ANNOUNCER: THIS IS A COMMITMENT 2020 SPECIAL, PRIMARY COUNTDOWN. >> RIGHT NOW WE ARE FACING SOME UNIQUE CHALLENGES. >> TOMORROW’S PRIMARY ELECTION LETS GRANITE STATERS WEIGH IN ON THE LEADERSHIP THEY WANT FOR ISSUES RANGING FROM COVID-19 TO RACISM AND JUSTICE. BUT VOTING DURING A PANDEMIC BRINGS ITS OWN QUESTIONS. >> THERE WILL BE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS TO ENSURE THAT VOTERS WILL BE ABLE TO CAST THEIR BALLOT. >> FROM THE PLANS AT THE POLLS TO THE PEOPLE RUNNING TO REPRESENT YOU IN CONGRESS AND THE CORNER OFFICE, WE HAVE THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO CAST AN INFORMED AND SAFE VOTE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE’S STATE PRIMARY. JENNIFER: WELCOME BACK TO THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF NEWS 9’S COMMITMENT 2020 PRIMARY COUNTDOWN. I’M JENNIFER VAUGHN. TOM: I’M TOM GRIFFITH. MANY OF YOU WATCHING TONIGHT HAVE ALREADY CHOSEN YOUR CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR, U.S. SENATE, AND THE U.S. HOUSE, AND ALREADY SENT IN YOUR BALLOTS. JENNIFER: BUT THOUSANDS MORE GRANITE STATERS ARE EXPECTED AT THE POLLS TOMORROW TO CAST THEIR VOTES IN PERSON. NONE OF THE VOTES WILL BE COUNTED UNTIL TOMORROW. BUT POLL WORKERS HAVE BEEN BUSY PREPARING FOR THIS UNUSUAL ELECTION HAPPENING DURING A PANDEMIC THAT HAS UPENDED MANY ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES. THE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE TOLD POLITICAL DIRECTOR ADAM SEXTON THAT THERE WILL BE PPE AVAILABLE AT THE POLLS, AND SPECIAL AREAS FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN’T OR DON’T WANT TO WEAR MASKS. AS FOR THOSE ABSENTEE BALLOTS, THEY’RE STILL COMING IN. ADAM: HOW DO YOU THINK THINGS ARE GOING TO GO FOR IN-PERSON VOTING ON TUESDAY? >> WE EXPECT THAT THEY’RE GOING TO GO VERY SMOOTHLY. OBVIOUSLY, THE MORE PEOPLE YOU HAVE VOTE BY ABSENTEE BALLOT, THE LESS, THE FEWER VOTERS YOU WOULD EXPECT TO SEE SHOW UP AT THE POLLS ON THE DAY OF THE ELECTION. HOWEVER, WE DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF VOTERS THAT WANT TO EXERCISE THE RIGHT TO VOTE AT THE POLLING PLACE IN PERSON. SO THERE WILL BE SOCIAL DISTANCING THAT IS TAKING PLACE, THERE’S GOING TO BE PLENTY OF PPE BEING USED BY POLL WORKERS AND VOTERS LINES MAY LOOK LONG BECAUSE THEY’RE GOING TO BE SPACED OUT, BUT IN REALITY, THEY’RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE JUST AS LONG AS WHAT A VOTER WOULD NORMALLY EXPERIENCE ON THE DAY OF THE ELECTION. ADAM: SO CLERKS AND MODERATORS WILL OBVIOUSLY HAVE A LOT OF EXTRA BALLOTS TO WORK IN DURING THE DAY. HOW WILL THOSE BE COUNTED? WE KNOW THAT PRE-PROCESSING IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW. >> THE LEGISLATURE AT THE TAIL END OF THE SESSION PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MODERATORS TO PRE-PROCESS ABSENTEE BALLOTS ON THE THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, AND MONDAY BEFORE THE ELECTION. THAT PROCESS ALLOWS THE MODERATORS BASICALLY TO OPEN THE OUTER ENVELOPE, WHICH CONTAINS THE AFFIDAVIT ENVELOPE, WHICH CONTAINS THE BALLO THE MODERATORS CAN DO EVERYTHING SHORT OF OPENING UP THE AFFIDAVIT ENVELOPE, WHICH CONTAINS THE BALLOT. THAT WAITS UNTIL ELECTION DAY, TUESDAY. BUT THEY CAN ORGANIZE THOSE BALLOTS, THEY CAN MAKE SURE THAT THE AFFIDAVITS HAVE BE PROPERLY EXECUTED, THEY CAN HIGHLIGHT THE NAMES ON THE CHECKLISTS SO THAT THEY’RE EASY TO FIND ON THE DAY OF THE ELECTION. AND HOPEFULLY BY DOING THAT, IT CAN MAKE THE PROCESS MORE EFFICIENT AND HELP US GET A GOOD SOLID ACCURATE COUNT AT THE END OF THE NIGHT AT A REASONABLE TIME. TOM: ONE PLACE WHERE VOTERS ARE HARD TO PREDICT IS NEW HAMPSHIRE’S FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, WHICH HAS A HISTORY OF CHANGING PARTIES. NEITHER OF THE REPUBLICANS HOPING TO UNSEAT FRESHMAN DEMOCRAT CHRIS PAPPAS HAVE EVER RUN FOR FEDERAL OFFICE, BUT THEY SAY THAT DOESN’T MATTER. ADAM IS LIVE IN OUR ELECTION CENTER WITH A LOOK AT THOSE CANDIDATES. ADAM: THIS PARTICULAR PRIMARY HAS A HISTORY OF GETTING NASTY, AND THERE WERE SOME CLASHES IN OUR GRANITE STATE DEBATE BETWEEN REPUBLICANS MATT MOWERS AND MATT MAYBERRY. BUT IN THIS RACE, PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS WEIGHED IN, AND IT’S POSSIBLE THAT ENDORSEMENT COULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE OUTCOME TOMORROW. IN THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, IT’S A BATTLE OF TWO MATTS. MATT MOWERS AND MATT MAYBERRY BOTH HAVE DEEP BACKGROUNDS IN POLITICS AND ARE LOOKING TO UNSEAT FIRST TERM INCUMBENT CHRIS PAPPAS. >> HE’S SADDLED UP WITH THE FAR LEFT OF HIS PARTY, AND NANCY PELOSI AND HER AGENDA, NOT THE AGENDA ON BEHALF OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. >> I GOT INTO THIS RACE BECAUSE I FOUND FOUR VETERANS WHO WERE GOING TO LOSE THEIR ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH CARE BECAUSE CHRIS PAPPAS DROPPED THE BALL. ADAM: MAYBERRY HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN THE NH-GOP FOR DECADES NOW AND GOT HIS START WORKING FOR CONGRESSMAN BILL ZELLIFF BACK IN THE 90’S. BEFORE THAT, HE SERVED IN THE AIR FORCE, AND IN THIS CAMPAIGN TOUTS HIS MILITARY BACKGROUND, WORK FOR VETERANS, AND DEEP NEW ENGLAND ROOTS. >> I’M THE NEW HAMPSHIRE CANDIDATE. HE’S THE WASHINGTON CANDIDATE. HE MOVED HERE IN JANUARY OF 2020 AND 3 WEEKS LATER, FILED FOR CONGRESS. I’VE BEEN LIVING HERE FOR 35 YEARS. ADAM: MOWERS WAS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NH-GOP A FEW YEARS BACK, AND THEN JUMPED TO CHRIS CHRISTIE’S PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN. HE GOT HIS START IN POLITICS IN NEW JERSEY IN THE CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION, AND WAS A TRUSTED AIDE TO THE GOVERNOR, HE EVEN TESTIFIED IN THE BRIDGEGATE INVESTIGATION. >> WHAT I LEARNED WORKING WITH HIM IS THAT YOU’VE GOT TO SHOOT IT STRAIGHT, AND YOU OWE IT TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS TO TELL THEM THE TRUTH. ADAM: MOWERS ALSO RECENTLY SERVED IN THE TRUMP STATE DEPARTMENT, AND HAS THE PRESIDENT’S ENDORSEMENT IN THIS RACE, SOMETHING THAT COULD TIP THE SCALES HEAVILY IN HIS FAVOR. >> WHAT IT TELLS ME, AND WHAT I BELIEVE IT TELLS THE VOTERS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE IS THAT I’M NOT AFRAID TO BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO GOES DOWN TO WASHINGTON, DC, AND IS GOING TO TURN UPSIDE DOWN SOME TABLES. ADAM: MAYBERRY MAY NOT HAVE PRESIDENT TRUMP’S BACKING, BUT HE’S TRYING TO MAKE UP FOR IT WITH OLD FASHIONED SHOE-LEATHER CAMPAIGNING. HE WAS THE FIRST CANDIDATE IN THE STATE TO RETURN TO IN-PERSON EVENTS AMID THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. >> IT’S THAT CONNECTION. IT MIGHT BE A SOCIAL DISTANCE, BUT IT’S REALLY A PHYISCAL DISTANCE. WE CAN STILL CONNECT SAFELY, AND WE SHOULD, AND WE NEED TO. THIS IS THE NEW NORMAL, LET’S ADAPT TO IT AND STOP BEING SCARED. ADAM: THE WINNER OF THIS RACE WILL BE GETTING A LOT OF NATIONAL ATTENTION AS NEW HAMPSHIRE’S FIRST DISTRICT IS VIEWED AS ONE OF THE CONGRESSIONAL SEATS REPUBLICANS COULD FLIP IF THEY MAKE A STRONG SHOWING IN NOVEMBER. JENNIFER: IN THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR, THE REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT DOES HAVE A CHALLENGER THIS YEAR. HERE ARE THE FINAL PITCHES FROM GOVERNOR CHRIS SUNUNU AND CHALLENGER KAREN TESTERMAN. >> HI. THIS IS CHRIS SUNUNU. WE PUT A GREAT TEAM TOGETHER FOR OUR STATE AND PROVIDED THE LEADERSHIP NECESSARY TO GUIDE NEW HAMPSHIRE THROUGH THESE UNPRECEDENTED TIME MANY OF OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES STILL LAY AHEAD, AND IN 2021, NEW HAMPSHIRE WILL NEED THE MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE TO PROMOTE BUSINESSES, KEEP NEW HAMPSHIRE SAFE, AND INVIGORATE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES. WE RETURNED $180 MILLION TO CITIES AND TOWNS FOR ROADS, BRIDGES, AND SAFER SCHOOLS. THAT’S MORE THAN ANY ADMINISTRATION IN HISTORY. WE TWICE VETOED AN INCOME TAX AND STOPPED ADDITIONAL GAS TAXES AND TOLL INCREASES WE WILL BALANCE OUR BUDGET AND MANAGE OUR STATE FINANCES THE RIGHT WAY, WITHOUT ANY NEW TAXES. OTHERS JUST TALK. I BELIEVE IN RESULTS. LET’S KEEP GETTING THE JOB DONE. I ASK FOR YOUR VOTE ON TUESDAY. >> I’M KAREN TESTERMAN, YOUR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR. THE ONLY PRO-LIFE CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR. TOGETHER WE WILL REOPEN NEW HAMPSHIRE, TAKE OFF THE MASKS, AND LET YOU DECIDE. WE WILL MAKE NEW HAMPSHIRE FREE AGAIN. TOGETHER, WE WILL RECOGNIZE THAT EVERYONE IS ESSENTIAL, SO YOU CAN GO BACK TO WORK. TOGETHER, WE WILL REBUILD THE ECONOMY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND WE WILL MAKE NEW HAMPSHIRE GREAT AGAIN. TOGETHER, WE WILL PUT PARENTS BACK IN CHARGE, AND LET PARENTS HAVE A REAL CHOICE IN EDUCATION. TOGETHER, WE WILL FIND SOLUTIONS TO REDUCE THE COST OF ELECTRICITY AND TO PROTECT OUR GRID FROM ALL HAZARDS. I’VE SIGNED THE TAXPAYER PROTECTION PLEDGE, AND I WILL FIGHT TO KEEP YOUR RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS. YOU CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN. VOTE KAREN TESTERMAN ON SEPTEMBER 8 AND MAKE ME YOUR REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR GOVERNOR. TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE NEW HAMPSHIRE FREE AGAIN. TOM: ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CITIZENS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE IS THE OPIOID CRISIS. NEXT, HOW SENATE CANDIDATES SAY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE HELPING THE GRANITE STATE. JENNIFER: AND IT’S DEJA VU IN C.D. 2. BUT TWO OF THE TOP REPUBLICAN FINISHERS FROM 2018 SAY THIS ELECTION