New Hampshire voters on Tuesday selected Rep. Chris Pappas (D) and former Sen. John E. Sununu (R) as their party's nominees for the U.S. Senate, setting up a high-stakes general election contest for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D).
Pappas, who has represented the state's 1st Congressional District since 2019, defeated four Democratic challengers, with scientist Karishma Manzur emerging as his closest rival. Sununu, who served in the Senate from 2003 to 2009, beat out a crowded Republican field that included former Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts.
Decision Desk HQ projected the outcomes shortly after polls closed, with Pappas leading Manzur by roughly 22 points and Sununu ahead of Brown by about 35 points, based on early returns.
The two candidates were widely seen as the front-runners for their parties, and their matchup is expected to be one of the most closely watched Senate races this fall. New Hampshire is a key battleground, and Republicans see the open seat as one of their best opportunities to flip a Democratic-held seat.
Sununu's entry into the race came after his brother, former Gov. Chris Sununu, decided not to run. The former senator is hoping to reclaim the seat he lost in 2008 to Shaheen, who defeated him in his bid for a second term.
The Granite State has not elected a Republican to the Senate since 2010, when Kelly Ayotte won her first term. She was later unseated by Democrat Maggie Hassan in 2016. However, the state has a history of ticket-splitting, as evidenced by Ayotte's gubernatorial victory in 2024 alongside Democratic congressional wins by Pappas and Rep. Maggie Goodlander.
Despite the competitive nature of the race, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the seat as "lean Democrat," giving Pappas an early advantage. But political analysts note that New Hampshire's independent streak and Sununu's name recognition could make this a tight contest.
Both candidates are expected to focus on key issues such as the economy, healthcare, and abortion rights in the coming months. Pappas has emphasized his record on protecting Social Security and Medicare, while Sununu has campaigned on fiscal responsibility and border security.
As the general election campaign begins, national Democrats and Republicans are likely to pour significant resources into the state, making it a focal point in the battle for control of the Senate.
