In what might foreshadow a parade of Democratic hopefuls running for president, two U.S. Senators came to Concord a day apart to energize their base before Tuesday’s election.
On Friday, gubernatorial challenger Cinde Warmington walked in step with U.S. Senator Cory Booker to the cheers of volunteers and supporters gathered near Bishop Brady High School in Concord.
Joanne Casino, from Concord, walked with her dog into the rally to give Warmington her support. She said recent policies have been eroding services such as education and healthcare and believes Warmington could reverse that trajectory if elected.
“I’m very excited about the fact that I think she could be a really good governor,” she said.
Warmington addressed the crowd, many of whom were wearing her shirts and holding signs, and said Gov. Kelly Ayotte has not stood up to President Donald Trump, has contributed to the affordability crisis and paved the way for data centers to come to the state. The speech came on the heels of their debate Thursday on WMUR.
“I think that the blue wave only happens if people get out and do the work,” she said afterward. “We are the wave. The people are the wave. We have to stand up, we have to get out, do the work, making sure every single voter turns out on Tuesday.”
Booker illustrated scenes from American history during his speech to the crowd of Granite Staters, including how the state has had notoriously close race margins. He said the power of the people could change the trajectory of the state and Congress.
“This is a time in our country where we need foot soldiers of justice again,” Booker said, “because the real division in this country is not left or right; it’s right or wrong.”
The state Republican party was quick to downplay the visit.
“Granite Staters know exactly what Cory Booker represents: more of the same failed Democrat policies that drive up costs, expand government, and leave hardworking families behind,” Republican State Committee Chairman Scott Maltzie said in a statement. “New Hampshire doesn’t need another out-of-state Democrat coming here to fundraise for candidates who have failed to deliver for our state.”
Cory Booker and Cinde Warmington walk toward a crowd of volunteers as supports at Concord Bishopgate on Firday, Oct. 30, 2026. Credit: EMILIA WISNIEWSKI / Monitor 
A figure of Gov. Kelly Ayotte made by the Kent Street Coalition stands during a rally for Cinde Warmington on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. Credit: EMILIA WISNIEWSKI / Monitor 
Cory Booker speaks to a crowd of Granite Staters after Cinde Warmington introduced him during a rally of volunteers and supporters in Concord. Credit: EMILIA WISNIEWSKI / Monitor 
Supporters watch Cinde Warmington and Cory Booker give speeches during a rally in Concord on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. Credit: EMILIA WISNIEWSKI / Monitor 
Supporters watch Cinde Warmington and Cory Booker give speeches during a rally in Concord on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. Credit: EMILIA WISNIEWSKI / Monitor 
Cory Booker takes a selfie with the volunteers and supporters that came for Cinde Warmington’s rally on Bishopgate in Concord. Credit: EMILIA WISNIEWSKI / Monitor
On Thursday, a crowd of veterans packed into the back patio at Feathered Friend Brewing. Some wore their insignia; one wore a shirt that stated in big block letters: “Veterans Against Trump.”
They’d gathered to see Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, retired naval officer and astronaut, as he stopped in Concord to rally the crowd with Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections. Goodlander is a veteran of the U.S. Navy Reserves.
Jabs at the Trump administration got laughs and applause from the crowd as Kelly and Goodlander recalled the now-famous video they made last year stating the law that allows U.S. military personnel to refuse “illegal orders” from the president amid National Guard deployments to major cities. President Donald Trump responded on social media by calling the video “seditious behavior, punishable by death,” and the Department of Justice investigated the members of Congress who made the video. A grand jury elected not to indict them.
“They’re trying to shut you up,” Kelly told the crowd of veterans. “This president does not want any kind of accountability. He doesn’t like anybody speaking truth to power.”
He urged people to vote on Tuesday.
“We can solve these problems. We can beat this guy at the ballot box,” Kelly said. “We can beat him in court when he has his hissy fit over losing some elections like he did last time, and we can get this country back on track.”
Goodlander, who’s unlikely to lose her seat to Republican challenger Lily Tang Williams, focused on getting out the vote for local Democratic candidates in Concord, several of whom attended the event.
