Former Sen. John Sununu (R-NH) and Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH) have won their respective New Hampshire Senate primaries, positioning them for a general election matchup to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.
Sununu, who previously held the Senate seat, secured the Republican nomination by defeating a field of candidates that included former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown. Sununu, whose family has deep roots in New Hampshire politics, previously served in the Senate from 2003 to 2009 before being unseated by Shaheen. He is the son of former White House Chief of Staff John H. Sununu and brother to former Governor Chris Sununu.
Despite past critical remarks about former President Donald Trump, Sununu received Trump's endorsement for the primary. The former president's endorsement highlighted Sununu's potential to advance an "America First Agenda" focused on economic growth, tax cuts, deregulation, energy dominance, healthcare access, school choice, border security, and law and order.
On the Democratic side, Pappas, currently serving as the U.S. Representative for New Hampshire's 1st congressional district, won his party's primary. He had secured endorsements from Sen. Shaheen, Sen. Maggie Hassan, and former Vice President Kamala Harris. Pappas has represented New Hampshire in the House since 2019.
The race is considered critical for Democrats seeking to maintain or regain control of the Senate. Losing Shaheen's seat, which she has held for 18 years, would represent a significant setback for the party's aspirations. Polls suggest a close contest between Pappas and Sununu in the general election, with a notable percentage of undecided voters.
