By: Jacob Kim
In the New Hampshire Senate race between Pat Abrami and Debra Altschiller, climate change, though not at the center of the campaigns, highlights the stark differences between these two candidates. Altschiller, a Democrat, believes the state needs to take urgent action to prepare for the increasing impacts of climate change. She’s seen firsthand how back-to-back storms have battered the Seacoast, leaving neighborhoods vulnerable. For Altschiller, the rising seas and stronger storms are a call for more robust state intervention—she wants to ensure that people have access to flood insurance, incentivize homeowners and businesses to make their properties more resilient, and create long-term strategies for New Hampshire’s future.
Abrami, a Republican, takes a more cautious approach. He acknowledges that emissions need to be reduced but worries about the economic toll of drastic climate policies. Abrami prefers gradual changes, focusing on innovation in energy technologies like nuclear and hydrogen power over large-scale transitions to renewable sources like wind or solar. While he supports helping communities recover after disasters, Abrami doesn’t see climate change as an imminent threat. Instead, he believes residents must take personal responsibility, especially when choosing to live in vulnerable areas.
The candidates’ different views reflect their core philosophies. Altschiller, who once worked with survivors of domestic violence, brings a strong, clear voice to her advocacy for state action, warning that “status quo is no good for us.” She wants the state to think ahead and prepare for the challenges of the next decade, especially as climate-related disasters increase in frequency. On the other hand, Abrami, with his engineering background, is analytical and pragmatic, believing in measured action and personal responsibility. He emphasizes the need to keep energy costs low and is wary of policies that could hurt the local economy.
Although climate change isn’t the primary topic for most voters in this race, its impacts are already being felt. High tides are creeping into coastal neighborhoods, and winter storms are causing unprecedented damage. Altschiller’s call for more direct state intervention contrasts with Abrami’s approach, which emphasizes individual choices and keeping government’s role limited.
As they campaign through neighborhoods that have already felt the effects of extreme weather, the future of New Hampshire’s environment is at stake. Whether voters choose Abrami’s cautious, economically focused vision or Altschiller’s proactive push for climate resilience, the election will shape how the state confronts the growing threats of climate change in the years to come. Both candidates have deep roots in the community, but they offer very different paths for how New Hampshire can protect itself in a changing world.
Sources
Energy Outlook 
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