Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas defeated Republican John Sununu in New Hampshire’s U.S. Senate race, according to projections from multiple outlets. The victory keeps the seat in Democratic hands after Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s retirement. Pappas will become the first openly gay man elected to the U.S. Senate.
Pappas, a four-term congressman, secured between 50% and 60.6% of the vote in various projections, while Sununu, a former senator, received between 37.6% and 43%. The Associated Press called the race for Pappas shortly after polls closed. Sununu conceded, stating, “This has been an incredible campaign. But this is not our night.”
Pappas’ Victory and Historic Milestone
Pappas’ win marks the first time an openly gay man has been elected to the U.S. Senate. He will succeed retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who held the seat since 2009. Pappas previously represented New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District for four terms and served two terms in the state House of Representatives. In his campaign announcement video, Pappas appeared with his husband, emphasizing his personal life alongside policy priorities.
During the campaign, Pappas positioned himself as a moderate Democrat who frequently breaks with his party. He has earned high ratings from abortion rights and labor groups, including Reproductive Freedom for All and the AFL-CIO. As co-chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, he has sponsored major pro-LGBTQ+ legislation. Pappas also highlighted his bipartisan work in Congress, including efforts to schedule fentanyl analogs as Schedule I drugs and challenging President Biden on border policy.
Sununu’s Campaign and Republican Challenges
Sununu, the son and brother of former New Hampshire governors, sought to return to the Senate after losing to Shaheen in 2008. He previously served in the Senate from 2003 to 2009 and the House from 1997 to 2003. Sununu ran as a centrist Republican, distancing himself from former President Donald Trump despite receiving his endorsement in the GOP primary. He criticized Pappas as a career politician with little accomplishment, stating, “He has attempted very little in Congress. He's accomplished even less.”
Sununu’s campaign emphasized his independence from Trump, releasing an ad declaring, “The way Chris Pappas tells it, I'm President Trump's long-lost son. I've never even met the man.” He promised to oppose Trump’s policies when they harmed New Hampshire. However, Sununu faced challenges from both Trump’s unpopularity in the state and Pappas’ moderate appeal to independent voters.
New Hampshire’s Political Landscape
New Hampshire’s electorate is characterized by a large undeclared voting bloc, with nearly 307,000 of the state’s 900,000 registered voters identifying as such. Democrats hold a slight edge in registration, with 256,000 voters, compared to 300,000 Republicans. Polling leading up to the election consistently showed Pappas ahead by 6 percentage points or less, with turnout in the primary favoring Democrats over Republicans.
The race was one of the few competitive Senate contests in 2024, with Republicans hoping to flip the seat. New Hampshire has not elected a Republican to the Senate since 2010, despite Republican control of the governor’s mansion since 2017. Pappas’ victory protects a vulnerable Democratic seat as the party aims to secure a Senate majority.
Campaign Dynamics and Key Endorsements
Pappas secured endorsements from high-profile Democrats, including Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), former Gov. John Lynch, and former Vice President Kamala Harris. He also defeated Republican Karoline Leavitt in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District in 2022. Sununu, meanwhile, defeated former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown in the GOP primary, a race that saw both candidates prevail by over 30 points.
Pappas’ campaign focused on bipartisanship and pragmatic governance, while Sununu framed himself as an independent voice willing to challenge Trump when necessary. The race drew national attention due to its competitiveness and the historic nature of Pappas’ potential election.