Sununu, Pappas vie for pivotal New Hampshire Senate seat

Democrat Chris Pappas defeated former senator John E. Sununu on Nov. 3, 2026, holding New Hampshire's open U.S. Senate seat after Jeanne Shaheen declined to run. The contest was among those that could shape Senate control for the rest of Donald Trump's second presidency. Sununu, 62, served three House terms and one Senate term before losing to Shaheen in 2008 and beat Scott Brown in the GOP primary. Pappas, 46, a four-term House member, defeated a democratic socialist in his primary. At the Oct. 28 Manchester debate, Sununu said Pappas had not gotten the job done in eight years and would stand up to his party and the president when right for New Hampshire. Pappas called for new-generation leadership to stand up to the administration, lower costs and help Granite Staters. Pappas cast the race as Team New Hampshire versus Team Trump, accused Sununu of selective memory, and said the president who endorsed Sununu is wrecking the state's Main Street economy. An NRSC ad said New Hampshire needs a leader, not a lightweight. Republicans outspent Democrats on ads. Voter Mike Bradley backed Pappas over disgust with Trump-era Republicans; Glenn Savastano chose Sununu for small-business reasons despite tariff concerns. The state has not sent a Republican to Congress since 2010, has voted Democratic for president since 2004, and has a Republican governor and legislature. Contested claims center on career-politician charges and Trump ties; the election outcome is undisputed.