Leading candidates running for New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District outlined two different approaches to the economy and immigration during a debate Friday afternoon at NHPR Studios in Concord.
The conversation between incumbent Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas and Republican Russell Prescott was mostly amicable and was recorded in front of a live studio audience who were instructed to remain silent. Aside from sharp disagreements over how to cut costs and fix America’s immigration system, and a heated exchange over access to abortion, the two men generally agreed on many of the core issues. Watch the full discussion here.
Mr. Prescott, a former executive councilor and state senator, campaigned widely on the belief that cutting government spending and reducing the federal deficit were the most effective ways to reduce consumer inflation. He said Friday he supports cutting all federal departments by a narrow margin, arguing it would save $300 billion each year. Pappas, who has served in the New Hampshire state legislature since 2019 and is seeking a fourth term, proposed expanding the child tax credit as a way to ease the burden of food and rent for many American consumers.
Republican Russell Prescott speaks during the 1st Congressional District debate held at NHPR on October 18, 2024.
Building on his record in the state Senate, Prescott opposes widespread tariffs, calling them “a tax on everyone in America.” Instead, Prescott said he wants to balance the federal budget without raising taxes.
“Raising taxes is a mistake. We’ve already had 30% inflation over the last four years, and raising taxes will only add to that,” Prescott said.
Pappas emphasized the importance of reducing costs, noting that external pressures such as global conflicts are impacting inflation rates and hitting New Hampshire families hard. He said he supports expanding the child tax credit, adding that his constituents have communicated their support for the policy.
“Early in the pandemic, we expanded lending and cut child poverty in our country in half,” Pappas said. “This has enabled families to cope with basic daily expenses.”
Each candidate acknowledged that there are major problems with the immigration system. Pappas said the federal government has a role to play in countering upstream factors that influence people to come to the United States from other countries and lean toward effective diplomacy.
“We also have to be smart about how we modernize and fix our broken immigration system to meet the needs of our country,” Pappas said, adding billions of dollars to jobs. He noted support for bipartisan national security legislation. Increasing the number of asylum officers and detention judges, expanding the number of detention beds, and other border provisions. After months of negotiations, Senate Republicans blocked the bill after former President Donald Trump opposed it.
Prescott said he supports President Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” policy, noting that Mexicans are affected by immigration issues just like Americans.
“This issue isn’t just about the northern border; it’s about the southern border,” Prescott said. “If we work with our neighbor to the south, Mexico, to strengthen that wall, it will help both of us, and that’s what I’m talking about. You should definitely make a plan to help you stay.” Other South American countries need to know that we are working hard to streamline the path to becoming a U.S. citizen. ”
U.S. Representative Chris Pappas speaks during the 1st Congressional District debate held at NHPR on October 18, 2024.
In the debate on abortion, Mr. Pappas expressed unwavering support for codifying abortion rights at the federal level. Pappas also recorded a modest attack against Prescott, which Pappas characterized as a disadvantage. Mr. Prescott pushed back, insisting he supports the status quo codified in Roe v. Wade and expressing displeasure at the “negative advertising” about his position produced by the Pappas campaign.
“When I was on the Executive Council, I voted for judges who said Roe v. Wade was specific and was the law. And I voted for those judges,” Prescott said. . “When I was a state senator, I also voted for the Democratic amendment to ensure that Roe v. Wade was written into law. I just want to say that I am disappointed in what is going on.”
Mr. Pappas said Mr. Prescott supports overturning Roe v. Wade, but Mr. Prescott denied this claim and insisted he never said the rule should be overturned. Prescott told WMUR last year that the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision was an effective step in returning political power to the states.
“This is giving people more power to decide for themselves what that issue looks like here in New Hampshire,” Prescott said. “Chris Pappas is saying, ‘No, I’ll decide what that is,’ and that’s not fair and it’s not good for the people here in New Hampshire.”
“While they may be disappointed that this is a political issue for them, American women are being stripped of rights guaranteed by the Supreme Court for nearly half a century,” Pappas told Prescott during Friday’s debate. I’m disappointed in what happened.” .
“The fact of the matter is that you supported defeating Roe, which now has created a race to the bottom across the country and dangerous laws that threaten the health and safety of women. It created a new paradigm of getting passed,” Pappas said.
The general election is November 5th. Polling place hours vary by state, but typically open between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
