josh: and steve marchand, the legalization of marijuana. he can navigate before you could ask him. john: that is one of his big issues in terms of raising revenue. the thing i thought was that marchand had a good debate. the organization and the ability to get out the vote from his days as a strategist and news not a candidate. we are in a low turnout primary. he feels confident he can get his vote out. kevin: for colin, he has hope that the secretary of state is right. if the turnout is that is the winner. but if it is as low as 60,000, it is a very liberal base in that party. they want legalization of marijuana pay they want a mandatory seatbelt and helmet law. they want more money spent and more taxes raised. they are not getting those answers from van ostern or conno lly or marchand. john: steve marchand said that said it several times during the debate. even though in the past, he has been called a no labels problem solver, a moderate democrat. now he is saying he is the most progressive democrat. i think tapping into the bernie sanders movement here, which is still in existenc

steve marchand: there has been a demonization of immigrants in general and scare tactics. you can quantify this. the most entrepreneurial people are immigrants, kids, and grandkids. we are looking at a decrease in entrepreneurial activity where all net new job creation occurs, from new companies that are formed by immigrants. my folks, neither had a high school degree and both started their own business and guided to it is an inspirational story. my mom worked at the pandora mills a couple months before i was born. those are folks that are coming to this country to work. and when i look at the future, it's great and it is the future of our economic success. josh: the commuter rail project. starting with you, counselor van ostrander, this is one of the linchpins of your economic plan but a lot of people feel it comes at the current cost of infrastructure. had you convince people that it is worth the investment? >> new hampshire business for executive council. there were two votes five years ago. the defunding of planned parenthood which i was determined to fix, and a reject

portsmouth mayor steve marchand felt at home. the westside native stopped by chez vachon. he says he got into the race to governor late and is being outspent but says momentum is on his side. >> it's a little bit like the little engine that very much could. and every day that goes by, i get folks switching from one of the others they met very early but didn't seal the deal. jean: and executive counselor colin van ostern canvassed neigho wants to extend commuter rail service. his campaign is confident in a strong turnout and launch toward the general election. >> this is up to the voters. at 8:00, the voters will have spoken. i hope they put their trust in me. i believe we need to keep our state moving forward and i've been part of that progress. jean: our wmur granite state polls show that all these so no matter who win tomorrow, there's still work to be done live in derry, jean mackin. tom: republican u.s. senator kelly ayotte was out and about this morning ahead of tomorrow's primary while her challenger, jim rubens, was doing radio and making phone calls. the incumbent

former portsmouth mayor were steve marchand, colin van ostern, and mark conley did not go on the attack. all three candidates favor a more aggressive approach. marchand is the only candidate to legalize state services. >> i'm the progressive choice for governor. i'm the only one here that voted for bernie this spring. i'm the only one 100% against northern pass and the death penalty. i'm the only one with a plan for paid family leave. >> i've been endorsed by all lawmakers in the state of new hampshire and hillary clinton and bernie sanders' committees in the state. >> i've got experience in the private sector. that's the leadership i'll bring to erin: all three candidates are in favor of a rail project. sean: in the spin room after the debate, the candidates all discussed how they and their opponents performed last night. >> we talked about a lot of issues where we are making progress as a state medicaid expansion. we have to keep it that way. investing more. those are the things that will be decided based on who the next governor is. >> i think any one of us way than the republicans.

steve marchand, colin van ostern, and others are vying. erin: in the second congressional district, jim lawrence and jack flanagan are the contenders. as for the u.s. senate seat, kelly ayotte is running against jim rubens. more details coming up hampshire. i want to say hello. one person who is up for a walk. beautiful sunrise walk. kevin: we wish we could be them. temperatures low to mid 50's. future bright out there early this morning for us. we're expecting a good deal of sunshine into the afternoon. temperatures will run another five or seven degrees warmer than yesterday. we start off with a similar cool set of circumstances. 30's up north, 40's to lower 50's elsewhere. highs today mid 70's to lower 80's. sean: sounds like a nice day. let's check out the roads. we start with a live look from i-93. everybody going south. kevin: we're joined live by deb davidson. deb: good morning. 93 north and south looks good. we're not seeing any delays from north of the notches down to the stateline. now if you are jumping on interstate 89, no over

steve marchand conceded. tom: he says he will do everything in his power to help -- >> i am 42 years old. i'm a kid in the political world. i'm going to end up with 25 percent of the vote against an outstanding yield. i will be back. tom: he says he now hopes to encourage people to vote democrat. jennifer: our coverage continues in just minutes. tom: the race for the republican nomination in the second congressional district. jennifer: a quick decision in the republican race for senate read how the nominees are now attacking each other. mike: we will talk a little weather. tom: welcome back to our continuing coverage of commitment to beat jack flanagan. reporter: one of the reasons jim lawrence said he decided to run again was be said -- because so many people reached out, asking him. he will be going up against annie kuster. the incumbent democrat for the district. tended to vote moderate, but lawrence, being a conservative republican, believes he has a good chance because kuster is more washington, less new

ray: steve marchand felt right at home. he admits he got into the race for governor late and is being outspend but says momentum is on his side. >> every day that goes by i have folks switching that they met early. they didn't seal the deal. for rails. >> i believe we need to keep our state moving forward. i'm the candidate who has been part of the progress. ray: our latest wmur poll found that when it comes to name recognition, each of the candidates still has some work to do. now if -- regardless of who wins the nomination, they will have a lot of work to do before the general election in november. live i brewer, wmur news 9. sean: thanks. republicans haven't won the governor seat in a decade and only one in the last 20 years. they are hopeful this year. erin: it includes jeannie forester, chris sununu, ted gastas, and frank edelblut. >> our campaign begins with people. we have been pounding the pavement. people that are doing calls on the phones. >> i think i've had the right attitude going into it. i want to serve the s

sean: democrats colin van ostern, mark connolly, and steve marchand are all vying for the governor's seat. all 3 candidates f a aggressive approach on the opioid crisis, although marchand is the only candidate who would legalize marijuana and use the tax proceeds to pay for more state services. >> i am the progressive choice for governor. i'm the only one here that voted for bernie this spring. i'm the only one 100% against both northern pass and the death penalty. i'm the only one with a plan for paid family leave. >> i've been endorsed in this race by a majority of all democratic state lawmakers in the state of new hampshire and hillary clinton's steering committees in the state. >> i have some 4 years of experience in the private and public sector, and i've fought and won for new hampshire families. that's the kind of leadership i will bring to the governor's office. sean: all 3 candidates said they are also in favor of a $300 million commuter rail project to connect nashua and manchester with the mbta. our granite state debates continue tonight when the republican candidate for s

jennifer: over in portsmouth, steve marchand conceded. tom: he says he will do everything in his power to help -- >> i am 42 years old. i'm a kid in the political world. i'm going to end up with 25 percent of the vote against an outstanding yield. tom: he says he now hopes to encourage people to vote democrat. jennifer: our coverage continues in just minutes. tom: the race for the republican nomination in the second congressional district. jennifer: a quick decision in the republican race for senate read how the nominees are now attacking each other. mike: we will talk a little weather. weather. look at i'm really good at war. i love war in a certain way. i know more about isis than the generals do, believe me. nuclear, just the power the devastation, is very important to me. i want to be unpredictable, unpredictable, unpredictable, unpredictable. priorities usa action is responsible for the content of this advertising. narrator: new hampshire, think a minute about kelly ayotte the politician. and votes with the koch brothers 90% of the t

former state representative mark connolly, former portsmouth mayor steve marchand, and ut connolly held a press conference at the bridge cafe in manchester yesterday. he also met with voters, saying he has the experience for the job. across town, marchand was on his home turf. the west side native campaigned at chez vachon. he says momentum is on his side . and van ostern walked through nashua neighborhoods where he'd like to extend commuter rail. his campaign is confident there will be a strong showing today. >> i believe we need to keep our state moving forward and i'm the candidate who's been part of that progress. >> every day that goes by i get others that they met very early but they didn't seal the deal. >> i'm a person with a vision who wants to make new hampshire a safer and stronger place. sean: turning now to the republican race for the first congressional district, incumbent frank guinta is facing a challenge from businessman rich ashooh. the winner will square off against democrat carol shea porter in november. guinta spent part of yesterday calling constituents from his ca

our opponents in the primary and steve marchand. i think we are all working together, unlike on the republican side, where kelly ayotte refuses to endorse frank guinta. and refuses to endorse the nominee for president. compare that to the solid leadership on our ticket. josh: asked about a position change on frank guinta, and she didn't. pundits say -- the same kind of energy? are you confident the party has the energy? chairman buckley: absolutely. presidential turnout versus a state primary, there is no correlation. democrats have won nine out of the last 10 statewide races. in each residential election, we have swept the tickets. we anticipate to do that again. when you compare the record of donald trump, who is unfit to be president, with hillary clinton. when you compare colin van ostern to the failed person chris sununu is -- chris sununu's family customers that have gone. that is the real leadership there. josh: i have no many -- i have no idea of how many customers go there. chairman horn: are the top of the ticket, they hav

former portsmouth mayor steve marchand calling himself the progressive candidate in this race. >> i am the progressive choice for governor. i'm the only one here voted for bernie in the spring. i'm the only one 100% that voted against northern pass and the death pelt -- and only one with a plan for paid family leave. reporter: colin positioned himself as the democrat of the establishment, touting his endorsements. >> i have been endorsed by all democratic state lawmakers in this state. reporter: on the opioid crisis, mark connolly favors a more aggressive tempo. >> my>> plan is to get the drug legalize and tax marijuana to play -- pay for more state services. >> and the only candidate talking candidate -- candidly about the need for more money. if you want things, you have to pay. reporter: when it comes to the states rapidly graying and aging population connolly wants more , immigration. >> we are the second oldest state in america. the fastest-growing oldest state in america. the only meaningful job and population growth will be 65 and older. and we have the lowest birthrate in ameri

adam: former portsmouth mayor steve marchand calling himself the progressive candidate in this race. >> i am the progressive choice for governor. i'm the only one here that voted for bernie this spring. i'm the only one 100% against northern pass and the death penalty. i'm the only one with a plan for paid family leave. adam: on wednesday night, it was the republican primary debate in incumbent senator kelly ayotte versus challenger jim rubens, who repeatedly tried to paint ayotte as too liberal. >> bipartisan capitulation doesn't work. she's got an 'f' from conservative review. she's got a 27 she votes like annie kuster, a liberal democrat in the 2nd cd. adam: for her part, senator ayotte already looking ahead to november didn't seem to mind being called bipartisan. >> let me go back to my time as attorney general. first appointed by a republican governor, twice re-appointed by a democratic governor, and i worked across the aisle then on getting things dto this is part of my dna. adam: thursday night, the republican primary in the 2nd congressional district, state rep jack flanagan

headquarters in manchester, a few signs, a few flags, things are supported to josh: democratic candidate steve marchand was the mayor of portsmouth at one time and says he will why that mayoral experience if he wins tonight and veferl if he's successful in the november election to win the governor's seat. marchand started the day off casting his own vote in portsmouth before heading to the university of new hampshire to speak to students. jennifer: he has he has conservative with the ability to control spending while also being what he calls the most progressive candidate in the race. >> i'm somebody that's been praised, a former auditor and data given mayor, as being really good with with money. at the same time i'm also 100% pro-choice. i'm offering a respect plan for paid family leave, legalizedded, regular expult tax marijuana. i'm 100% against northern pass. jennifer: marchand will be in portsmouth and says he plans on pulling off a victory. the republican nomination in new hampshire's first congressional district also up for grabs in tonight's primary. tom: it's a race between an incumbent who se

steve marchand called himself the progressive candidate in the lace. >> i'm the only one that voted for bernie. i'm against the northern path and d ray: van ostern touted his endorsement. >> i've been endorsed by all democratic lawmakers in the state of new hampshire. ray: mark conley favors a more aggressive tempo. >> my plan is to get them meeting every week. ray: marchand says he would legalize and tax marijuana. the need for more money. if you want things that matter, you have to pay for them. ray: as for the state's rapidly aging population, conley wants more immigration. >> we're the second oldest growing state in america. the only meaningful job and population growth will be 65 and older. we have the lowest birthrate in america. when i look at immigration in terms of what we are as a people and county, we need to welcome immigrants into the state. ray: van oster rail project the center piece, saying it will help grow new businesses. >> i know a start-up cpo who is desperate. he wants to hire to help his company grow. ray: voter turnout could be low. colin van ostern is viewed as

fairly early in the evening with colin van ostern easily winning his party's nomination over steve marchand and mike connolly. van ostern pledging to fight to keep new hampshire a no sales tax state, try to extend commuter rail service. he says the experience proves he's ready to lead new hampshire. >> the decisions that w years will determine our state's economic future for the next decade to come. i know we can move our state forward the new hampshire way. we will leave politics at the door and we'll bring people together to work together with the focus on progress and not on partisanship. ray: the van ostern campaign calling for a kickoff party for the general election. again republicans holding their unity breakfast here at the reporting live in bedford, ray brewer, wmur news 9. sean: all right. thanks. the race for the republican nomination in the first congressional district is also still too close to call. almost all of the votes are in. incumbent congressman frank linda leads rich ashooh. erin: neither is giving up. we are hearing there could be a recount in the race which has not b

and steve marchand was on home turf campaigning at shea vachon, looking to make inroad with others who are still making up their minds. he feels momentum is on his biggest difficulties for these gubernatorial candidates will be trying to get their name out there and grab some headlines. when a presidential race seems to be grabbing all the media attention nearly every week. adam sexton, wmur news 9. josh: senator ayotte was out this morning, while her primary challenger was doing a lot of radio and making phone calls. but the incumbent this morning could be found in bedford at genesis health care, there sheme facing. ayotte says while it may be a primary election, she believes that people are very engaged. >> i any there's a lot of great energy out there. we've seen enthusiasm. i stopped by my campaign hours last night and there were a ton of people engaged. josh: she is looking for a convincing win to give her campaign momentum heading into against democrat challenger maggie hassan. in the second congressional district race, two republican candidates also meeting and greeting voters a

a couple of minutes we'll be back with the democratic candidates for governor, mark connolly, steve marchand, colin van ostern. right around the corner in a this lineup due to the following wmur commitment 2016 special. now, a commitment 2016 special prested by wmur in the new hampshire union leader. and in partnership with the new hampshire institute of politics. the granite state debates. tonight, the democratic candidates for governor. we will be asking questions of the democratic candidate for governor as we determine their plans for the most issues getting state. each candidate will have a brief opening statement. answers will be limited to write around one minute and rebuttals will be allowed. at moderators discretion. headed dates will have an opportunity for closing statement. the former mayor of he was born and raised in manchester and has daschle's degrees and a masters degree from syracuse university. he worked for a consulting fim that performed audits across the country. he was elected to the portsmouth city council and later became mayor. he was the director of corporate relati

sununu, ted gatsas, and frank edelblut are all vying for the governor's seat, as well as democrats steve marchand, colin van ostern, and mark connolly in -- mark connolly. in the first congressional district the gop candidates are , frank guinta and rich ashooh. and in the second congressional district, the republicans contenders are jim lawrence and jack flanagan. in the senate race, incumbent senator kelly ayotte is being challenged by jim rubens. to show an approved photo id, and you can also register to vote if you have not already. for more information, including how to find your polling location, head to the politics section of our website, wmur.com. it is looking great out there. kevin: another cool start to the day, 40's for many folks and way southwesterly breeze ahead of the next system that eventually arrives with the effect of a passing thunderstorm tomorrow. we are in the 50's too low 60's and you are contending with a little bit of valley fog. sunshine, temperatures in the mid 70's to low 80's this afternoon and a notch warmer tomorrow. a broken line of afternoon. once it goes by, t