John Sununu and Chris Pappas Win New Hampshire Senate Primaries

Former Senator John Sununu (R-NH) and Representative Chris Pappas (D-NH) won their respective primaries on Tuesday, setting up a general election contest to replace retiring Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). In the Republican primary, Sununu secured victory against a field of candidates, including former Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown, who previously challenged Shaheen in 2014. Sununu previously held the Senate seat in 2002, defeating Shaheen, who later reclaimed it in a rematch in 2008. President Trump endorsed Sununu in February, despite past tensions with the Sununu family. In a January 2024 op-ed, Sununu referred to Trump as a 'loser' and supported former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley in the presidential primary. In the Democratic primary, Pappas emerged victorious over four candidates, including Democratic Socialists of America member Karishma Manzur. Pappas, who has served in the House since 2019, received endorsements from Shaheen, Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and former Vice President Kamala Harris. The general election is critical for Democrats, who need to gain four seats to regain Senate control, and losing Shaheen's seat would be significant. Polling averages indicate Pappas has a slight lead over Sununu, with over 10% of voters undecided.