newsfromthestates.com · September 9, 2026
Pappas and Sununu prevail in primaries, setting up expensive fight for U.S. Senate | News From The States [ Skip to main content ](#main-content) [   Part of States Newsroom ](https://www.newsfromthestates.com/) search Sort by Latest Relevant Search Search  Stories From The States Colorado ranchers join fight against fossil fuel companies 28:57 https://play.prx.org/e?ge=prx\_14251\_3c1657e2-db5d-478b-98db-eb90ca023a81&uf=https%3A%2F%2Fpublicfeeds.net%2Ff%2F14251%2Fstoriesfromthestates.xml [   Part of States Newsroom ](https://www.newsfromthestates.com/) News ###### Pappas and Sununu prevail in primaries, setting up expensive fight for U.S. Senate ## Share [Bluesky](https://www.newsfromthestates.com/#bluesky)[X](https://www.newsfromthestates.com/#x)[Facebook](https://www.newsfromthestates.com/#facebook)[Email](https://www.newsfromthestates.com/#email)[Copy Link](https://www.newsfromthestates.com/#copy_link)  [New Hampshire](https://www.newsfromthestates.com/state/new-hampshire) [News](https://www.newsfromthestates.com/news) # Pappas and Sununu prevail in primaries, setting up expensive fight for U.S. Senate [Gov & Politics](https://www.newsfromthestates.com/category/gov-politics) Sep 08, 2026 | 9:13 pm ET By Ethan DeWitt Share [Bluesky](https://www.newsfromthestates.com/#bluesky)[X](https://www.newsfromthestates.com/#x)[Facebook](https://www.newsfromthestates.com/#facebook)[Email](https://www.newsfromthestates.com/#email)[Copy Link](https://www.newsfromthestates.com/#copy_link)  Description Chris Pappas (left) and John Sununu (right) will face off in what promises to be a very expensive U.S. Senate race. (Left: Photo by Will Steinfeld/New Hampshire Bulletin; Right: Photo by William Skipworth/New Hampshire Bulletin) Democratic U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas will face off in November against Republican former Sen. John E. Sununu to be U.S. senator, after the two candidates prevailed in their respective primaries Tuesday. The results, projected by the Associated Press shortly after 8 p.m., solidified what will likely be a bare-knuckled, expensive general election fight for the Senate seat, which is open after Sen. Jeanne Shaheen announced her retirement. Polls suggest the contest between Pappas, the current representative for the 1st Congressional District, and Sununu could be close, and both candidates had been positioning themselves for the general election months before the primary. As the polling has tightened, the race has taken on increasing significance to Democrats’ chances to flip control of the U.S. Senate, with Pappas’s shrinking advantage drawing national attention. In winning his primary, Sununu held off a challenge from Scott Brown, the former U.S. senator from Massachusetts who has since moved to New Hampshire, after Brown attempted to align himself with President Donald Trump and run to Sununu’s right. Trump ultimately endorsed Sununu in February, spurning Brown and propelling Sununu into a lead Brown could never overcome. Pappas, meanwhile, bested Karishma Manzur, a medical scientist from Exeter and first-time candidate who ran as a progressive. Manzur called for universal health care and attacked Pappas for his prior support of Israel; Pappas has since told the Bulletin he wanted “a reset with respect to the U.S. policy toward Israel.” In a statement after his victory, Sununu signaled awareness that the general election fight would be centered on the cost of living. “We will keep listening, keep working, and stay laser-focused on the economy, jobs, and making life more affordable,” Sununu said in the statement. “We will clean up Washington and hold politicians in both parties accountable,” Sununu continued. “I’ll push term limits, make Congress pay for the full cost of their healthcare, and cut Congress’ pay if they vote to shut down the government.” Pappas had a similar message. “Growing up in Manchester and working alongside my family at our restaurant, I learned that you don’t get ahead just by making promises,” he wrote in a fundraising email shortly after his victory. “You have to be accountable. You listen to people, work hard, and deliver.” “I’m running to make New Hampshire more affordable for working families; protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid; safeguard reproductive freedom; and stand up for the small businesses that are the backbone of our communities,” he added. Both candidates had decisive victories: Just before 9 p.m., Pappas commanded 62.5% of the vote compared to Manzur’s 35.4%; around the same time, Sununu had taken 69.1% of the vote compared to Brown’s 25.6%, according to the Associated Press.  Published on ### [New Hampshire Bulletin](https://www.newsfromthestates.com/state/new-hampshire) Concord, NH [To republish this story, visit the New Hampshire website](https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2026/09/08/pappas-and-sununu-prevail-in-primaries-setting-up-expensive-fight-for-u-s-senate/) ## More News  [New Hampshire](https://www.newsfromthestates.com/state/new-hampshire) ### [From climate change to the economy to healthcare, NH voters seek solutions with their ballots](https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/climate-change-economy-healthcare-nh-voters-seek-solutions-their-ballots) 9:52pm ET [New Hampshire](https://www.newsfromthestates.com/state/new-hampshire) ### [Goodlander, Williams rematch set in 2nd Congressional District](https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/goodlander-williams-rematch-set-2nd-congressional-district) 9:30pm ET ### Get our newsletters [Learn more about our newsletters](https://www.newsfromthestates.com/subscribe) ### Support News you Trust [Donate](https://www.newsfromthestates.com/donate) ## Related News  [Utah](https://www.newsfromthestates.com/state/utah) ### [With eyes on the Great Salt Lake, water conservation advocates will remove Governor’s Mansion turf](https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/eyes-great-salt-lake-water-conservation-advocates-will-remove-governors-mansion-turf) 8:10pm ET Alixel Cabrera ![Most Nebraska GOP officeholders, candidates skip midterm convention](https://cdn.newsfromthestates.com/styles/d03_traditional/s3/artic