Sununu in New Hampshire on Tuesday, keeping a critical open U.S. U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas defeated former U.S. Sen. John E. Senate seat under Democratic control.
House and one in the Senate before being ousted by Shaheen in 2008. New Hampshire voters haven’t elected a Republican to Congress since 2010. They also have voted for Democrats for president since 2004, though Republicans have dominated at the state level in recent years. Pappas, 46, grew up working in his family’s Manchester restaurant, which opened in 1917 and claims to have invented chicken tenders.
the race for the seat being vacated by Democrat Jeanne Shaheen featured two candidates who tried to tap into anti-establishment angst from the inside While outsiders were on the ballot elsewhere. With the win, Pappas will become the first openly gay male U.S. senator. After college, he served as a state lawmaker, county treasurer and state executive councilor before being elected to Congress. In September, he defeated a democratic socialist and other opponents by a wide margin to win the Democratic primary. Pappas frequently sought to link Sununu to President Donald Trump, who endorsed Sununu despite Sununu once calling him a loser. “This is not a moment to restore someone who was out of step with New Hampshire before and bring them back into power. Sununu easily defeated former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown and a handful of lesser-known candidates to win the Republican nomination. Their father also is a former governor. “I’ll focus on the right issues. I’ll stand up to my party and the president when it’s right for New Hampshire, and I’ll get things done.”
Sununu railed against “career politicians” despite having spent three terms in the U.S. Pappas told voters “Our country is ready for change” while seeking to remain in Washington, where he has represented the state’s 1st Congressional District since 2019. He accused Sununu of having “a selective memory about what’s been going on over the last couple of years” and told him, “The guy who gave you his complete and total endorsement is wrecking New Hampshire’s Main Street economy. “This election is about Team New Hampshire versus Team Trump,” Pappas said. His first name was conspicuously absent from his green, blue and white campaign signs, and critics said he was counting on voters confusing him with his popular younger brother, Chris Sununu, who served eight years as governor. “Chris Pappas talks about all the things he wants to do and wants to accomplish, but he’s been there for eight years and he hasn’t gotten the job done,” Sununu said during the debate.
