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Democrat Chris Pappas wins New Hampshire Senate race, avoiding Republican flip
Developing story first seen 2 hours ago
Chris Pappas has won New Hampshire’s US Senate race, preventing Republicans from flipping the seat as they seek to retain their Senate majority. The four-term Democratic congressman said voters had called for a “course correction” and a new generation in Washington.
Pappas will succeed retiring three-term Democratic senator Jeanne Shaheen, who defeated Republican John Sununu in 2008. Sununu, a former senator, was Pappas’s opponent in the race; Pappas will be the first openly gay man elected to the US Senate.
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In short
- Chris Pappas wins New Hampshire’s Senate race.
- His victory keeps the seat Democratic.
- He will be the first openly gay US senator.
How this story developed
- 18 minutes ago Chris Pappas has won New Hampshire’s closely contested US Senate race, keeping the open seat in Democratic hands and avoiding a Republican gain. The four-term congressman campaigned as a check on the Trump administration, whose policies and standing were unpopular in the state.
- 19 minutes ago Chris Pappas has won New Hampshire’s US Senate race, preventing Republicans from flipping the seat as they seek to retain their Senate majority. The four-term Democratic congressman said voters had called for a “course correction” and a new generation in Washington.
- The Hollywood Reporter Chris Pappas Becomes First Openly Gay Man Elected to Senate
- Le Monde Democrat Chris Pappas will become first openly gay male US senator
- The Guardian Democrat Chris Pappas wins New Hampshire Senate race, avoiding Republican flip
- PBS NewsHour WATCH: Democrat Chris Pappas speaks after winning New Hampshire Senate seat
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Pappas’s win can be seen as a mandate for an independent-minded senator to scrutinise an administration whose policies many New Hampshire voters opposed. His centrist record may help him represent a state where voters value moderation, while keeping the seat with Democrats preserves a check on unified Republican control.
The case against
Sununu’s case was that his experience as a former senator could offer effective representation, while his criticism of the Iran war and the administration’s Ukraine policy showed he was not simply aligned with Trump. Voters who wanted a change from Democratic control could reasonably see his return as a way to bring a different perspective and party balance to the Senate.
Explained simply
New Hampshire sends two senators to the US Senate, which helps make federal laws and scrutinises the president’s administration. The seat was open because Democrat Jeanne Shaheen is retiring, and the contest was between Democrat Chris Pappas and Republican John Sununu.
Pappas is a four-term member of the House of Representatives, the other chamber of Congress. He is considered a centrist and has sometimes differed from Democrats on major legislation; Sununu previously served as a senator. The race drew attention to how New Hampshire voters viewed the Trump administration and to the balance of power in the Senate.
Coverage · 4 sources
Bias meters
From 2 rated sources, 2 unrated.
- The GuardianLeftDemocrat Chris Pappas wins New Hampshire Senate race, avoiding Republican flip
- The Hollywood ReporterChris Pappas Becomes First Openly Gay Man Elected to Senate
- Le MondeLeftDemocrat Chris Pappas will become first openly gay male US senator
- PBS NewsHourWATCH: Democrat Chris Pappas speaks after winning New Hampshire Senate seat
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