The Boston Globe · James Pindell · September 9, 2026
Because of its very late date, the Massachusetts primary a week earlier, Labor Day weekend and its nuanced story lines, New Hampshire's primary on Tuesday snuck up on even those who pay close attention to politics.
But what happened was extremely interesting.
In the 1st Congressional District, two establishment-minded candidates ended up in a surprisingly personal grudge match. And then there was the unusual former senator-versus-former senator matchup in the Republican Senate primary between John E. Sununu and Scott Brown.
And, sure, both of Donald Trump's endorsed candidates won. But unlike in other states, Trump's endorsement didn't drive the contests.
All that said, here are three takeaways from New Hampshire's late primary.
RelatedMore coverage of the New Hampshire primaries
What's in a name?
If you were a voter in Madbury, New Hampshire, in 1978 and squinted down the general election ballot, you would have seen some names that would eventually become very familiar: Jeanne Shaheen, running for state representative, and John H. Sununu, running for the state's Executive Council.
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Both lost.
Years later, both would serve as New Hampshire governor, both would lose a US Senate race, and both would serve in Washington. And in 2026, both got to watch one of their children win a nomination for Congress.
Who said nepotism is on the outs?
Shaheen's daughter, Stefany Shaheen, won the Democratic nomination in the 1st Congressional District over former Obama administration official Maura Sullivan after a $17 million contest that became increasingly personal in the final weeks. The race had been one of the most closely watched House primaries in the state, with both candidates positioning themselves as establishment Democrats with deep ties to New Hampshire.
As for Sununu, his contest wasn't nearly as exciting. He essentially kept his head down, collected endorsements and ran television ads. Polls showed him with a substantial lead throughout the campaign, and Donald Trump's endorsement helped cement his position against Brown.
The Scott Brown era is over
When Scott Brown became an overnight political star by winning the Kennedy "people's seat" in the US Senate in 2010, many wondered where this Brown guy might go next. Maybe even the White House.
It turned out his Senate career ended with him losing that same seat after just two years. He then moved to New Hampshire, where he ran for Senate twice, with a stint as ambassador to New Zealand and his wife's long-shot congressional primary campaign in between.
In this year's contest, it was the same Brown who had charmed so many voters 16 years ago. He was the everyman, driving around in his truck, personally putting up yard signs and often making his own videos while babysitting his grandchildren. At night, he sometimes played gigs with his rock band.
Brown was the first candidate in the race. But once Sununu was recruited to run and secured Trump's early endorsement, Brown never really had a chance. Sununu even denied him the opportunity to debate on television.
Brown told The New York Times last month that this would be his last race.
The left's biggest missed opportunity of 2026
It has been an interesting year in Democratic politics around the country. Democratic Socialists and progressive candidates have scored surprising victories over better-funded and better-connected establishment candidates. The latest came in Florida a few weeks ago, when DSA-aligned Angie Nixon won the Democratic Senate primary despite being outspent 16 to 1.
It could have happened again in New Hampshire on Tuesday.
But DSA-backed candidate Karishma Manzur lost the Democratic Senate primary to Representative Chris Pappas, who had been the presumed nominee from the beginning.
There were signs that it didn't have to be this way. By early summer, there was buzz that Manzur, a scientist from Exeter, was gaining traction with the grassroots. Pappas accepted AIPAC money, opposed a pro-marijuana measure in the House and voted for the Laken Riley Act, which expanded federal immigration enforcement powers. Manzur used those issues to draw a contrast with Pappas.
But the usual national progressive players, including Bernie Sanders, never really took notice or gave Manzur the attention she badly needed. For what it's worth, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren endorsed Pappas.
By mid-August, Pappas had spent roughly $11.5 million while Manzur had spent about $311,000. Manzur never had a sustained television advertising campaign beyond a tiny cable buy.
And yet one poll showed Manzur closing the gap dramatically, from trailing Pappas by 30 points to trailing him by just 13 points. The University of New Hampshire poll conducted in late August put Pappas at 47 percent and Manzur at 34 percent among likely Democratic primary voters.
To be sure, Pappas would have been difficult to knock off. He was well established among New Hampshire Democrats and had a huge financial advantage.
But the left never really tried.
That is notable in a small, relatively inexpensive state where Sanders won the Democratic presidential primary both times he ran.
James Pindell is a Globe political reporter who reports and analyzes American politics, especially in New England.