Candidates running for the three state senate districts held three separate debates on Manchester Community Access Media (MCAM).

In state senate district 16 Bob Backus (D-Manchester) debated state Sen. Ted Gatsas (R-Manchester), while in district 20 state Sen. Lou D'Allesandro (D-Manchester) faced-off against Jason Sakellar (R-Manchester), but in district 18 Doug Kruse (R-Manchester) was alone, since state Sen. Betsi DeVries (D-Manchester) decided not to participate in their debate.

Gov. John Lynch became a topic of discussion in the debate between Backus and Gatsas, with Gatsas pressing Backus to name a topic he agreed with Lynch on. "He [Backus] talks about John Lynch but he hasn't named an area he agrees with the governor on," Gatsas said.

Backus responded, "I support Governor Lynch but I don't support him on everything. On REGGI, where senator Gatsas led the attack against it, I am standing with Governor Lynch."

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (REGGI) is a New England regional initiative to cut carbon emissions into the atmosphere.

The D'Allesandro-Sakellar debate might be best remembered for Sakellar saying that his opponent's legislative record has helped the district.

"I do credit Senator D'Allesandro's work in the senate," Sakellar said. "He's done great things for our children."

Sakellar later said that D'Allesandro "did a great service" for raising awareness about state services. "He [D'Allesandro] did a great service for the citizens of the district in making sure that people know about the services that are available," Sakellar said.

Kruse said that regretted DeVries did not attend the debate.

"I regret my opponent decided not to come and talk about issues that are affecting the people of Manchester," Kruse said.

Ian Graves, director of the Senate Democratic Caucus, said that DeVries did not agree to appear on the debate.

"She never agreed to appear on Joe Kelly Levasseur's show. She is attending the debate hosted by the Mayor's Youth Council, an impartial organization on Monday," Graves said in a statement.

The debate was part of the show 2 Joes hosted by Joe Briggs and Republican Joe Kelly Levasseur.