U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas has won the New Hampshire Senate race, defeating former U.S. Sen. John E. Sununu and securing a key seat for Democrats. Pappas, who has represented New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District since 2019, will become the first openly gay male U.S. senator.
The race was one of several critical contests that could determine control of the Senate. Republicans had aimed to reclaim a foothold in a region where Democrats have held a strong presence in Congress, while Democrats sought to maintain their hold on the chamber.
Pappas, 46, positioned himself as a representative of a new generation of leadership, emphasizing his understanding of New Hampshire's challenges and promising to lower costs for residents. He frequently linked Sununu to former President Donald Trump, accusing him of being out of step with the state and suggesting the election was a choice between "Team New Hampshire" and "Team Trump."
Sununu, 62, who previously served three terms in the U.S. House and one in the Senate before being unseated by Jeanne Shaheen in 2008, ran on a platform of being a problem solver. He criticized Pappas as an ineffective "career politician" and sought to draw a distinction on issues, though his campaign also faced scrutiny, including association with his family's prominent Republican political history and questions related to a 2010 email from Jeffrey Epstein. Sununu denied ever meeting or communicating with Epstein.
Both candidates faced intense campaign advertising from national groups. Republicans accused Pappas of being a "puppet" beholden to lobbyists, while Pappas's campaign ads targeted Sununu's financial dealings and his family's political connections.
New Hampshire has a track record of electing Democrats to federal office, having voted for Democratic presidents since 2004 and not electing a Republican to Congress since 2010. However, the state has seen Republican dominance at the state level in recent years.