New Hampshire Senate Race Set Between Pappas and Sununu After Projected Primary Wins

Chris Pappas and John Sununu will face each other in November for New Hampshire’s open U.S. Senate seat after projected primary victories on Tuesday night.

Pappas, a Democratic member of the House, defeated progressive candidate and medical scientist Karishma Manzur. Sununu, a former Republican senator, defeated former Sen. Scott Brown, who represented Massachusetts in the Senate from 2010 to 2013.

The contest opened after Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen decided not to seek reelection. Shaheen endorsed Pappas as her successor. He has represented one of New Hampshire’s two House districts since 2019 and belongs to the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus. On the campaign trail, he has presented himself as an independent voice for the state.

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highly competitive

Sununu, 61, represented New Hampshire in both the House and Senate for more than a decade before Shaheen defeated him. He is the son of former Gov. John H. Sununu and the brother of former Gov. Chris Sununu, giving the family name considerable weight in state politics.

The race carries national significance because the seat could help determine which party controls the Senate. Republicans have held the New Hampshire governor’s mansion since 2017, but the state has not elected a Republican senator since 2010. A Republican presidential candidate has not won New Hampshire since 2000.

Pappas has acknowledged the contest will be “highly competitive,” saying last month that “it will continue to be tight until the very end.” Republicans currently hold 53 Senate seats. Democrats would need to flip four seats to take control while defending several seats, including New Hampshire.

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it will continue to be tight until the very end.