Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), who is running for re-election in the Second Congressional District, fields questions during the Oct. 25 candidates forum at Temple Adath Yeshurun Brotherhood in Manchester. Cabinet photo by CHRISTOPHER ROBERSON

MANCHESTER – Republicans and Democrats continue to trade barbs as the hotly-contested midterm election season winds down.

During the Oct. 25 candidates forum at Temple Adath Yeshurun Brotherhood, Republican Anthony DiLorenzo emphasized that he is not a Trumper.

“I am not a rubber stamp for the president,” said DiLorenzo, who is running to represent New Hampshire’s First Congressional District.

If elected, he said he would eliminate the tariffs that President Donald Trump has put on Canada and would end the War in Iran “immediately.”

“I do not support war at all,” he said.

Republican Anthony DiLorenzo, who is running to represent the First Congressional District, fields questions during the Oct. 25 candidates forum at Temple Adath Yeshurun Brotherhood in Manchester. Cabinet photo by CHRISTOPHER ROBERSON

Turning his attention to his opponent, DiLorenzo said Democrat Stefany Shaheen has amassed $8.4 million in political donations. He also said her largest donor is listed in the Jeffrey Epstein files.

“That is ridiculous,” he said.

DiLorenzo said Shaheen comes from a “political and privileged” family and that she received her education for free.

“My opponent is a political insider,” he said.

In contrast, DiLorenzo said he comes from a working class family in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood. He also said 70 percent of his campaign contributions have come from New Hampshire donors.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate John Sununu fields questions during the Oct. 25 candidates forum at Temple Adath Yeshurun Brotherhood in Manchester. Cabinet photo by CHRISTOPHER ROBERSON

Although he appreciated the efforts of the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency, DiLorenzo said DOGE did not achieve its objective.

Regarding Social Security, he said the program has reached a $30.3 trillion shortfall over a 75-year horizon.

“Every dime we chipped in over the past 90 years has been spent,” he said. “This is a $30 trillion mistake.”

Social Security is currently funded by the federal operating budget at $1.4 trillion.

DiLorenzo also said privatizing Social Security is not a viable solution and that only the individuals who truly need it should be enrolled in the program.

In response, Shaheen said DiLorenzo supported the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and said he would vote for Trump “1,000 times over.”

Speaking about the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, she said agents in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement division receive just 48 hours of training.

“ICE agents have wreaked havoc in too many places,” she said, adding that 95 percent of the agency’s detainees have not committed any crimes. “It’s not acceptable.”

Regarding the War in Iran, Shaheen said Trump does not have an exit strategy. She also said that a year ago, Trump claimed that Iran had no nuclear weapons. In addition, Shaheen said DiLorenzo supported the expenditure of $200 billion to fund the war effort.

Shaheen said that although tax breaks for the wealthy will remain in place, tax breaks for the middle class will end in 2028.

She also called attention to the 72 days that Congress was in session last year.

“While America was at war, while people were without healthcare, Congress was in recess,” she said.

Speaking about Social Security, Shaheen said the program must be rescued.

“The idea that we’re even contemplating solvency is outrageous,” she said. “Social Security is a promise that was made, it needs to be there. I’m going to work like hell for the families in New Hampshire.”

Like DiLorenzo, Republican U.S. Senate candidate John Sununu separated himself from Trump. He said he supported the firing of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi earlier this year and said that Democrat Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election.

He also disagreed with Trump’s decision to go into Iran.

“It was a mistake to go in without a plan to keep the straits open,” he said.

Regarding healthcare, Sununu said he wants to keep Medicare intact and that the cost of prescription drugs has decreased by three percent. He also described U.S. Health Secretary Robert Kennedy, Jr. as “erratic and passionate.”

“He’s done some good things,” said Sununu.

However, he disagrees with Kennedy’s position on eliminating vaccinations.

Speaking about border security, Sununu said that three years ago, the Biden administration told Congress that multimillion dollar legislation would be needed to secure the borders. However, Sununu maintained that the borders have since been secured without the need for such legislation. He said that as a result, the number of fatal overdoses has steadily decreased. He also said the homicide rate is the lowest it has been in 100 years.

Sununu criticized his opponent, Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH), for not supporting Israel’s right to defend itself. In July, Pappas voted “present” on the amendment to the National Security, Department of State and Related Programs Appropriations Act proposed by Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY).

“Israel is our most strategic ally,” said Sununu.

As a congressman, Sununu said he sponsored the Lamprey Wild and Scenic River Extension Act, which was signed into law in 2000 by then-President George W. Bush. The legislation required that a segment of the Lamprey River be included in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

As a U.S. senator, Sununu sponsored the New England Wilderness Act, which Bush signed into law in 2006. That legislation provided permanent protection to 34,500 acres of land in the White Mountain National Forest.

Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), who is running for re-election in the Second Congressional District, called for lowering costs, eliminating the tariffs, banning stock and cryptocurrency trading as well as putting an end to Trump’s “war of choice.”

“You’re paying a war tax every day,” she said. “This was a choice that President Trump made.”

Goodlander also spoke about her work under then-U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman to implement a series of economic sanctions on Iran. The sanctions took effect between 2010 and 2012.

“We cannot allow hundreds of billions of dollars to go to the Iranian regime,” she said.

On the housing front, Goodlander touted the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which became law on July 11. Spearheaded by Congressman French Hill (R-AR), the legislation is designed to bolster the housing stock, reduce construction costs and increase affordability.

She also said the federal government must protect the promise of Social Security, which is in danger of being reduced by 20 percent during the next six years.

“I see a constellation of crises,” she said. “This doesn’t have to happen, I ask you to trust me.”

According to the Oct. 22 poll from the St. Anselm College Survey Center, Shaheen leads DiLorenzo, 46 percent to 42 percent, Pappas leads Sununu, 50 percent to 43 percent and Goodlander leads Tang Williams, 54 percent to 38 percent.