New Hampshire journalist says he was blocked from covering Kamala Harris political event
New Hampshire journalist Leonard Robinson said he was denied entry to a Saturday event featuring former Vice-President Kamala Harris, who was campaigning for Democratic Senate candidate Chris Pappas. The incident has raised questions about media access and whether the exclusion was deliberate, though the article says a registration error remains possible.
Robinson said he had RSVP’d through a form sent by the Pappas campaign, but an organiser from Reproductive Freedom for All told him he was not on the list and the event was full. He said another unlisted journalist was later admitted and that he saw a Pappas staffer signal “no”; the state Democratic chair criticised Robinson’s outlet, while the Pappas campaign declined to comment. Harris’s appearances come as Democrats campaign ahead of the midterms and she considers a possible 2028 presidential run.
In short
- Reporter says he was turned away from a Harris event in New Hampshire.
- He had RSVP’d, but organisers said he was not on the list.
- The reason for his exclusion remains unclear.
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The case for
Robinson’s account raises a legitimate concern that a journalist may have been excluded selectively: he says he had RSVP’d, another journalist who was not on the list was admitted, and he saw a campaign staffer signal “no”. If access decisions were deliberate, they could undermine fair press scrutiny, especially at a high-profile campaign event.
The case against
An event organiser said Robinson was not on the list and the event was full, and the reported registration error remains a plausible explanation for his exclusion. A single disputed admission, without further evidence about the organisers’ decisions or intent, may not establish that the campaign deliberately blocked him; organisers also have practical limits on capacity and check-in.
Explained simply
Kamala Harris was the US vice-president from 2021 to 2025 and remains a prominent figure in the Democratic Party. Chris Pappas is a Democratic member of Congress from New Hampshire who is running for the US Senate.
Campaign events often have limited space, and organisers manage access for journalists through invitations, registration lists and other arrangements. Reporters’ access matters because it affects what the public can learn about candidates and their campaigns.
The incident has prompted questions about how media access was handled and whether the exclusion was intentional. A registration error is also possible, and the campaign has not commented.