Republican John Sununu and Democrat Chris Pappas won their primaries by wide margins and will compete for an open seat that could prove pivotal in the national battle for control of the Senate.
John Sununu and Chris Pappas easily won the New Hampshire primaries and advanced to the November 3 contest for the seat being vacated by Democrat Jeanne Shaheen, according to EFE and partial results published by NBC News.
Sununu and Pappas Win New Hampshire Primaries, Setting Up Key Senate Race – PHOTO: Infographic recreated with AI Sununu received 68.5% of the vote in the Republican primary, with approximately 90.7% of the expected ballots counted, according to NBC News data provided as a reference.
His main opponent, former Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown, received 26.8%, a difference of more than 40 percentage points.
Pappas also secured a decisive victory in the Democratic primary, receiving 65.0% of the vote, while progressive candidate Karishma Manzur obtained 32.7%.
The congressman, who has represented New Hampshire since 2019, received Shaheen’s endorsement during the campaign.
Shaheen’s decision to retire after three terms transformed a Democratic-held seat into an open contest and gave Republicans an opportunity to flip it.
Sununu enters the general election with President Donald Trump’s endorsement despite their previous public disagreements.
The national political landscape increases the race’s importance. EFE notes that Republicans hold a 53-47 majority, while Democrats need a net gain of four seats to regain control.
However, the New Hampshire Senate race is not considered completely even.
The Cook Political Report currently rates the open seat as “Lean Democrat,” indicating a competitive race in which Democrats retain an advantage.
The state presents a particular challenge for Republicans.
Trump lost New Hampshire to Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, EFE notes, although he narrowed the Republican deficit compared with previous elections.
New Hampshire also has a competitive political tradition and a significant number of unaffiliated voters who can participate in primaries under certain state rules.
Cook previously noted that Sununu’s entry made the Republican opportunity more competitive, although it maintained the race’s Democratic lean.
With the primaries concluded, both candidates now enter a campaign lasting less than two months to win over New Hampshire voters.
The outcome will join those of other competitive races in determining the composition of the next Senate.
Cook currently lists New Hampshire among the competitive Senate seats in the 2026 election cycle.
You may be interested in: The Supreme Court changes the rules for political advertising on TV weeks before the elections
SOURCE: EFE / NBC News / The Cook Political report
