New Hampshire voters set the stage Tuesday for one of the most closely watched open-seat Senate contests of the 2026 midterm elections.
Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas and Republican former Sen. John E. Sununu each won their party’s nomination, creating a November matchup for the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.
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The primary results also finalized several other major races across the state, including contests for governor and an open House seat currently held by Pappas.
Republicans continue to control New Hampshire’s state government even as Democrats currently hold the state’s entire congressional delegation, giving the November contests additional national attention.
Sununu defeated a Republican field that included former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, while Pappas prevailed over several Democratic challengers, including progressive candidate Karishma Manzur.
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Sununu previously represented New Hampshire in the U.S. Senate from 2003 until 2009, when he lost reelection to Shaheen.
His return to statewide politics came with backing from President Donald Trump.
Brown, a former senator and Trump administration ambassador, campaigned as an independent alternative to the Sununu family’s longstanding influence in New Hampshire politics.
Pappas, meanwhile, is leaving the 1st Congressional District seat he has held since 2019 to move from the House to the Senate.
His Democratic primary opponent, Manzur, challenged him from the left on issues including healthcare, campaign finance, and U.S. policy toward Israel.
Pappas emphasized affordability, healthcare programs, and his electoral record, representing a politically competitive House district.
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The open Senate seat is attracting national attention because control of the chamber is at stake in the November elections, with both parties targeting a limited number of competitive races around the country.
New Hampshire’s political history adds another layer to the contest, as voters have repeatedly elected Republicans to state government while supporting Democrats for federal office in recent election cycles.
The state’s governor’s race is also now set after Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte won renomination Tuesday.
Ayotte will face Democrat Cinde Warmington, who ran unopposed for her party’s nomination.
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Ayotte has campaigned on public safety, housing affordability and opposition to new taxes, while Warmington has emphasized healthcare, housing, childcare and energy costs.
🚨 JUST IN: Donald Trump-endorsed John Sununu easily WINS US Senate primary for New Hampshire
GREAT news! Sununu has been polling well in this race against the Democrat and could force Dems into spending there to defend it
Absolutely phenomenal candidate quality 🔥 pic.twitter.com/hXzV59ixnk
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) September 9, 2026
The race for Pappas’ open 1st Congressional District seat also produced a new general-election matchup.
Democrat Stefany Shaheen, the daughter of retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, won her party’s nomination and will face Republican businessman Anthony DiLorenzo.
DiLorenzo, a first-time candidate endorsed by Trump, defeated a crowded Republican field after emphasizing his private-sector background and economic issues.
Stefany Shaheen, a healthcare advocate and former Portsmouth city councilor, emerged from a competitive Democratic primary after campaigning on healthcare and affordability.
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The open House district includes Manchester and large portions of New Hampshire’s Seacoast and Lakes Region and has been represented by Pappas since 2019.
Republicans are targeting the district as they seek to expand their House majority, while Democrats are attempting to keep the seat after Pappas’ departure.
The Senate race, however, will draw the most national attention because it pits a sitting Democratic congressman against a former Republican senator with one of the state’s best-known political names.
For New Hampshire voters, Tuesday’s primaries ended months of intraparty competition and established the choices they will face on November 3, CNN reported.
For the two national parties, the result means one more consequential Senate contest is officially underway.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
