FREEDOM IN PLACE FOR THE PARENTS AND THE STUDENTS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE LONG AGO. IF HE HADN'T JOINED WITH DEMOCRATS THEN TO KILL THAT. SENATOR MORSE, YOU HAVE 30S. LET ME BE CLEAR IN 2021, NOT ONLY DID I PASS IT, I HELPED WRITE EDUCATION FREEDOM ACCOUNTS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. SO WE HAVE SUCCESSFUL CHARTER SCHOOLS. WE HAVE SUCCESSFUL EDUCATION FREEDOM ACCOUNTS, OVER 10,000 KIDS. RIGHT NOW HAVE CHOICE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. AND IT'S BECAUSE OF CONSERVATIVES LIKE MYSELF THAT THEY GOT THAT CHOICE. ALL RIGHT. I'LL HANDLE THE NEXT QUESTION HERE. LAST WEEK, THE NEW HAMPSHIRE SUPREME COURT ALLOWED A MANCHESTER SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICY TO CONTINUE THAT STATES, QUOTE, SCHOOL PERSONNEL SHOULD NOT DISCLOSE INFORMATION THAT MAY REVEAL A STUDENT'S TRANSGENDER STATUS OR GENDER NONCONFORMING PRESENTATION TO OTHERS UNLESS LEGALLY REQUIRED TO DO SO, OR UNLESS THE STUDENT HAS AUTHORIZED SUCH DISCLOSURE. THAT INCLUDES TO PARENTS. SENATOR AYOTTE, DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS POLICY? AND IF NOT, WHAT TYPE OF LEGISLATIVE FIX MIGHT YOU PUSH FOR ADAM? I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A PARENTAL BILL OF RIGHTS. AND BECAUSE PARENTS DESERVE TO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THEIR CHILDREN, BECAUSE PARENTS ARE THE ONES THAT LOVE THEIR CHILDREN AND CAN SUPPORT AND GUIDE THEIR CHILDREN UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT THAT PARENTS KNOW ABOUT CURRICULUM IN OUR SCHOOLS AND WHAT'S GOING ON, SO THEY CAN BE ENGAGED. SO I WOULD PUSH AS GOVERNOR TO GET A PARENTAL BILL OF RIGHTS PASSED AND WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE. AND I BELIEVE THAT WOULD HAVE ADDRESSED THAT COURT OPINION. SENATOR MORSE. WELL, OBVIOUSLY, I WAS THE FIRST AUTHOR OF PARENTAL RIGHTS, AND I STRONGLY BELIEVE IN IT. AND I BELIEVE WE SHOULD PASS THAT. THAT'S SOMETHING THE TWO OF US CAN AGREE ON. BUT I REALLY DO THINK THAT THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION SHOULD HAVE STOOD ON ITS OWN. YOU KNOW, I ALSO THINK THAT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE BEING TALKED ABOUT, ABOUT LETTING MEN GO INTO WOMEN'S LOCKER ROOMS OR BATHROOMS OR PRISONS IS ABSOLUTELY WRONG FOR OUR STATE. WE SHOULDN'T BE HAVING THESE DEBATES LIKE THIS. WE SHOULD SEND THAT BACK TO THE GOVERNOR, PUT IT ON HIS DESK. I'LL SUPPORT BOTH PIECES OF LEGISLATION AND WILL FIGHT IN THE COURT SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE PARENTS INVOLVED. THAT'S THE RIGHT WAY TO DO THINGS. BUT AS A FATHER WITH A DAUGHTER, THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL YOU SHOULD ALLOW A MAN TO BE IN MY DAUGHTER'S LOCKER ROOM WHEN SHE'S SHOWERING. THAT'S RIDICULOUS. AND WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT WE PASS LEGISLATION TO STOP THAT. NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM ARIELLE MITROPOULOS. WHETHER IT'S A PERCEPTION OR A REALITY, PEOPLE SEEM TO BE VERY DIVIDED. AND IN SOME INSTANCES ANGRY AT EACH OTHER OVER POLITICS. FIRST. DOES THIS WORRY YOU? AND SECOND, BEYOND JUST SAYING YOU'VE BEEN BIPARTISAN AND THAT YOU WOULD WORK ACROSS THE AISLE, CAN YOU GIVE US AN EXAMPLE OF HOW YOU WOULD ACTUALLY DO THAT? SENATOR MORSE TO YOU FIRST? YEAH, I THINK IT COMES FROM LEADERSHIP. I REALLY BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT THE PUBLIC IS LOOKING FOR. YOU KNOW, WHEN I HELPED BUILD THE 2016 BUDGET, WE HAD TAX CUTS IN THE BUDGET. WE WERE WORKING ON MENTAL HEALTH OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE. WE WERE WORKING ON DISABLED CHILDREN, PLANTS THAT ALL HAPPENED IN THAT BUDGET. AND WE SENT THAT BUDGET TO GOVERNOR HASSAN, AND SHE VETOED IT. AND I WENT ACROSS THE STATE TALKING TO REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, AND WE OVERRODE GOVERNOR HASSAN'S VETO IN SEPTEMBER OF THAT YEAR. AND WHAT WE DIDN'T DO THAT FALL WAS WE DIDN'T UNITE BECAUSE KELLY WAS RUNNING FOR THE U.S. SENATE AGAIN, AND SHE LOST THAT SEAT TO GOVERNOR HASSAN, WHO HAD JUST HAD A VETO OVERRIDE ON A BUDGET THAT UNITED PEOPLE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. BUT SHE COULDN'T SUPPORT DONALD TRUMP. AND WE LOST THE U.S. SENATE SEAT FOR 12 YEARS. SENATOR AYOTTE 30S, THAT'S REALLY RICH COMING FROM SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER WON A RACE OUTSIDE OF HIS HOMETOWN. I MEAN, HE JUST LOST A SENATE RACE LAST TIME. HE'S RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR NOW. HE COULDN'T WIN AN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL RACE. I'VE WON STATEWIDE. I'M BUILDING A STRONG GRASSROOTS COALITION TO WIN NOT ONLY IN SEPTEMBER BUT IN NOVEMBER. AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO AS A PARTY TO COME TOGETHER. AND YES, WE DO NEED NEW LEADERSHIP IN THE WHITE HOUSE BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY, UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, THERE'S BEEN OPEN BORDERS, LESS SAFETY, HIGHER PRICES AND SO GETTING PRESIDENT TRUMP AND JD VANCE IN OFFICE IS IMPORTANT IN NOVEMBER. AND THEN THE PARTY IS UNIFIED AROUND THAT TO UNIFY ALL VOTERS, THOUGH. SENATOR AYOTTE, HOW WOULD YOU DO THAT? I WOULD UNIFY ALL VOTERS. FIRST OF ALL, WHEN YOU'RE ELECTED GOVERNOR, YOU REPRESENT EVERYONE, INCLUDING THE PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T VOTE FOR YOU. I CERTAINLY DID THAT. I'VE DONE THAT AS ATTORNEY GENERAL. I HAVE A RECORD OF I WAS ORIGINALLY APPOINTED BY A REPUBLICAN, CRAIG BENSON, AND I WAS REAPPOINTED BY JOHN LYNCH BECAUSE I DID MY JOB, I GOT THINGS DONE. I KNOW HOW TO WORK WITH PEOPLE AND I WILL DO THAT. AS GOVERNOR. I WILL BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND I WILL HAVE A POSITIVE VISION FOR THIS STATE. HOW WE CAN KEEP NEW HAMPSHIRE SAFE, PROSPEROUS AND FREE. BECAUSE NEW HAMPSHIRE IS SUCH AN EXCEPTIONAL STATE. NEXT QUESTION FROM STEVE BOTTARI. ADAM. THANK YOU, SENATOR AYOTTE, TO YOU FIRST, IN 2016, YOU ABANDONED YOUR SUPPORT FOR DONALD TRUMP BECAUSE YOU SAID YOU WANTED YOUR THEN 12 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO SOMEDAY KNOW THAT REJECTING HIM FOR LEWD COMMENTS, I'M GOING TO QUOTE YOU BACK TO YOURSELF HERE, QUOTE IS MORE IMPORTANT TO ME THAN WINNING ANY ELECTION YOU NOW SUPPORT TRUMP AS YOU JUST MENTIONED. SO WHAT HAS CHANGED? AND WHAT DO YOU SAY TO YOUR DAUGHTER NOW? WELL, MY DAUGHTER IS A CADET AT THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY. I'M VERY PROUD OF HER. AND SHE'S PROBABLY THE TOUGHEST FEMALE I KNOW. SO SHE CAN HANDLE HERSELF AROUND ANYONE. BUT WHAT I WOULD SAY IS WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE RECORD UNDER THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION, OPEN BORDERS, LESS SAFETY, INFLATION, COSTS, RISING INTEREST RATES, THE RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. WERE YOU BETTER OFF UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION? THE ANSWER IS YES. AND SO I HAVE TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. IT'S IMPORTANT THE PARTY IS UNIFIED AROUND NOVEMBER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A CHANGE IN THE WHITE HOUSE, BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR WORKING PEOPLE. SENATOR MORSE, YOU'VE BEEN A STRONG SUPPORTER OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP, BUT HE HASN'T ENDORSED YOU IN THIS RACE. WHY DO YOU THINK HE'S RELUCTANT TO STAND BEHIND YOUR CANDIDACY? WELL, I THINK YOU'D HAVE TO ASK PRESIDENT TRUMP THAT QUESTION, BUT I VOTED FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP IN 2016. IN NOVEMBER, I VOTED FOR HIM IN 2020. I ENDORSED HIM IN 2023. AND I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR HIM IN 2024. I'M READY TO UNITE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AROUND TRUMP BECAUSE I WANT THE BORDERS CLOSED. I WANT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO STOP. I WANT THE DRUGS TO STOP. I WANT A NATION THAT'S DRILLING FOR OIL AND MAKES OUR COUNTRY SAFER. AND I WANT WASHINGTON TO LOOK AT NEW HAMPSHIRE AND DO THE TAX CUTS THAT I DID AS SENATE PRESIDENT, BECAUSE THAT WILL HELP DRIVE THE NATIONAL ECONOMY. THOSE ARE ALL POSITIVES THAT I THINK CAN HAPPEN UNDER UNITING UNDER A PRESIDENT TRUMP. OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO A LIGHTNING ROUND. WE'VE HIT THE HALFWAY POINT JUST ABOUT IN THIS DEBATE. 15 SECOND ANSWERS HERE, RELATIVELY QUICK. FIRST ONE STARTING WITH SENATOR MORSE. WHAT IS ONE THING YOU BELIEVE GOVERNOR SUNUNU COULD HAVE DONE BETTER DURING HIS TENURE? YEAH, GOVERNOR SUNUNU AND I HAD A REAL DEBATE ABOUT CLOSING ANYTHING DURING COVID. AND I THINK WE SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT. SENATOR AYOTTE, ONE THING GOVERNOR SUNUNU COULD HAVE DONE BETTER, I THINK THAT WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE ON REDISTRICTING WAS IMPORTANT. BUT ALSO WE HAVE A RETIREMENT ISSUE WITH OUR GROUP TWO RETIREMENT, OUR FIRST RESPONDERS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ADDRESS THAT SO THAT WE CAN KEEP THE BEST FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR POLICE, OUR FIRE. THEY DO SUCH IMPORTANT WORK FOR OUR STATE. NEXT QUESTION, STARTING WITH YOU, SENATOR AYOTTE. BOTH OF YOU HAVE FAMILY LANDSCAPING COMPANIES, AND YOU'VE BEEN OUT ON THE WINTER PLOWING RUNS. WHAT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT KIND OF DRIVEWAY TO PLOW? SENATOR AYOTTE. I THINK ONE THAT HAS A PRETTY STEEP HILL IS A TOUGH ONE TO PLOW. BUT OBVIOUSLY MY HUSBAND, JOE, OWNED A LANDSCAPING AND SNOW PLOWING BUSINESS FOR 15 YEARS, AND I SAW HOW HARD HE WORKED EVERY SINGLE DAY. MOST IMPORTANTLY, NOW HE HAS PROBABLY EVEN A HARDER JOB BECAUSE HE TEACHES MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH AND I LOVE THE WORK THAT HE DOES EVERY DAY. AND HEARING HOW HE'S WORKING WITH KIDS AND OUR KIDS ARE BEHIND A MASK, SO WE NEED TO IMPROVE OUR SYSTEM AND MAKE SURE THAT WE GET OUR KIDS AHEAD. SENATOR MORSE, HARDEST DRIVEWAY TO PLOW. YEAH, I'VE BEEN IN IT FOR 36 YEARS AND DID IT BEFORE THAT. AND THE I REALLY THINK THE HARDEST DRIVEWAY TO PLOW IS THE ONE YOU PLOW ON. AFTER 30 HOURS OF WORKING STRAIGHT, I CAN IMAGINE THAT. OKAY. SENATOR MORSE, WHAT'S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE SOMEONE HAS EVER GIVEN YOU? OH, I THINK THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I'VE EVER GOTTEN WAS ACTUALLY CAME FROM MEL THOMPSON. HE DIDN'T GIVE IT TO ME DIRECT, BUT AX, THE TAX IS A MOTTO THAT I'VE LIVED UNDER AS SENATE PRESIDENT, AND I THINK IT WORKS FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE. YOU KNOW, LOW TAXES ARE A RESULT OF LOW SPENDING. SENATOR AYOTTE, LISTEN, MORE THAN YOU TALK SO THAT YOU CAN LEARN SOMETHING, OKAY? SENATOR AYOTTE, DID VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE DO THE RIGHT THING ON JANUARY SIX, 2021? YES. OR NO? FIRST OF ALL, AS I LOOK AT IT, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR LAWS ARE ENFORCED. AND HE WANTED TO FOLLOW THE LAW. AND SO HE HE DID THAT. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. IS THAT A YES? I THINK THAT FOLLOWING THE LAW IN OUR CONSTITUTION IS IMPORTANT. SENATOR MORSE, YES OR NO? DID MIKE PENCE DO THE RIGHT THING ON JANUARY 6TH? NO, NO, I BELIEVE I BELIEVE THE FACT IS WE OUGHT TO FIRST MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE FACTS AND THEN WE FOLLOW THE LAW BASED ON THE FACTS. AND, SENATOR MORSE, LAST LIGHTNING QUESTION TO YOU HERE. SHOULD NEW HAMPSHIRE ALLOW ONLINE CASINO GAMES THROUGH THE SAME APPS THAT OFFER SPORTS BETTING. NO. AND SENATOR AYOTTE. NO. OKAY. NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM ARIELLE MITROPOULOS. SENATOR AYOTTE, YOU WERE NEW HAMPSHIRE'S ATTORNEY GENERAL AT THE TIME OF SOME ALLEGED INSTANCES OF ABUSE. WERE HAPPENING AT THE FORMER YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CENTER IN MANCHESTER. WE HEARD IT ALREADY TONIGHT. SENATOR MORSE HAS BEEN CRITICAL OF YOU, ALLEGING THAT YOU DIDN'T DO ENOUGH TO STOP THAT ABUSE. WERE YOU AWARE OF ANY OF THESE ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE BACK THEN? AND IS THIS CRITICISM FAIR? NO, I WAS NOT. AND AGAIN, I WOULD ASK YOUR VIEWERS TO GO LISTEN TO CHUCK MORRIS IN HIS OWN WORDS, WHO SAID THAT NO ONE WAS AWARE OF IT. AND YOU CAN SEE HERE THAT CHUCK MORRIS DOT COM, TAKE A LOOK AT THAT. BUT ALSO JUST LOOK AT MY RECORD AS ATTORNEY GENERAL. I WENT AFTER MURDERERS. I'M A FORMER MURDER PROSECUTOR MYSELF AND AGAIN A CASE THAT LIVES WITH ME FOREVER IS THE RAPE AND MURDER OF A SIX YEAR OLD LITTLE GIRL THAT I PROSECUTED, ALONG WITH HOLDING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ACCOUNTABLE. YOU KNOW, THE CHILD ABUSE TASK FORCE AT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, ALL OF THOSE THINGS WERE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. AND AS GOVERNOR, I WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP THIS STATE SAFE AND THAT CHILDREN ARE PROTECTED. AND WE ALSO NEED TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THE ISSUES WE HAVE AT DCYF BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY, WE KNOW THAT CHILDREN HAVE DIED BECAUSE THERE HAVEN'T BEEN THE KIND OF FOLLOW UP THAT WE NEED. AND SO AS GOVERNOR, I'M GOING TO PRIORITIZE THAT ISSUE AS WELL. SO TO BE CLEAR, YOU WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY OF THESE ALLEGATIONS AT THE TIME. NO, I LISTEN, I TAKE MY JOB VERY SERIOUSLY AND I CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, AS ATTORNEY GENERAL AND A MURDER PROSECUTOR, YOU CAN SEE THE WORK THAT I DID WORKING WITH POLICE AND HAVING THEIR SUPPORT IN THIS CAMPAIGN MEANS A LOT TO ME, INCLUDING THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE TROOPERS, THE NEW HAMPSHIRE POLICE ASSOCIATION, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM AS GOVERNOR. SENATOR MORSE, YOU WERE AN ARCHITECT OF THE SETTLEMENT FUND THAT WAS CREATED FOR YDC VICTIMS TO GET COMPENSATION WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE COURTS. YOU WERE TOLD AT THE TIME THAT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT YOU WERE PUTTING INTO THE FUND WAS WOEFULLY INSUFFICIENT. THE STATE HAS ADDED MORE MONEY TO THAT FUND MULTIPLE TIMES NOW BECAUSE SIMPLY PUT, THERE WASN'T ENOUGH. CRITICS SAY THIS DELAY WILL ULTIMATELY COST THE STATE EVEN MORE MONEY. WHY DIDN'T YOU HEED THE ORIGINAL ADVICE TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO THAT FUND? WELL, YOU GOT IT RIGHT IN THE BEGINNING, I WAS THE ARCHITECT OF THAT BECAUSE THESE CHILDREN WE SAW THAT IT WAS WRONG. WHAT HAPPENED? AND AS THE PROCESS WAS STARTING, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WAS MONEY AVAILABLE. AND THAT'S WHY WE PUT THE FIRST $100 MILLION IN AN ACCOUNT WITH ALL THE STATEMENTS IN THE WORLD THAT WE AS A STATE WOULD BE THERE TO MAKE SURE WE SUPPORTED THEM. BUT LET'S UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE. THE REASON THE EXPENSES ARE DRIVING UP IS BECAUSE THE AMOUNT OF KIDS THAT WEREN'T DEALT WITH DURING THE TIME PERIOD THAT KELLY WAS THE CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL, THIS IS GOING TO COST THE STATE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. WHEN IT'S FINALLY ALL WORKED OUT. AND IT'S BECAUSE WE DIDN'T STOP IT BACK THEN. SO WAS IT A MISTAKE NOT TO PUT MORE MONEY, THOUGH AT THE TIME? NO, WE CERTAINLY MADE SURE THAT WE HAD A RAINY DAY FUND THAT COULD HELP THESE CHILDREN. WE WANTED THAT TO HAPPEN AND THAT'S WHY WE SET UP THIS SYSTEM. SENATOR AYOTTE, YOU WERE INVOKED 15 SECONDS. THEN WE'LL MOVE ON. I WOULD JUST SAY THIS AGAIN IN HIS OWN WORDS. YOU SHOULD CHECK THIS OUT. BUT I HAVE TO SAY THIS. IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE WORK AS A STATE TO PROTECT CHILDREN. DCYF. THERE HAVE BEEN FAILINGS THERE. WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT. AND CHUCK WAS BY THE WAY, FINANCE CHAIR DURING ALL OF THIS. BUT WE ALL NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO TURN THIS AROUND AND MAKE SURE THAT IT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING MY EXPERIENCE AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, WORKING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS THE CASE. SENATOR MORSE, YOU WERE INVOKED THERE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO STAY ON THE TOPIC OF DCF WITH A QUESTION FROM STEVE BOTTARI. ADAM. THANK YOU. IT WAS EIGHT YEARS AGO. CHRIS SUNUNU RAN ON IMPROVING THE DIVISION FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES IN THE WAKE OF SEVERAL HIGH PROFILE CHILD DEATHS IN THIS STATE. BUT THOSE DEATHS ARE STILL HAPPENING DURING SUNUNU'S TENURE. CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICE WORKER CASELOADS WENT DOWN FROM WHAT WERE UNSUSTAINABLE LEVELS BURNING OUT WORKERS, BUT THE LEVELS ARE STILL NOT OPTIMAL, EVEN NOW FOR CHILD SAFETY. SO, SENATOR MORSE, WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO FINISH THE JOB OF THIS REFORM? YEAH, I ACTUALLY THINK THAT THE REFORMS SHOULD GO A STEP FURTHER. SENATOR CARSON ACTUALLY HAD A PIECE OF LEGISLATION TO DIVIDE OUR DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A DIVISION THAT DEALS WITH JUST CHILDREN AND A DIVISION THAT DEALS WITH EVERYTHING ELSE. THAT'S THE WAY WE WILL SOLVE PROBLEMS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. WE HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD TO TAKE CARE OF THESE CHILDREN, BUT WE NEED TO GET MORE EMPLOYEES INTO THE SYSTEM. AND I THINK IF WE HAD TWO DEPARTMENTS INSTEAD OF ONE, WE COULD HAVE COMMISSIONERS WORKING ON WHAT THEY NEED TO BE WORKING ON. YOU KNOW, HAVING A BUSINESS LEADER GO IN AND RUN THE STATE AS A GOVERNOR IS A GREAT PLACE TO BE BECAUSE WE WILL SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS. ONTO HAVING A GOVERNOR MORSE. SENATOR AYOTTE, HOW WOULD YOU FINISH THE JOB OF THE REFORM? I AGREE THAT DCYF ACTUALLY SHOULD BE ITS OWN PIECE AND ALSO WITH YDC MAKING SURE THAT WE PROTECT CHILDREN BECAUSE YOU WANT THAT LEADER REPORTING DIRECTLY TO THE GOVERNOR. AND COUNCIL, AS OPPOSED TO COMING THROUGH THE LARGER HHS, WHICH IS A VERY LARGE AGENCY. SO THERE'S MORE ACCOUNTABILITY. WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS TRAINING AND THAT OUR PEOPLE THAT WE'RE HIRING HAVE THE RIGHT SKILL SETS, BUT ALSO THE SUPERVISION IS THERE. SO YOU HAVE SOME YOUNG PEOPLE WHO COME INTO THIS. THEY'RE VERY WELL-MEANING. THEY WORK HARD, BUT MAKING SURE THAT THAT SUPPORT IS AT EVERY SINGLE LEVEL FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK THEY DO. AND WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE THEM. WE NEED TO REVIEW THOSE CASES WHERE THERE HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT FAILURES. AND I KNOW THE MANCHESTER POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS WORKED ON ONE OF THOSE CASES, WHICH WAS A REAL TRAGEDY. SO BRINGING LAW ENFORCEMENT TO THE ABLE AND SAYING, WHAT MORE CAN WE DO TO IMPROVE THIS SYSTEM? I PLAN TO DO THAT AS GOVERNOR BECAUSE WE HAVE TO. IT'S REALLY SHAMEFUL WITH SOME OF THESE CASES, CRIMINAL CASES THAT HAVE BEEN VERY HIGH PROFILE AND JUST DIDN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN. UNFORTUNATELY. I'LL TAKE THE NEXT QUESTION. BOTH OF YOU OPPOSE LEGALIZING MARIJUANA, BUT THAT'S NOT STOPPING GRANITE STATERS FROM PURCHASING IT FROM SURROUNDING STATES WHERE IT IS LEGAL. THE POLLS SHOW THE MAJORITY OF GRANITE STATERS SUPPORT LEGALIZATION. WHY ARE YOU OKAY WITH LEAVING TAX REVENUE ON THE TABLE BY NOT LEGALIZING CANNABIS, STARTING WITH YOU, SENATOR AYOTTE? WELL, I WOULD JUST SAY THIS. THE STATES THAT HAVE BUILT THEIR BUDGET ON THIS IS REALLY A FALLACY. WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES WHAT IS BEST FOR THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF PEOPLE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE, THE STUDIES SHOW THAT THERE IS AN IMPACT ON OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY BETWEEN THE AGES OF 15 AND 25. AND WHEN YOU LEGALIZE SOMETHING, YOU ARE SENDING A DIFFERENT MESSAGE TO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. AND I DON'T WANT TO ADD TO THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS. I WANT TO IMPROVE THE MENTAL HEALTH FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. ALSO, STATES THAT HAVE DONE THIS HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN TRAFFIC DEATHS BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T FOUND A WAY TO MEASURE MARIJUANA IN THE WAY WE HAVE ALCOHOL ON OUR ROADS. AND SO KEEPING OUR ROADS SAFE, THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE. AND BY THE WAY, IN MAINE, THE CHINESE HAVE BOUGHT SOME OF THE FARMLAND THAT IS GROWING MARIJUANA. WE DON'T WANT THAT HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR OUR STATE. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, ALSO, AS I'VE MET PEOPLE IN RECOVERY, I HAVEN'T HAD ONE OF THEM TELL ME THAT WE SHOULD LEGALIZE MARIJUANA. THEY'RE AGAINST IT. THEY KNOW IT'S NOT THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THEY STARTED. SOME OF THEM STARTED WITH MARIJUANA AND THEY WENT OBVIOUSLY TO OPIOIDS AND OTHER ISSUES. AND SO AS GOVERNOR, I DON'T THINK IT'S THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR THE STATE. AND OBVIOUSLY, HAVING WORKED CLOSELY WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, I DON'T BELIEVE THEY THINK IT'S THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR THE STATE EITHER. SENATOR MORSE, YOUR SUCCESSOR IN THE STATE SENATE, SENATOR ABBAS, HAS SAID ON THE SENATE FLOOR MULTIPLE TIMES, YOU LOOK RIGHT ACROSS THE STATE LINE IN SALEM. YOU SEE A DISPENSARY AND A BUNCH OF NEW HAMPSHIRE PLATES IN THE PARKING LOT. WHY NOT LEGALIZE FOR THE TAX REVENUE? SENATOR, NO, WE LEGALIZE SMALL AMOUNTS OF MARIJUANA IN OUR STATE AND WE'VE LEGALIZED MEDICAL MARIJUANA. BUT IN TOURING THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, I HAVEN'T RUN INTO ANYONE THAT'S IN CHARGE OF A REHAB FACILITY THAT HAS SAID THIS IS THE RIGHT ANSWER. MATTER OF FACT, WHEN I WAS OUT RECENTLY IN BRISTOL, NEW HAMPSHIRE, I RAN INTO A WOMAN THAT ASKED FOR MY STANCE. I SAID, I'M AGAINST LEGALIZING IT, AND SHE BROUGHT UP HER PHONE AND SHE SHOWED ME A PICTURE OF HER SON AND SHE SAID, I CAN TELL YOU THAT MARIJUANA WAS WHAT STARTED MY SON TO GO DOWN THIS TRACK. AND HE'S DEAD. AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT. WE HEAR THAT TIME AFTER TIME ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL THAT LEGALIZING MARIJUANA WILL TAKE US A STEP, TOO FAR. NEXT QUESTION FROM ARIELLE MITROPOULOS. ANYONE WHO HAS WATCHED TV GONE ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR THE INTERNET LATELY HAS SEEN A LOT OF ATTACK ADS IN THIS PRIMARY, NOT ONLY IN THIS RACE, BUT ACROSS THE BOARD. SENATOR MORSE, YOUR CAMPAIGN IS AIRING NEGATIVE ADS. WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU THINK THAT SENDS TO VOTERS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE? WE'RE AIRING FACTUAL ADS. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW MY OPPONENT IS HAS A STARK DIFFERENCE FROM ME. I MEAN, THE FACT IS, YOU KNOW, SHE WENT TO WASHINGTON AS A CONSERVATIVE, YET SHE VOTED WITH THE DEMOCRATS OVER 260 TIMES. SHE VOTED TO GIVE 11 MILLION ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AMNESTY. AND SHE VOTED AGAINST SCHOOL CHOICE FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES. AND IN 2016, SHE CERTAINLY THREW DONALD TRUMP UNDER THE BUS. THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING. THOSE ARE FACTS. SENATOR AYOTTE 30S TO RESPOND. SO CHUCK MORRIS IS RUNNING A NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN. HE'S BEEN DOING IT PROBABLY FOR THE LAST NINE MONTHS BECAUSE HE'S DESPERATE. HE DOESN'T HAVE A POSITIVE VISION FOR THIS STATE OF HIS OWN. AND IF YOU LOOK AT HIS RECORD OF DECADES IN POLITICS, HE VOTED AGAINST SCHOOL CHOICE. HE VOTED AGAINST CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY IN TERMS OF SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS. HE ALSO KILLED THE SANCTUARY CITY BILL THAT WE WOULD ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE TO PROTECT THIS STATE. AND I CAN GO ON AND ON THERE, BUT WHEN YOU SEE THOSE NEGATIVE ADS, IT'S BASICALLY DESPERATION. I WILL GET THE SANCTUARY CITY BILL DONE. THERE WILL BE NO DRIVER'S LICENSE FOR ILLEGAL WARRANTS. I WILL KEEP THIS STATE SAFE, AND WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE ALSO HELP SECURE OUR NORTHERN BORDER. SENATOR AYOTTE, MUCH OF THE EFFORT OF YOUR ADS AND THE GROUPS SUPPORTING YOU ARE TARGETING DEMOCRAT JOYCE CRAIG, INCLUDING ONE AD THAT YOU'VE NOW PULLED OFF THE AIR AFTER APOLOGIZING ABOUT INACCURATE CONTENT. HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND TO A REPUBLICAN VOTER WHO FEELS LIKE YOU ARE IGNORING THIS PRIMARY ARIELLE? I'M NOT IGNORING THIS PRIMARY. I'M TELLING THE PEOPLE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE ABOUT THE FAILED RECORD OF THE DEMOCRATS WHO ARE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, INCLUDING JOYCE CRAIG, BECAUSE WE SAW HER LEADERSHIP AS MAYOR. AND THERE'S A HUGE CHOICE IN THIS ELECTION. THIS ELECTION IS SO IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO THE FUTURE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS WANT TO TAKE US DOWN THE PATH OF MASSACHUSETTS WITH HIGHER TAXES, SANCTUARY CITIES, LESS FREEDOM. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WIN THIS ELECTION AND THAT WE KEEP NEW HAMPSHIRE STRONG, KEEP IT ON THE STRONG PATH. GOVERNOR SUNUNU HAS HAD US ON. MAKE SURE THAT WE STOP SANCTUARY CITIES THAT WE PROTECT OUR STATE, THAT FENTANYL DEALERS AND VIOLENT CRIMINALS FACE THE TOUGHEST PENALTIES IN THE COUNTRY THAT OUR KIDS CAN HAVE EDUCATION, FREEDOM THAT PARENTS HAVE RIGHTS. THAT IS WHAT'S AT STAKE IN THIS ELECTION. SO I'M POINTING OUT JUST THE DEMOCRATS WANT TO TAKE US DOWN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. AND BY THE WAY, IF JOYCE CRAIG DOES TO NEW HAMPSHIRE, WHAT SHE DID TO MANCHESTER, THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE GOOD FOR THE STATE. NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM STEVE BOTTARI, NEW HAMPSHIRE. SCIENTISTS AND INSTITUTIONS FROM DARTMOUTH AND UNH SAY THAT AS A DIRECT RESULT OF WARMING WINTERS, NEW HAMPSHIRE'S SKI AND SNOWMOBILING SEASONS ARE BEING AFFECTED AND CUT SHORT. YOU KNOW, WE SAW CASE IN POINT LAST WINTER, SENATOR MORSE, SHOULD THE STATE TAKE INTERVENING MEASURES TO SAVE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE GRANITE STATE ECONOMY AND IDENTITY? AND IF SO, WHAT SHOULD THOSE BE? WELL, SENATE PRESIDENT, I DID TAKE A STANCE. I PASSED A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT BASICALLY SAYS WHEN IT COMES TO ENERGY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, IT'S YOUR CHOICE. YOU DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND YOU FIND OUT WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU. YOU KNOW, JUST RECENTLY I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE FISHERMEN, YOU KNOW, OFF THE COAST OF MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, MASSACHUSETTS. THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING WINDMILLS OUT THERE THAT ARE GOING TO END UP POLLUTING THE ENVIRONMENT, COSTING THE RATEPAYERS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE ALMOST DOUBLE WHAT ANY OTHER WINDMILL WOULD WOULD CHARGE. AND IT'S NOT SOLVING A PROBLEM. MY FIRM BELIEF IS THAT GOVERNMENT IS BEST WHEN WE'RE ALL SITTING DOWN AT A TABLE AND COMMUNICATING AND WORKING TOGETHER, AND THAT'S THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS. AND, YOU KNOW, KELLY, YOU HAVEN'T MENTIONED ALL THE COMPANIES YOU WORKED FOR. I SAW WHAT BLOOM ENERGY DID TO THE COUNTRY, AND YOU WERE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND IT REALLY DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME THAT THE PUBLIC DOESN'T GET TO SEE ALL THESE THINGS DURING THE DEBATE, BECAUSE THEY WANT TO KNOW WHY YOU WERE ON THAT COMPANY. SENATOR AYOTTE 30S. I MEAN, AGAIN, HERE, HERE WE GO AGAIN WITH CHUCK MORSE. HE JUST WANTS TO ATTACK THE PRIVATE SECTOR. I'M GOING TO WORK WITH BUSINESSES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE TO GROW OUR ECONOMY. BUT ON THIS ISSUE OF PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT, OF COURSE, WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL STATE. IT'S IMPORTANT AS A CONSERVATIVE, WE'RE FOR CONSERVING EVERYTHING. THE PROBLEM WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, THOUGH, IS THAT WE HAVE ENERGY PRICES THAT ARE WAY TOO HIGH. SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE MORE ENERGY OF ALL FORMS, AND WE ALSO NEED TO POSITION THE STATE FOR FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES LIKE SMALL MODULAR NUCLEAR, BECAUSE THEN WE CAN PRODUCE OUR OWN ENERGY. AND BY THE WAY, IT'S ALSO CLEAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. BUT WE COULD DRIVE DOWN COSTS WITH MORE ENERGY. THAT'S GOING TO BE MY GOAL AS GOVERNOR. SENATOR MORSE, YOU ALREADY BROUGHT UP THE ISSUE OF WIND POWER, BOTH OF YOU HAVE BEEN CRITICAL OF OFFSHORE WIND PROJECTS IN THE GULF OF MAINE. IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PUSHES FORWARD WITH ITS PLANS FOR WIND TURBINES OFF OF NEW HAMPSHIRE'S COAST, WILL YOU BE ACTIVELY FIGHTING AGAINST THAT? SENATOR AYOTTE? YES, BECAUSE THE PROJECT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. LOTS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS IN IT. THE RETURN IS QUESTIONABLE. AND THEN, OF COURSE, YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENED IN THE CAPE, BY THE WAY, WITH THE THE BLADE THAT CAME FREE. BUT WHAT I'M MOST CONCERNED ABOUT IS OUR FISHERMEN. WHEN I WAS IN THE SENATE, I FOUGHT FEDERAL REGULATIONS THAT WERE DESTROYING OUR COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN. AND I LOOK AT WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THE FISHERIES OF THESE WINDMILLS. AND IT'S NOT RIGHT, BECAUSE WE'LL DESTROY THEIR LIVELIHOOD. AND IT'S AN ICONIC AND IMPORTANT PROFESSION IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. THAT'S SUCH A REALLY WONDERFUL PART OF OUR STATE. SO THAT PROJECT IS NOT THE RIGHT DIRECTION FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE. SENATOR MORSE, WILL YOU BE ACTIVELY FIGHTING AGAINST WASHINGTON IF IT WANTS TO PUT WIND POWER IN THE GULF OF MAINE? ABSOLUTELY. I'VE BEEN FIGHTING. I'VE BEEN HELPING THE FISHERMEN IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS. I'VE BEEN TO ALL THEIR MEETINGS THAT THEY COULD INVITE ME TO AND BEEN THE LOUDEST VOICE TO MAKE SURE THE CITIZENS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE KNOW WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON OFF OUR COAST. BUT WHERE I STARTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE TO BRING DOWN ELECTRIC RATES. WAS I ENDORSED DONALD TRUMP. I ENDORSED HIM BECAUSE I WANTED US TO DRILL FOR OIL. I WANTED US TO SEND NATURAL GAS UP TO OUR REGION. THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO DRIVE DOWN COSTS FOR OUR STATE. AND THAT'S WHAT I SUPPORT. NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM STEVE BOTTARI. ALL RIGHT, ADAM, THANK YOU. I'LL TOSS IT OVER TO ARIELLE FOR THIS ONE. 2022 STUDY OF STATE SPENDING ON HIGHER EDUCATION SHOWS THAT NEW HAMPSHIRE LAGS FAR BEHIND EVERY OTHER STATE IN THE COUNTRY. THE 2023 AND 2024 STATE BUDGET ALLOCATED A BIT MORE MONEY TO PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, BUT IT STILL DOESN'T COMPARE TO OTHER STATES. SENATOR MORSE, SHOULD NEW HAMPSHIRE BE SPENDING MORE ON HIGHER EDUCATION? AND IF SO, WHERE WOULD THAT MONEY COME FROM? YEAH, I THINK WHEN IT COMES TO BUDGETING, I MAKE NO PROMISES TILL WE GET IN THE PROCESS WHERE I THINK HIGHER EDUCATION WILL WORK FOR THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, ESPECIALLY AS I'VE BEEN TOURING THE NORTH COUNTRY, IS LET'S START WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEMS, OUR HIGH SCHOOL AND OUR BUSINESSES IN ALL THESE COMMUNITIES. WE CAN CREATE AN ECONOMY AROUND EDUCATION. AS I'VE TOURED THE NORTH COUNTRY, I'VE HEARD IT FROM THE PEOPLE UP THERE. WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO HELP WITH OUR HIGHER EDUCATION AND HELP YOUNG PEOPLE MAKE DECISIONS EARLY TO STAY IN OUR STATE. WE CAN ACCOMPLISH THAT, AND THAT'S THE WAY WE SHOULD BE DOING IT. AND AS FOR OUR BUDGETING PROCESS, WE SHOULD BE DOING IT DURING THE BUDGET PHASES, NOT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. SENATOR AYOTTE, THE SAME QUESTION TO YOU. WELL, IN THE LAST BIENNIUM, THE LEGISLATURE INCREASED APPROXIMATELY THAT FUNDING BY 10%. AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT OUR UNIVERSITY SYSTEM WORKS BETTER WITH OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGE BECAUSE WE IT SHOULD BE THAT YOU GO TO OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND YOU CAN TRANSFER ANY CREDIT TO OUR UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. SO WE HAVE TO HAVE THOSE SYSTEMS WORKING TOGETHER. BETTER TO SERVE STUDENTS, BECAUSE IF STUDENTS FEEL THAT THEY'RE GETTING THE EDUCATION THAT THEY WANT AND THAT CAN HELP THEM SUCCEED, THAT WILL BE IMPORTANT. AND SO I THINK WE SHOULD IMPROVE THAT SYSTEM. BUT LET'S NOT FORGET THERE'S A LOT MORE BEYOND THE FOUR YEAR DEGREE. HOW ABOUT OUR TRADES? WE NEED TO PARTNER NOT ONLY WITH THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES, WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR. I CHAIRED THE BOARD FOR BAY SYSTEMS, OUR LARGEST MANUFACTURING EMPLOYER. THEY CREATED A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NASHUA COMMUNITY COLLEGE ON MICROELECTRONICS, AND IT'S A CERTIFICATEE PROGRAM THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING RIGHT INTO GOOD PAYING JOBS. SO WE SHOULD BE ALSO FOCUSING ON THE TRADES. THERE'S A HUGE NEED ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, AUTOMOTIVE, MARINE. SO I WANT TO IMPROVE THAT AS GOVERNOR BECAUSE I SEE A BIG GAP THERE. NEXT QUESTION FROM STEVE BOTTARI. ADAM. THANKS. LET'S TALK TAXES. THE INTEREST AND DIVIDENDS TAX, WHICH IS A TAX ON INVESTMENT INCOME, IS BEING PHASED OUT. IS THERE ANOTHER TAX THAT CAN ALSO BE ELIMINATED? SENATOR AYOTTE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE FOLLOW THROUGH AND ELIMINATING THE INTEREST AND DIVIDENDS TAX BECAUSE IT WAS ESSENTIALLY ALMOST AN INCOME TAX, ESPECIALLY FOR RETIREES WHO ARE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, SUCCEED ON THEIR INVESTMENT INCOME AND STAY IN OUR STATE. CERTAINLY, I WILL ALWAYS LOOK AS GOVERNOR AT WAYS THAT WE CAN REDUCE TAXES, BECAUSE I WANT TO REDUCE THE BURDEN ON WORKING PEOPLE. AND BY THE WAY, ALSO OUR BUSINESS TAXES MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE COMPETITIVE, BECAUSE IF THEY'RE NOT COMPETITIVE, OUR SMALL BUSINESSES CAN'T THRIVE AND GROW. SO I WILL ALWAYS LOOK AT EVERYTHING AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE RETURNING DOLLARS LOCALLY TO BECAUSE PROPERTY TAXES ARE VERY HIGH IN THIS STATE. SENATOR MORSE, IS THERE ANOTHER TAX THAT COULD BE ELIMINATED? WELL, I WANT TO BE CLEAR. AND THIS IS WHAT THIS RACE IS ABOUT. I GOT THE JOB DONE AS SENATE PRESIDENT. I CUT BUSINESS TAXES. WE WERE THE 47TH HIGHEST IN THE NATION WHEN WE STARTED CUTTING BUSINESS TAXES. AND WE CUT THE INTEREST AND DIVIDENDS TAX IN THE 2021 BUDGET. AND THAT'S GOING TO END IN 2025. AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FOLLOW THROUGH ON THAT. THAT WILL BE THE FINAL CUT THAT WE NEED TO DO. ON INTEREST AND DIVIDENDS TAX. SO PEOPLE DON'T PACK THEIR BAGS AND MOVE TO STATES LIKE FLORIDA. THEY STAY HERE AND THEY INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THAT'S WHAT WE WANTED TO HAPPEN. THAT'S WHAT DROVE THE ECONOMY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. AND AS GOVERNOR, I WILL ALWAYS LOOK AT TAXES TO SEE WHERE WE CAN CUT, BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN THAT MODEL, LOWER TAXES ARE BECAUSE OF LOWER SPENDING. WE CAN DO BETTER ALL THE TIME. ALL RIGHT, CANDIDATES, WE'VE REACHED THE TIME FOR CLOSING STATEMENTS. WE'VE OFFERED CANDIDATES EACH. ONE MINUTE. WE BEGIN NOW WITH KELLY AYOTTE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TUNING IN TONIGHT. I'M RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR BECAUSE OUR STATE IS AT A CROSSROADS. MY HUSBAND, JOE AND I WERE BORN HERE. WE RAISED HERE. WE'VE RAISED OUR CHILDREN IN NASHUA. I CARE SO MUCH ABOUT OUR STATE, BUT THERE ARE TWO PATHS IN FRONT OF US. WE CAN STAY ON THE PATH THAT GOVERNOR SUNUNU HAS HAD US ON, OR WE CAN GO DOWN A VERY DIFFERENT PATH WE NEED LOOK NO FURTHER THAN ACROSS TO MASSACHUSETTS TO REALLY SEE A PREVIEW OF WHAT THE DEMOCRATS WILL DO TO THIS STATE. HIGHER TAXES, HIGHER CRIME, SANCTUARY CITIES, AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. I DECIDED TO LEAVE THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND RUN FOR GOVERNOR, BECAUSE I WANT TO GIVE BACK TO THIS STATE TO TAKE THE EXPERIENCE I HAVE AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE DELIVER A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN. WE'LL BAN SANCTUARY CITIES. WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE STOP THE DRUGS THAT ARE DANGEROUS AND COMING INTO OUR STATE. WE WILL PROTECT THAT NEW HAMPSHIRE TAX ADVANTAGE, AND WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE DO NOT MASS UP NEW HAMPSHIRE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT, SENATOR MORSE, ONE MINUTE. WELL THANK YOU. IT'S NOT BY ACCIDENT THAT OUR ECONOMY IS THE ENVY OF THE NORTHEAST. IT'S BECAUSE WE ELECT CONSERVATIVES THAT GET RESULTS. I DID THAT AS SENATE PRESIDENT, AND I WILL DO THAT AS GOVERNOR. BUT THIS RACE IS ABOUT STARK DIFFERENCES IN BEING ABLE TO UNITE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. KELLY AYOTTE WENT TO WASHINGTON AS A CONSERVATIVE, YET SHE VOTED WITH THE DEMOCRATS OVER 260 TIMES. SHE VOTED TO GIVE 11 MILLION ILLEGALL IMMIGRANTS AMNESTY, AND SHE CONSTANTLY THREW DONALD TRUMP UNDER THE BUS. I WILL LEAD ON REPUBLICAN PRINCIPLES. WE WILL MAKE SURE WE HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET BAN. SANCTUARY CITIES, TREAT THE DRUG, THE FENTANYL DRUG DEALERS LIKE THE MURDERERS THEY ARE AND WILL STRENGTHEN PARENTAL RIGHTS. I ASK FOR YOUR VOTE AND I HOPE I'VE EARNED IT TONIGHT. THANK YOU TO THE CANDIDATES. IF YOU MISSED ANY PART OF TONIGHT'S DEBATE, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO FIND IT ON THE WMUR WEBSITE OR MOBILE APP. YOU'LL ALSO BE ABLE TO FIND MORE ABOUT ALL THE CANDIDATES AND INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO CAST YOUR BALLOT FOR ELECTION DAY. JOIN US BACK HERE TOMORROW NIGHT AT EIGHT TO HEAR FROM THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR. WE WANT TO THANK THE NEW HAMPSHIRE INSTITUTE OF POLITICS AT SAINT ANSELM COLLEGE FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP. THANK YOU TO THE CANDIDATES, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR WATCHING AT