By Mya Blanchard, Nashua Ink Link

This article has been edited for length and clarity. 

In 2017, Joyce Craig — the Democratic Party’s nominee to be New Hampshire governor — was the first woman to be elected mayor of Manchester. She was born and raised and currently lives in the Queen City with her husband and three children. 

Her public service began in 2008, when she won a seat on the city’s Board of School Committee. She then went on to serve as an alderman for six years before being elected mayor. 

Q: Roe v. Wade has been overturned, which means that government decisions about reproductive rights now lie with the states. What is your stance on abortion/reproductive rights and what action will you take as governor?

Joyce Craig: Reproductive freedom is on the ballot in this election and we cannot trust Kelly Ayotte (the Republican nominee) to protect access to abortion. Ayotte has voted for a national abortion ban more extreme than New Hampshire’s, voted four times to defund Planned Parenthood and has pledged to defund them if elected governor, and has refused to say she would proactively defend reproductive health care. New Hampshire remains the only state in New England that does not guarantee the right to abortion and that must change. 

As mayor, I supported the largest Planned Parenthood in the state, and have always been an advocate for the fundamental rights of our women. I trust Granite Staters to make their own personal health care decisions, and I will work to support, protect and expand access to reproductive health care in New Hampshire. 

Q: New Hampshire is in a housing crisis and the cost of housing is a concern for many in the state, especially young people. What will you do to make housing more affordable?

Joyce Craig: The cost of housing is the top issue I hear about as we travel the state talking to residents. For too many New Hampshire residents, the idea of owning a home or finding stable housing remains out of reach. Earlier this year, the median home price in New Hampshire hit $525,000, a nearly 13% increase from just a year earlier. Rents in New Hampshire have shot up an average 45% since the pandemic, compared to 25% nationally. This is hurting hardworking families, seniors, and young adults in our state and requires immediate action.

That’s why I’ve proposed a comprehensive plan to increase the supply and reduce the cost of houses and apartments so that everyone in the Granite State can access safe, affordable and sustainable housing. My plan will strengthen New Hampshire’s communities and downtowns, foster lasting partnerships between our cities, towns and developers, and expand state support for financing tools.

As governor, I'll work directly with local governments and housing authorities to find housing solutions that make sense for our communities and meet the needs of New Hampshire families to bring down the cost of housing. We need quality housing that is affordable for everyone, and building additional housing units, especially in our existing downtowns, will help every income level — and make it possible for young people to stay in our state.

Q: What are your thoughts on climate change and how do you plan to address this issue?

Joyce Craig: It’s imperative that we act now to protect our environment and ensure that residents and visitors are able to enjoy New Hampshire’s beautiful landscape for years to come. I am the only candidate in this race who has published an Energy Independence and Climate Protection plan aimed at doing exactly this, while lowering costs for residents. 

I know how to make changes that reduce costs and help protect our climate. During my time as mayor of New Hampshire’s largest city, we delivered for the residents of Manchester. We built what at the time was the largest municipal solar array in New Hampshire, lowering city energy costs and leading the state in clean energy, efficiency and transportation. These initiatives saved taxpayers money on city energy costs and reduced Manchester’s carbon footprint by over 60%.

For New Hampshire’s families, businesses and communities to thrive, we need affordable, reliable power and a healthy environment. To lower energy costs for residents and small businesses, New Hampshire needs to diversify our energy sources and invest in smart, money-saving energy efficiency programs and technologies. In the process, we will reduce our state's carbon footprint and protect our state for future generations.

Q: New Hampshire is the only state in New England that hasn't legalized marijuana. A bill was narrowly tabled by the House during the last legislative session. What are your thoughts on marijuana? As governor, would you sign a bill legalizing marijuana? Why or why not?

Joyce Craig: It is past time to pass cannabis legalization in New Hampshire. After hearing from residents and advocates, I believe a model that encourages small businesses and entrepreneurship, allows limited homegrow for patients, and protects medicinal marijuana is best for Granite Staters. As governor, I will work with legislators to implement a system that works for New Hampshire and will help bring in revenue that we are losing to surrounding states that have all legalized recreational marijuana.

Q: Gun control is another topic that matters to young voters. What is your stance on gun control and what action would you take as governor? 

Joyce Craig: There is nothing more important than the safety and security of Granite State families and communities. I am the only candidate in this race who has released a comprehensive gun violence prevention plan, and I look forward to working closely with law enforcement agencies throughout our state to make our cities and towns safer. 

During my time as mayor, I worked closely with the Manchester Police Department. We implemented the city’s first Gun Violence Reduction Strategy in May of 2022, and after one year, crimes committed with guns in Manchester were down 32% and gunfire incidents were down more than 50%. The strategy was developed using a community-centered approach to identify, analyze and develop evidence-based responses to the gun violence public safety issue in the community. 

We worked with our federal delegation to fund technology that helps law enforcement reduce acts of gun violence in both schools and the broader community. They funded new gunshot recognition technology to improve response rates to gunfire incidents as well as helping to locate key evidence in gun crimes. Recently, they established School Safety Teams that will conduct behavioral threat assessments and prevent acts of school violence. 

These strategies, which made the Queen City safer, can work in communities throughout our state. I will work with elected officials on both sides of the aisle, community leaders, and law enforcement to make our streets, classrooms, and homes safer. 

These articles are being shared by partners in theGranite State News Collaborativeand the Know Your Vote youth voter guide. The Know Your Vote youth voter guide project was designed, reported and produced by student and young professional journalists from The Clock, Concord Monitor, The Equinox, Granite State News Collaborative, Keene State College, Laconia Daily Sun, Monadnock Ledger-Transcript, Nashua Ink Link, and The Presidency and the Press program at Franklin Pierce University. You can see the full guide at www.collaborativenh.org/know-your-vote.