Rep. Chris Pappas secured the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate in New Hampshire, defeating his progressive challenger Karishma Manzur in a primary election. Pappas will now vie to hold the seat for Democrats in the general election, facing either former Sen. John E. Sununu or former Sen. Scott Brown.
The race to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a notable figure in New Hampshire politics, had become a focal point in the broader national narrative about the Democratic Party's ideological direction. Manzur, a scientist and nonprofit leader with ties to the Democratic Socialists of America, presented a stark contrast to Pappas, campaigning on policies such as universal healthcare, a $20 minimum wage, abolishing ICE, and ending military aid to Israel. She criticized Pappas as being too aligned with corporate interests and pro-Israel lobbies.
Manzur directly challenged Pappas's record, stating in a Fox News Digital interview, "Chris Pappas has had his turn and has not been able to serve this state honorably. He hasn't done a good job in serving his corporate donors, his AIPAC foreign-aligned lobbies." She also accused him of adopting progressive messaging only recently due to slipping poll numbers.
Pappas, who was the frontrunner throughout the primary and enjoyed backing from establishment Democrats and unions, defended his legislative record. "I've been fighting to change Washington to get big money out of our political system since I got elected to Congress in 2018," he stated. He characterized New Hampshire voters as pragmatic and appealing to the political center, stating, "I'm appealing to those voters between the 20 and 80-yard line on the political playing field, and there are a lot of them in New Hampshire. This is not a left-wing or a right -wing state."
Regarding foreign policy, Pappas commented on the U.S.-Israel relationship, stating, "Israel's a historic ally of the United States, the only democracy in the region. And you can say that while you have vehement disagreements with the Netanyahu government as I've expressed." He added, "I think Netanyahu's being incredibly reckless right now. He faces voters in a matter of weeks and could lose his election. And I think that would be important to set a new tone for the U.S.-Israel relationship."
Republicans have identified the New Hampshire Senate seat as a key opportunity to gain a majority in the chamber. Democrats, however, view holding this seat as crucial for maintaining their control. Pappas expressed confidence in his ability to unify the party, saying, "I've always been able to bring people together, and that's how you do things in New Hampshire." He emphasized the shared understanding among Democrats of the stakes involved in the general election, noting that winning this seat is vital for the party's efforts to regain or maintain a Senate majority.