New Hampshire voters head to the polls Tuesday to select nominees for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor, and state Legislature in primary elections shaped by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s retirement after three terms.
Former Sen. John Sununu leads the Republican Senate primary, while Rep. Chris Pappas remains the frontrunner in the Democratic Senate race, according to recent polling. The primaries will determine which candidates advance to the November general election for the open Senate seat.
Part 1: Immediate Action & Core Facts
Republican Senate Primary: Sununu Holds Lead Over Brown
Republican voters are choosing between former U.S. Sens. John Sununu and Scott Brown, along with six other candidates, to challenge the Democratic nominee in November. Sununu has raised $4.1 million compared to Brown’s $2.2 million, according to campaign finance reports. While President Donald Trump backed Sununu in this cycle, Sununu had previously endorsed Trump’s 2024 rival, Nikki Haley. Sununu previously served one term in the Senate after defeating then-Gov. Jeanne Shaheen in 2002, before Shaheen won the seat back in 2008. Brown, who served out the remainder of Sen. Edward Kennedy’s term in Massachusetts, narrowly lost to Shaheen in 2014 after moving to New Hampshire.
Democratic Senate Primary: Pappas Faces Progressive Challenge
On the Democratic side, Rep. Chris Pappas is the frontrunner in the five-way primary to replace Shaheen, with support from state Democrats including Sen. Maggie Hassan, former Gov. John Lynch, and former Vice President Kamala Harris. A University of New Hampshire poll showed Pappas leading progressive challenger Karishma Manzur 47% to 34% in late August, though Manzur has gained ground since earlier polls showed larger margins. Pappas has held public office since 2002 and was first elected to the House in 2018.
Part 2: Deeper Dive & Context
Republican Primary Dynamics
The Republican field includes eight candidates vying for the nomination, with Sununu and Brown as the most prominent. Sununu’s campaign has emphasized his Senate experience and conservative record, while Brown’s supporters highlight his 2014 near-win against Shaheen and his alignment with Trump during the 2016 election. Brown served as U.S. ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa under Trump’s first term. Other Republican candidates include former state Sen. Chuck Morse, businessman Gerard Beloin, and retired Army Col. Russell Prescott.
Democratic Primary Competition
Pappas’ campaign has focused on his legislative record and institutional support, while Manzur’s progressive backers argue for more aggressive policy positions on issues like healthcare and climate change. Shaheen’s daughter, Stefany Shaheen, is also a Democratic candidate for Pappas’ open House seat, along with former candidate Maura Sullivan and others. The Democratic primary for the Senate seat includes four other candidates, though Pappas remains the clear favorite.
Statewide Races and Legislative Contests
In addition to the Senate race, voters will select nominees for New Hampshire’s two U.S. House seats, governor, and all 424 seats in the state Legislature. Incumbents are not guaranteed nominations, with several high-profile races featuring repeat candidacies and family connections. The governor’s race includes multiple candidates from both parties, with no single frontrunner emerging in recent polling.
Electoral Significance
New Hampshire is a swing state that backed Vice President Kamala Harris by 3 points in 2024, making it one of the most closely divided in New England. Both parties view the open Senate seat as highly competitive, with Republicans arguing that Sununu’s name recognition could sway voters. Democrats counter that anti-Trump sentiment may help Pappas retain the seat. Recent polls show Pappas leading in the Democratic primary, while Sununu holds a narrow advantage in the Republican race, though the margins remain within the margin of error in some surveys.