Pappas and Sununu to Face Off in Key New Hampshire Senate Race

Democratic Representative Chris Pappas and former Republican Senator John Sununu will compete in November for New Hampshire's open Senate seat. The seat is being vacated by retiring Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen. Both candidates won their respective primary contests on Tuesday. Pappas defeated progressive challenger Karishma Manzur, while Sununu defeated former Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown. The race is considered critical for control of the U.S. Senate.

Sununu, a member of a prominent political family, secured the endorsement of President Donald Trump despite having public differences with him in the past. Pappas, a four term congressman and the first openly gay person to represent New Hampshire in Congress, focused his campaign on affordability and safety net programs. Following his victory, Pappas criticized the leadership of Donald Trump, while Sununu described Pappas as an out of touch career politician and challenged him to ten debates.

Other primary results in the state include the Republican renomination of Governor Kelly Ayotte and the Democratic nomination of Cinde Warmington for governor. In the race for Pappas's vacated House seat, businessman Anthony DiLorenzo is projected to win the Republican primary, while Stefany Shaheen is running for the Democratic nomination.

Outlets with a left lean framed Pappas's victory as a win for pragmatism over the anti establishment left. Center left sources highlighted the internal Democratic tension regarding U.S. support for Israel and the Democratic socialist platform of Karishma Manzur. Center right sources emphasized the strategic importance of the seat for the Republican effort to maintain or expand their majority in the Senate.