In primary elections held on September 8, New Hampshire voters selected established figures from both major parties to compete in what is expected to be a highly consequential battle for the U.S. Senate this fall. Representative Chris Pappas secured the Democratic nomination, while former Senator John E. Sununu claimed the Republican slot, with race callers projecting their victories shortly after the polls closed.
The upcoming general election will decide who replaces retiring Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen. This open seat in a traditionally purple state represents a major target for both parties. Republicans are currently working to protect their 53-47 Senate majority against a projected "blue wave" in the 2026 midterm elections, and flipping the Granite State is seen as one of their strongest opportunities to ease pressure. The GOP is defending six Senate seats this cycle, including in states Donald Trump won comfortably, such as Texas and Iowa.
During his victory speech on Tuesday, Sununu emphasized a message of political reform. "We need to shake up Washington with real reform," Sununu told supporters, advocating for congressional term limits and requiring members of Congress to pay for their own health insurance. He also targeted Pappas directly, criticizing the congressman's vote last year against ending the government shutdown. "No more career politicians," Sununu declared.
Sununu's path to the nomination required defeating Scott Brown, the former Republican senator from Massachusetts who rose to national prominence in 2010 by winning the Senate seat previously held by Democratic icon Ted Kennedy. Sununu secured the nomination with the endorsement of Donald Trump, despite having previously criticized the administration's foreign trade wars and calling the president a "loser" in a 2024 op-ed.
Pappas, who would make history as the first openly gay male U.S. senator if elected, acknowledged the difficult campaign ahead. In his victory speech, he warned that the next eight weeks would be a tough, hard-fought contest requiring "everyone under the tent" to secure a Democratic victory. "This is ultimately a Democratic-leaning state in federal races, and this is a Democratic leaning year," Pappas said, adding that "that is a lot for Sununu to overcome."
To win his primary, Pappas held off a late challenge from progressive newcomer Karishma Manzur, a medical scientist who ran on a platform of Medicare for All, abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and refusing donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Pappas entered the general election phase with a significant financial advantage, having outpaced the combined fundraising of both Sununu and Brown, according to federal campaign records. Pappas is widely viewed by political strategists as the more electable candidate in November, drawing on his experience serving four terms in the House representing New Hampshire's swingy 1st Congressional District.
Pappas focused his attacks on Trump during his victory speech and in a newly released campaign advertisement on Tuesday. Pointing to how Trump's personal wealth has increased by billions since he returned to office, Pappas mocked the president's economic rhetoric. "In fact, he says we're living in a 'golden age'. Well I think he's living on another planet, because does this feel like a golden age to you," Pappas asked the crowd.
While political forecasters rate the New Hampshire Senate race as leaning Democratic, general election polls show a virtual tie between Pappas and Sununu, signaling that national parties will invest heavily in the state. New Hampshire remains highly competitive; former Vice President Kamala Harris won the state by less than three percentage points in the 2024 presidential election.
Pappas' decision to run for the Senate left his seat in New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District open, triggering a crowded seven-candidate primary on the Democratic side. The race was led by Stefany Shaheen, a former Portsmouth city councilor and the daughter of the outgoing senator, and Maura Sullivan, a retired Marine and Iraq War veteran who served in the Obama administration.
While both Democratic House candidates agreed on abolishing ICE and supporting the impeachment of Trump if Democrats regain control of the House, they clashed on healthcare. During debates, Stefany Shaheen criticized Sullivan for opposing Medicare for All in favor of a plan that preserves private insurance options. Sullivan countered by targeting Shaheen's political lineage, running a 30-second television advertisement featuring a local voter who stated he wanted a "fighter, not a fancy last name." As of Tuesday night, with 71% of precincts reporting, Stefany Shaheen held a narrow lead of approximately two percentage points over Sullivan.
On the Republican side of the 1st Congressional District primary, Trump-endorsed businessman and political newcomer Anthony DiLorenzo secured an easy victory over Hollie Noveletsky. The 1st District, which covers the southeastern portion of New Hampshire, has served as a reliable presidential election bellwether since 2000.
The prominent family names in the New Hampshire primaries reflect a mixed national trend for political dynasties this cycle. Sununu, the son and brother of former New Hampshire governors, successfully advanced to the general election. Similarly, Republican Senator Darline Graham won a special runoff in South Carolina in August after seeking the seat previously held by her brother, Lindsey Graham, who died in July. Conversely, other candidates with famous political lineages have struggled, such as Jack Schlossberg, a grandson of former President John F. Kennedy, who lost his primary bid.
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