Pappas And Sununu Win New Hampshire Primaries For Open U.S. Senate Seat
Rep. Chris Pappas and former Sen. John E. Sununu won New Hampshire's Democratic and Republican U.S. Senate primaries on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.[1] They will face each other in November for the seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen in a race that could help determine control of the Senate.[2]
Pappas defeated Karishma Manzur, David Jarvis, Maxwell Saal and John Vail, and he out-raised Manzur by more than $15.3 million to about $415,000 in the primary.[3] Sununu beat seven other Republicans, including former Sen. Scott Brown, leaving only about eight weeks before the November general election.[1]
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen's decision not to seek reelection opened the seat and produced a crowded, high-stakes contest.[1] Pappas is a four-term congressman, a former member of the state Executive Council and the New Hampshire House, and the first openly gay person to represent New Hampshire in Congress.[3] Pappas secured endorsements from Barack Obama, Pete Buttigieg, Kamala Harris and New Hampshire Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, while Manzur ran as a democratic socialist backed by figures including Jamaal Bowman and Nina Turner.[3]
In primary-night speeches, Pappas tied Sununu to President Donald Trump and called him "a sequel we can't afford," while Sununu labeled Pappas "ineffective, partisan and out of touch." PBS Pappas ran on pocketbook issues such as housing, health care and everyday costs and made government ethics — including a call to ban members of Congress from trading stocks — a central theme of his campaign.[3]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Tuesday, September 8, 2026, Rep. Chris Pappas defeated Karishma Manzur, David Jarvis, Maxwell Saal and John Vail to win New Hampshire's Democratic U.S. Senate primary (Rep. Chris Pappas).
- On Tuesday, September 8, 2026, John E. Sununu won the Republican primary for New Hampshire's open U.S. Senate seat, defeating seven other Republicans including former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown (John E. Sununu).
- Pappas and Sununu will face each other in the November general election for the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a contest viewed as one of a handful that could help determine control of the Senate (New Hampshire's open U.S. Senate seat).
- Pappas raised more than $15.3 million for the primary compared with about $415,000 for Manzur, creating nearly a $15 million fundraising gap (Pappas raised more than $15.3 million).
- Pappas campaigned on pocketbook issues — housing, health care and everyday costs — and proposed lowering taxes for working families and small businesses, reducing prescription drug prices and curbing corporate influence, while making government ethics (including a ban on members of Congress trading stocks) a central theme (Pappas emphasized pocketbook issues).
- Pappas secured major endorsements, including from Barack Obama, Pete Buttigieg, Kamala Harris and New Hampshire Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan; Manzur ran as a democratic socialist progressive with backing from figures and groups such as Jamaal Bowman, Nina Turner, Progressive Democrats of America and 350NH Action (Pappas secured endorsements from Barack Obama).
- Primary-night speeches laid out early lines of attack: Pappas tied Sununu to President Donald Trump, calling him “a sequel we can't afford,” while Sununu called Pappas “ineffective, partisan and out of touch,” and both now have only eight weeks to campaign before the November general election (Pappas tying Sununu to President Donald Trump).
📰 Source Timeline (3)
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- Article confirms that on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, John E. Sununu and Chris Pappas won their respective Republican and Democratic primaries for New Hampshire's open U.S. Senate seat and notes the race is considered one of a handful that could determine control of the chamber in November.
- It reports detailed lines of attack from both candidates' primary-night speeches, including Pappas tying Sununu to President Donald Trump and calling him "a sequel we can't afford," and Sununu labeling Pappas "ineffective, partisan and out of touch with New Hampshire."
- It specifies Sununu defeated seven other Republicans, including former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, and includes voter reaction from Bow resident Jim Loomis explaining his support for Sununu over Brown.
- The story adds that Sen. Jeanne Shaheen's decision not to seek reelection "created a cascade of competitive races" and situates the contest in the broader national map, noting Democrats need a net gain of four seats to retake the Senate and that holding New Hampshire is critical.
- It notes that both Sununu and Pappas now have only eight weeks to campaign before the November general election.
- On Tuesday, September 8, 2026, Rep. Chris Pappas defeated Karishma Manzur, David Jarvis, Maxwell Saal and John Vail to win New Hampshire's Democratic U.S. Senate primary.
- The article specifies that Pappas will face former Republican Sen. John E. Sununu in November for the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.
- Pappas raised more than $15.3 million for the primary, compared with about $415,000 for Manzur, creating nearly a $15 million fundraising gap.
- Pappas emphasized pocketbook issues such as housing, health care and everyday costs, and campaigned on proposals to lower taxes for working families and small businesses, reduce prescription drug prices, and curb corporate influence in Washington.
- Government ethics was a central theme of Pappas's campaign, including calls to ban members of Congress from trading stocks and to reduce the role of big money in politics.
- Pappas secured endorsements from Barack Obama, Pete Buttigieg, Kamala Harris, and New Hampshire Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan.
- Manzur, described as a democratic socialist and progressive medical scientist who has never held elected office, ran as a more aggressively progressive alternative and drew backing from figures such as Jamaal Bowman, Nina Turner, Progressive Democrats of America and 350NH Action.
- The article notes that Pappas is a four-term congressman for New Hampshire's 1st District, a former member of the state Executive Council and the New Hampshire House, and the first openly gay person to represent New Hampshire in Congress.
- The piece explicitly frames the primary as a test of the Democratic Party's direction, contrasting Pappas's pragmatic positioning with Manzur's ideological campaign.