Leonard Robinson, a reporter for the New Hampshire Journal—the state’s only right‑of‑center news outlet—asserted on Monday that he was denied entry to a Kamala Harris campaign event in New Hampshire. Robinson said he had followed the proper RSVP process after the campaign for Senate candidate Chris Pappas sent him a registration form.
Alleged denial at a Reproductive Freedom for All event
According to an email obtained by Fox News Digital, Robinson arrived at the venue hosted by the group Reproductive Freedom for All (RFA) only to be told by an RFA representative that his name was not on the registration list and that the event was at full capacity. He observed another journalist, who also was not on the list, being allowed inside later. Robinson said a Pappas campaign staffer gestured “no” to the RFA representative from a distance.
Robinson posted on X on Saturday, “@NHDems often make access hard for NHJournal. I’ve been physically blocked by their operatives, they’ve hidden locations of their events from NHJournal. Nothing compares to Harris’s visit.” He added that past Democratic events had been welcoming, making this incident especially disappointing.
Background and prior access
Robinson noted that he has previously covered events featuring prominent Democrats, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, U.S. Representative Ro Khanna, and U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock. He said the current exclusion was unusual given his history of cordial interactions with Pappas staff.
New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Raymond Buckley responded to Robinson’s claims by labeling the New Hampshire Journal a “partisan right wing site created to smear Democrats” and asserting that the outlet “has rarely, if ever, received credentials to any Democratic or progressive event.” The Pappas campaign declined to comment.
Reaction from the outlet
NH Journal managing editor Michael Graham defended Robinson, calling the incident “a rare occasion for them to literally force Leonard out of, or one of us out of the event.” He emphasized that Vice President Harris’s appearance was a historic moment and that keeping an award‑winning member of the New Hampshire Press Association out was “really unfortunate.”
Context of the Harris visit
Vice President Harris was in the Granite State to campaign for Senate candidate Chris Pappas ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Her appearances have drawn attention as she is reportedly weighing a potential 2028 presidential bid.
It remains unclear whether the denial resulted from a simple miscommunication among Democratic organizers or a deliberate effort to limit coverage. Neither Harris’s team nor the New Hampshire Democratic Party provided comment to Fox News Digital.
Implications for press access
The episode highlights ongoing tensions between partisan political operatives and media outlets that do not align with their ideological stance. While the New Hampshire Journal argues that the denial reflects a broader pattern of limited access for conservative reporters, Democratic officials contend that credentialing standards are applied uniformly.
As the 2026 midterm campaign season intensifies, both parties are likely to scrutinize media access policies, especially in swing states like New Hampshire where local coverage can shape voter perceptions.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
