With grocery bills still climbing and gas prices squeezing family budgets across New Hampshire, voters are searching for answers — and candidates are pointing fingers in very different directions. A Wednesday night U.S. Senate debate between Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas and former Republican Sen. John E. Sununu put those competing visions for economic relief on full display.
The two candidates are vying for an open Senate seat that could shift the balance of power in Congress. The debate, which grew heated at several points, centered largely on who is responsible for the affordability crisis hitting Granite State families — and who has the best plan to fix it.
You can watch the full debate here, or jump to individual topics below.
The War in Iran and Gas Prices
One of the sharpest exchanges came over the ongoing U.S. military conflict in Iran and its effect on energy costs. Pappas argued that the war is directly driving up gas and diesel prices that New Hampshire families pay every day at the pump.
“The recklessness of Donald Trump’s war of choice in the Middle East is raising prices, and New Hampshire families can’t afford it. Sen. Sununu talked about this war. He cheered it on from the beginning. He called it a success in June. He said the war was important, that the objectives were clear at the very beginning. Now, he’s changing his tune a few days before the election.”
— Rep. Chris Pappas
Sununu pushed back firmly, insisting he has consistently raised concerns about how the conflict was handled and that Pappas was mischaracterizing his record.
“I’ve always opposed boots on the ground. Chris exaggerates. This is a position I took here on ‘CloseUp’ months and months ago, that it was a mistake to attack Iran without a clear decision and a clear plan to keep the straits open.”
— John E. Sununu
Pappas fired back:
“You did support that operation at the beginning, and it was very clear from the outset that Donald Trump didn’t have a plan to keep the strait open and to keep costs low for Granite Staters.”
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, and disruptions there can send fuel costs rippling through the American economy — from gas stations to grocery store shelves.
Who’s to Blame for the Cost of Living?
Both candidates acknowledged that everyday costs — groceries, housing, fuel — remain painfully high for many New Hampshire families. But they disagreed sharply on the root causes.
Sununu placed much of the blame on the Biden years and argued that Pappas had contributed to the problem through his votes in Congress.
“Chris, we do need change, and you’ve been part of the problem for eight years. Let’s be clear about where the affordability crisis came from. Under Joe Biden, prices went up 20%, 9% in one year, the highest inflation since the ’70s. Chris Pappas voted for the Inflation Acceleration Act that drove that to such sky-high limits.”
— John E. Sununu
Sununu was referring to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Pappas, meanwhile, argued that the current administration’s tariff policies and the military conflict in Iran are now the primary forces keeping costs elevated.
“We have to recognize that we’ve got a serious problem. Donald Trump calls affordability a hoax. He says this is a golden age for America. He’s pulling every lever to make things more expensive, from the war in the Middle East in high gas and diesel costs, to the tariffs that are applied to everything that we need.”
— Rep. Chris Pappas
Tariffs — essentially taxes on imported goods — are often passed along to consumers in the form of higher prices on everyday products, from electronics to clothing to food.
Standing Up to Washington
Both candidates tried to convince voters that they, and not their opponent, would be the most effective check on policies that hurt working families. Pappas said Democrats need Senate seats to rein in runaway costs.
“We need to rein this in. That’s why we need change in Washington that can change the balance of power so that we can effectively challenge this administration and the runaway costs that are hurting families.”
— Rep. Chris Pappas
Sununu pointed to Maine Sen. Susan Collins as a model for the kind of independent Republican he says he would be.
“Susan Collins is a great example, a great model. She stands up for what she believes in. I’ll stand up for what I believe in. I’ve opposed the president on the trade war with Canada, on his actions in Iran.”
— John E. Sununu
When Pappas was asked about the prospect of impeachment, he broadened his focus to accountability across the administration.
“Now, look, Donald Trump is $2 billion richer than when he came into office. But there is a cast of characters throughout his administration that are falling down on the job that are not serving the interests of the American people.”
— Rep. Chris Pappas
Watch the Debate by Topic
Missed part of the debate? You can view individual segments covering the topics that matter most to your household budget and daily life:
Bringing down grocery costs | Ending the war in Iran | Healthcare access in rural areas | Marijuana legalization | Data center development | School tax cap question | Immigration changes to support businesses | America’s role on the world stage | First-year accomplishment
Live fact-checking of the debate was conducted by Lou Jacobson and the team at PolitiFact. You can review those fact-checks at this link.
Wednesday’s Senate debate followed an earlier debate featuring the 2nd Congressional District candidates. Two more debates are scheduled for Thursday. New Hampshire voters can find registration information and polling place details in this voter guide.