Nov 3, 2026 · primaries Sept 8
New Hampshire - United States Senate
⭐ Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is retiring — this open swing-state seat could decide control of the Senate. Get caught up ↓
Chris Pappas
Democrat - Age: 46
Four-term congressman whose family runs Manchester's Puritan Backroom restaurant.
Campaign website →
John E. Sununu
Republican - Age: 61
Held this Senate seat from 2003 to 2009; son and brother of New Hampshire governors.
Campaign website →
Who's ahead?
CookLEAN DSabatoLEAN DDDHQLIKELY D
Ratings: Cook Political Report (Aug 20), Sabato’s Crystal Ball (Aug 26), Decision Desk HQ (Aug 5). Source →
Pappas
47
Sununu
44
UNH Survey Center poll, via NHPR →
As of July 1 · likely nominees
Where they stand
Tap a topic that's important to you.
PAPPAS SAYS
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SUNUNU SAYS
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Money & campaign finance
Where each candidate stands on campaign-finance questions.
PAPPAS
SUNUNU
Yes
Ban Congress from trading stocks
Unknown
No
Takes corporate PAC money
Unknown
In July Pappas refunded a $5,000 check from NV Energy’s corporate PAC, calling it a clerical error (NH Journal).
Sources: Pappas anti-corruption agenda · NH Journal on the refund
Fundraising
RAISEDCASH ON HANDUNDER-$200 DONORS
Chris Pappas
$15.4M$4.3M31% of receipts
John E. Sununu
$4.2M$3.1M12% of receipts
Campaign committee totals for the 2025–26 cycle, through August 19, 2026. Under-$200 share is unitemized individual contributions divided by total receipts. FEC filings →
Their big promises
PAPPAS'S TOP 3
Lower everyday costs
Cap drug prices, expand the child tax credit, and crack down on price gouging.
Build more housing
Federal incentives to build starter homes; limits on corporate investors buying up NH housing.
Protect rights
Codify Roe into federal law and defend marriage equality.
SUNUNU'S TOP 3
Rein in Washington spending
Cut deficits and block any new broad-based taxes — federal or state.
Grow the economy
Cut regulation and permitting delays for housing, energy, and small business.
Experienced, independent voice
Runs on his Senate record and engineer's pragmatism over party-line politics.
Agree or differ?
Continued U.S. military aid to Ukraine
Pappas has voted for every aid package · Sununu backs continued support
Legalize marijuana federally
Pappas: yes, voted for it in the House · Sununu: opposes legalization
Fund PFAS cleanup in NH drinking water
Both support federal money to clean up "forever chemicals" around Merrimack and Pease
Expand background checks for gun sales
Pappas: supports universal checks · Sununu: opposed expanded checks while in the Senate
Private accounts for Social Security
Sununu: backed personal accounts in 2005, wants to "modernize" · Pappas: opposes any privatization
Federal support for Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Both support it
Their stories
CHRIS PAPPAS
1980Born in Manchester; his family has run the Puritan Backroom restaurant for a century.
2002Elected to the NH House at 22; later served on the Executive Council.
2018Elected to Congress — New Hampshire's first openly gay U.S. representative.
2026Running for Shaheen's open seat with her endorsement and most of the party behind him.
JOHN E. SUNUNU
1964Born into NH's best-known political family; MIT-trained engineer.
1996Elected to the U.S. House; served three terms.
2002Won this Senate seat at 38 — then lost it to Jeanne Shaheen in 2008.
2026Seeking his old seat back, 18 years later, as the GOP establishment favorite.
The backstory
Positions summarized from campaign websites, voting records, and news reports · July 2026
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