Sununu and Pappas set for New Hampshire Senate contest

Republican John E Sununu and Democrat Chris Pappas have won their respective primaries in New Hampshire and will face each other in November for the state’s open United States Senate seat.

The contest to replace outgoing Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen gives Republicans an opportunity to gain a foothold in New England, while Democrats seek to retain the seat. The Senate is currently controlled by Republicans, and Democrats need a net gain of four seats to retake it.

New Hampshire has often elected Republicans to state government and Democrats to Congress. The state voted for Kamala Harris over Donald Trump by 2.78 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election.

Sununu, a former senator, defeated seven opponents in the Republican primary. Pappas, a House representative, prevailed over Democratic socialist Karishma Manzur, who had criticised his relationship with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

The primary results also set several other contests. Anthony DiLorenzo and Lily Tang Williams won Republican House nominations in the state’s 1st and 2nd districts. Stefany Shaheen won the Democratic nomination in the 1st District, while incumbent Maggie Goodlander secured the Democratic nomination in the 2nd.

Republican Governor Kelly Ayotte also won her primary and will face Democrat Cinde Warmington. Rhode Island voters are due to hold their primaries next, with the governor’s race between incumbent Dan McKee and Helena Foulkes the most closely watched contest.