# Chris Pappas halts Sununu comeback in New Hampshire, makes Senate history

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/chris-pappas-halts-sununu-comeback-in-new-hampshire-makes-senate-history/
- Published: 2026-11-04T01:21:31+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-06T07:27:59+00:00
- Original publisher: New York Post (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://nypost.com/2026/11/03/us-news/chris-pappas-halts-sununu-comeback-in-new-hampshire-makes-senate-history/
- Topics: Government, Politics, World

## Key points

- Chris Pappas wins New Hampshire’s Senate race.
- He becomes the first openly gay man elected to the Senate.
- John Sununu’s family name did not overcome national headwinds.

## Summary

Democrat Chris Pappas defeated Republican John Sununu in New Hampshire’s Senate race, winning the seat being vacated by Jeanne Shaheen. His victory makes Pappas the first openly gay man elected to the US Senate and extends Democrats’ recent success in federal contests in the state.

Pappas, 46, had been favoured, but closer polling prompted national Democrats to spend more on the race. Sununu, 62, previously held the seat after beating Shaheen in 2002, before she defeated him in their 2008 rematch. His campaign faced concerns over affordability, high fuel costs and President Trump’s low approval rating, while Pappas campaigned alongside prominent Democrats and Sununu emphasised meeting voters individually.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.