Chris Pappas in New Hampshire Senate race
The gist
Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas defeated former GOP Sen. John Sununu to win New Hampshire's open Senate seat.
Pappas becomes the first out gay man in the U.S. Senate.
How it unfolded
- Jul 26, 2026Pappas's campaign marked 100 days out with a memo calling the race one of the most competitive and consequential in the country.
- Sep 8, 2026Pappas won the Democratic primary and Sununu defeated Scott Brown in the Republican primary for the open seat.
- Sep 24, 2026A UNH Granite State Poll showed Pappas at 50% to Sununu's 42%, a reversal from a month earlier when Sununu led by two points.