Quiet Clash Between Orlando And Williams In WMUR's 2nd Congressional District GOP Debate

By Leonard Robinson, NH Journal

Republican candidates in New Hampshire’s 2nd Congressional District appeared on WMUR eight days before the Sept. 8 primary to make their pitch to voters before a statewide audience.

Republican businessman Victor Orlando and front-runner Lily Tang Williams took plenty of swipes at one another at the NHJournal debate last week. But Monday night’s debate was a mild affair that covered housing costs, tariffs, immigration, and joining the House Freedom Caucus, all without fireworks.

It did, however, include a minor car wreck when moderator Christa Delcamp claimed Orlando supported Nikki Haley, not Donald Trump, in the 2024 GOP presidential primary.

“I never supported Nikki Haley. I’m not sure where that came from.”

Neither the anchor nor the station explained the origin of the claim or corrected it during the debate.

When it was over, Williams promptly declared herself the winner.

“Tonight, Granite Staters saw the difference. I know what I believe, I know who I’m fighting for, and I’m ready with a campaign strong enough to take that fight to Maggie Goodlander.”

Orlando, on the other hand, said he wished the debate’s format had provided more opportunities to discuss their backgrounds.

“I would have liked more substantial questions on our background because you could have started seeing some differences between us, because that’s an area where we differentiate a lot,” Orlando told NHJournal. “Why did we come here to New Hampshire? I came here to raise my kids. She raised her kids in Colorado and came here as part of the Free State Project.”

WMUR’s debate did, however, highlight key policy differences between the candidates, notably on housing and their strategies for delivering conservative results in Congress.

While Orlando’s approach to housing would involve expanding the types of homes available through Federal Housing Administration loans for first-time homebuyers, Williams argued that eliminating federal mandates that inadvertently raise school district costs, which ultimately are passed on to taxpayers, is key.

Among them, Williams said, are federal mandates requiring states to provide an adequate education for students with learning disabilities, with the federal government covering 40% of the costs.

“So far, they have not lived up to their mandate,” Williams said. “They only fund about 10% on average, and in New Hampshire, that average is about 6%. They pass down the federal mandates’ burdens to homeowners in our district.”

Additionally, Williams said she would avoid joining the House Freedom Caucus, preferring to remain an independent voice. Orlando’s strategy, however, was different.

“If elected, I would try to join any caucus that’ll have me there,” Orlando said. “The more caucuses I join, the more I’ll have. The more pull I’ll have, the more stuff I can bring back to New Hampshire.”

Orlando’s big-tent approach was also evident as he responded to GOP primary voters skeptical of his endorsement by the State Employees’ Association, SEIU Local 1984.

“We’re talking about police officers, corrections officers, Fish and Game, DPW (Department of Public Works) workers,” Orlando said. “Those are hardworking, working-class people, and that’s exactly who this party is made for and made of, so they want our representation.”

As they did during NHJournal’s debate, Orlando and Williams agreed on many issues, including expressing skepticism about — or, in Orlando’s case, outright opposition to — President Donald Trump’s recent round of 50% tariffs on Canada.

Both candidates used their closing remarks to make their cases for how they would tackle affordability issues if elected to Congress.

“I’m living the American Dream, and my slogan is fighting for the American Dream,” Williams said. “I feel that Rep. Goodlander has failed New Hampshire and Granite Staters. She went to a private elite school, and the Second District is not for elite families and the ruling class. The Second District is for working-class people, and I want to be an independent voice for them.”

“There’s people who are moving, uprooting their family and moving their kids out of school because it’s too expensive,” Orlando said. “People are struggling, and we need someone that’s going to help. I’m going to D.C. and will be completely dedicated to serving New Hampshire.”

This story was originally published by the NH Journal, an online news publication dedicated to providing fair, unbiased reporting on, and analysis of, political news of interest to New Hampshire. For more stories from the NH Journal, visit NHJournal.com.