Ayotte, Warmington don't back down in 1st head-to-head debate

Ayotte, Warmington don't back down in 1st head-to-head debate

Ayotte, Warmington don't back down in 1st head-to-head debate

The attacks were flying Tuesday between Gov. Kelly Ayotte and Democratic challenger Cinde Warmington in their first head-to-head debate.

Neither candidate was backing down during the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce debate at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics.

Ayotte and Warmington engaged in extensive debate over the issue of housing.

"Private equity is buying up housing in this state and jacking up the cost of rent and sending the market rate of rent up," Warmington said. "This is how Kelly Ayotte made her millions, on the board of Blackstone."

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"She doesn't understand anything that's happening in this state," Ayotte said. "No. 1, Blackstone has an apartment place in Nashua and some student housing in Durham. That's not driving what's happening in New Hampshire. What's driving what's happening in New Hampshire is we don't have enough supply."

The candidates also tangled over energy policy.

"Open your electric bill. It's up through the roof," Warmington said.

"If Cinde Warmington is governor when you open your electric bill, it's going to be double," Ayotte said.

"She's making that up," Warmington replied.

Warmington accused Ayotte of being unable to stand up to President Donald Trump on tariffs.

"And she stays silent while other governors around this country are suing the Trump Administration and making sure they get that money back for their small businesses," Warmington said.

Ayotte called out Warmington for campaigning over the weekend with the governor of California.

"If you're wondering what her policies are going to be like, just look who she hangs around with," Ayotte said. "She recently was hanging around with Gavin Newsom."

The big takeaway from the first head-to-head matchup is that neither candidate is holding back on the debate stage.

"She's living in some sort of a bubble," Warmington said.

"She has a background as an opioid lobbyist working for the highest bidder," Ayotte said.

The two will meet again next week for the Granite State Debate on WMUR. The gubernatorial debate airs live at 9 p.m. on Oct. 29.