Chris Pappas and John Sununu win New Hampshire Senate primaries

Democratic Representative Chris Pappas and Republican former Senator John E. Sununu won their respective New Hampshire Senate primaries on September 8, 2026. They will face off in November to succeed retiring Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen. Pappas defeated progressive challenger Karishma Manzur, while Sununu overcame former Senator Scott Brown. This highly competitive race is critical to both parties in their battle for control of the U.S. Senate.

New Hampshire Senate primary results

• ▪Republican former Senator John E. Sununu won the New Hampshire Republican Senate primary on September 8, 2026, defeating former Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown.
• ▪Democratic Representative Chris Pappas won the New Hampshire Democratic Senate primary on September 8, 2026, to run for the seat of retiring Senator Jeanne Shaheen.

Pappas Democratic primary campaign

• ▪Karishma Manzur campaigned on a platform of universal healthcare, higher taxes on mega-corporations, and opposition to U.S. aid to Israel.
• ▪Representative Chris Pappas entered the final stretch of the primary campaign with a financial edge, holding more than $4 million in cash on hand.
• ▪Representative Chris Pappas defeated progressive challenger and democratic socialist Karishma Manzur in the Democratic primary on September 8, 2026.

Sununu Republican primary victory

• ▪President Donald Trump endorsed John E. Sununu in the primary, despite past public criticism of Trump by Sununu and his family.
• ▪John E. Sununu has criticized Donald Trump's tariff policies and questioned the decision to launch military action in Iran during the campaign.
• ▪John E. Sununu secured the Republican nomination over Scott Brown, who campaigned as an independent outsider targeting Washington special interests.

General election matchup dynamics

• ▪John E. Sununu has portrayed Representative Chris Pappas as an ineffective, partisan, and out-of-touch career politician.
• ▪Representative Chris Pappas has sought to tie John E. Sununu to Donald Trump, calling Sununu the president's handpicked candidate.
• ▪Representative Chris Pappas holds a two-percentage point edge over John E. Sununu in the general election matchup, according to the RealClearPolitics average of polls.

Senate majority control implications

• ▪New Hampshire has not elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate since Kelly Ayotte won her first term in 2010.
• ▪The New Hampshire Senate race is critical to both parties, as Democrats need to net four seats to regain control of the Senate.

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