Sununu and Pappas Win New Hampshire Senate Primaries, Setting Up Battleground Race

Voters in New Hampshire went to the polls on Tuesday to decide the two major parties' nominees for the state's open US Senate seat, and by the time polls closed and networks began calling races, both contests had produced comfortable winners: former senator John Sununu on the Republican side, and sitting congressman Chris Pappas for the Democrats. The two will now face off in November in a race widely viewed as one of the more competitive, and potentially consequential, Senate contests of this year's midterm cycle.

How the primaries played out

On the Republican side, Sununu defeated fellow former US senator Scott Brown in a race that was not particularly close, with early returns showing him well ahead. Sununu, who previously represented New Hampshire in the Senate, entered the primary with strong name recognition and establishment support, which appeared to translate into a decisive win over Brown, a onetime Massachusetts senator who had sought to rebuild a political career in his adopted home state.

On the Democratic side, Congressman Chris Pappas turned back a challenge from Karishma Manzur, a scientist and member of the Democratic Socialists of America who had run to Pappas's left. Pappas, who currently represents New Hampshire in the US House, entered the race as the clear frontrunner given his statewide profile and fundraising advantages, and early results bore that out with a wide margin of victory.

Why the seat matters

The race exists in the first place because Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen opted not to seek re-election, opening up a seat that both parties see as genuinely competitive rather than safely in either column. Control of the US Senate remains closely contested heading into the midterms, and strategists in both parties have flagged New Hampshire as one of a small number of states where the general election outcome could plausibly tip the balance of the chamber. That has already translated into significant national attention and fundraising interest in the Sununu-Pappas matchup, even before the primary results were finalised.

The race ahead

With the nominees now set, both campaigns are expected to move quickly into general election mode, sharpening their contrasts on issues likely to dominate the New Hampshire race, including the economy, healthcare costs and each candidate's record on constituent services. Sununu is expected to lean on his prior Senate experience and appeal to independent voters, who make up a substantial share of New Hampshire's electorate, while Pappas will look to build on his House incumbency and existing relationships with voters across the state's competitive districts.

Down-ballot, New Hampshire's other primary contests also produced notable results, including in the governor's race, where the sitting Republican governor cruised to renomination while the Democratic nominee ran unopposed, setting up a rematch of sorts from the last gubernatorial cycle. Election watchers say the coming weeks will bring a wave of outside spending into the state as both national parties look to shape a race they view as pivotal to the fight for Senate control.

This is an original summary based on public reporting. See our editorial policy for how we source, write, and correct our stories.