Democrat Chris Pappas Defeats Former Senator John Sununu in Closely Watched New Hampshire Race

Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas has won New Hampshire’s closely watched U.S. Senate election, defeating former Republican Sen. John E. Sununu and preserving a critical Democratic seat in one of the most competitive Senate contests of Tuesday’s midterm elections.

The Associated Press projected Pappas as the winner Tuesday evening, delivering a significant victory for Democrats as they battle Republicans for control of the Senate. The result denies Republicans an opportunity to capture a Democratic-held seat that had been considered one of their most promising pickup targets.

Pappas, 46, will succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who announced earlier this year that she would not seek another term. Shaheen has represented New Hampshire in the Senate since 2009, and her retirement created an opening that Republicans hoped to exploit.

The election pitted Pappas, a four-term congressman representing New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District, against Sununu, 62, who previously served in the Senate from 2003 until 2009.

Sununu was attempting a political comeback nearly two decades after losing his reelection bid to Shaheen in 2008. His candidacy drew considerable attention because of his family’s longstanding influence in New Hampshire Republican politics.

His father, John H. Sununu, served as New Hampshire governor and later as White House chief of staff under President George H.W. Bush. His younger brother, Chris Sununu, also served as governor, holding the position from 2017 until 2025.

Republicans believed the family’s political reputation, combined with Sununu’s experience in Washington, could help them win over independent voters in a state known for its competitive elections.

President Donald Trump endorsed Sununu, although the Republican candidate sought to establish an independent political identity and emphasized his willingness to disagree with members of his own party.

Throughout the campaign, Pappas sought to connect Sununu to Trump’s policies, arguing that Republican control of the Senate would allow the president to advance an agenda that Democrats contend would increase costs for working families.

Pappas focused heavily on affordability, including housing expenses, healthcare costs, and the financial pressures facing New Hampshire residents. He also portrayed himself as a moderate Democrat capable of working across party lines while opposing policies he considered harmful to the state.

Sununu, meanwhile, criticized Pappas as a career politician who had failed to deliver meaningful results during his years in Congress. He emphasized economic issues, government spending, and the need for independent leadership in Washington.

The contest attracted substantial national attention and campaign spending as both parties recognized its importance in determining the balance of power in the Senate.

Republicans entered the election hoping to expand their Senate majority, while Democrats viewed retaining New Hampshire as essential to their efforts to regain control of the chamber.

Although New Hampshire has voted Democratic in recent presidential elections, Republicans have remained competitive in statewide contests. The state currently has a Republican governor, Kelly Ayotte, who previously served in the U.S. Senate.

Pappas, who was first elected to Congress in 2018, previously served on the New Hampshire Executive Council and in the state legislature. His victory represents a major advancement in his political career, moving him from the House to the Senate.

For Sununu, the defeat ends his latest attempt to return to Washington after a lengthy absence from elected office.

Pappas will take office in January 2027, replacing Shaheen and maintaining Democratic representation in the Senate seat.

His victory also creates an opening in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District, where voters are choosing a successor in a separate race that has drawn considerable attention.

While the broader battle for control of the Senate remains dependent on results from other states, the New Hampshire outcome provides Democrats with an important victory by preventing Republicans from flipping one of the party’s closely contested seats.