New Hampshire Democrat Chris Pappas faces Republican dynasty in sleeper race to determine Senate control
Developed over time first seen 2 months ago
New Hampshire's Senate contest has emerged as one of the closest races of the midterms, with Democratic congressman Chris Pappas facing Republican John E. Sununu, a former one-term senator attempting a comeback for the seat his family has long dominated. Pappas secured his party's nomination after seeing off four rivals, including Karishma Manzur, who was backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, while Sununu beat a Republican field that included former Massachusetts senator Scott Brown. The contest has drawn national attention because Republicans have not held this New Hampshire seat in 16 years, and a win here could help offset expected GOP losses elsewhere, with Democrats needing to flip four seats overall to gain control of the chamber.
University of New Hampshire polling put the two candidates neck and neck, with a sizeable share of voters still undecided, and the Cook Political Report rates the seat as only "leaning Democratic." Pappas, who is seeking promotion from the House after previously defeating Karoline Leavitt in 2022, must now work to unify Manzur's DSA-aligned supporters ahead of November. Sununu, meanwhile, draws on a formidable political dynasty: his father was a New Hampshire governor and White House chief of staff, his brother Chris Sununu served as governor until January 2025, and he himself held the Senate seat from 2003 to 2009 before moving into the private sector.
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In short
- Pappas and Sununu will contest New Hampshire's tight Senate race in November
- Republicans haven't held this seat in 16 years
- Sununu's political dynasty includes a father, brother both in high office
How this story developed
- 2 months ago New Hampshire's Senate race has become one of the marquee contests of the midterms, pitting Democratic congressman Chris Pappas against Republican John E. Sununu, a former one-term senator making a comeback bid for the seat his family has long dominated.
- 2 months ago New Hampshire's Senate contest has emerged as one of the closest races of the midterms, with Democratic congressman Chris Pappas facing Republican John E. Sununu, a former one-term senator attempting a comeback for the seat his family has long dominated.
- 2 months ago New Hampshire's Senate race is now officially set, with Republican John E. Sununu confirmed as the GOP nominee after winning Tuesday night's primary against a field that included Scott Brown, a former Massachusetts senator and Trump's ex-ambassador to New Zealand.
- 2 months ago New Hampshire's Senate race has taken shape ahead of November's US midterm elections, with Democratic Congressman Chris Pappas set to face Republican John E. Sununu, a former one-term senator, for the seat being vacated by retiring Democrat Jeanne Shaheen.
- The Hill Pappas, Sununu will fight out to succeed Shaheen in New Hampshire Senate race
- The Hill Pappas-Sununu showdown set in Democrats' must-win Senate race: 3 takeaways from New Hampshire
- Daily Mail New Hampshire Democrat Chris Pappas faces Republican dynasty in sleeper race to determine Senate control
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of a Sununu win argue that New Hampshire voters have long rewarded pragmatic, fiscally conservative Republicans, and that his family's decades of statewide service reflect genuine trust rather than mere name recognition. They point to his own prior experience in the US House and Senate as evidence he understands the institution, and see popular Governor Kelly Ayotte's standing as a sign the state is comfortable with Republican leadership. With control of the Senate potentially hinging on just a handful of seats, they contend that a moderate, experienced figure like Sununu offers Republicans a realistic chance to hold a working majority and check what they view as an overreaching progressive agenda.
The case against
Supporters of a Pappas win argue that he has already proven he can win tough, closely fought contests, having defeated a strong Republican challenger in 2022, and that his record as a pragmatic, constituent-focused representative suits New Hampshire's independent-minded electorate. They see the Sununu name as reflecting the concentration of political power in one family rather than fresh representation, and worry that ceding this seat would hand Republicans a Senate majority less inclined to compromise. For them, retaining the seat that Jeanne Shaheen has held for 16 years preserves continuity and a check on one-party control in Washington, values they consider more important than any single candidate's biography.
Explained simply
New Hampshire is holding a US Senate election, and the seat is open because the current senator, Democrat Jeanne Shaheen, is retiring after several terms. The Republican candidate is John E. Sununu, who has already served in both the US House and Senate and comes from a well-known political family in the state, while the Democratic candidate is sitting Congressman Chris Pappas. Both have now secured their party's nomination through separate primary contests.
The race matters nationally because control of the Senate is at stake, and Democrats need to gain several seats to take the majority. Republicans have not held this particular New Hampshire seat for many years, so a Sununu win would count as a notable pickup, even as polling suggests the contest is close and could go either way.
Coverage · 3 sources
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From 3 rated sources.
- Daily MailRightNew Hampshire Democrat Chris Pappas faces Republican dynasty in sleeper race to determine Senate control
- The HillRightPappas, Sununu will fight out to succeed Shaheen in New Hampshire Senate race
- The HillRightPappas-Sununu showdown set in Democrats' must-win Senate race: 3 takeaways from New Hampshire
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