There’s been so much focus nationally on the battleground Senate races in states like Michigan and Georgia that little attention has been paid to the one currently taking place in New Hampshire.
The nominees haven’t yet been decided, as the primary isn’t until Tuesday, September 8th. But if current polling trends hold, it’s shaping up to be a contest between four-term Democrat Rep. Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Trump-backed former GOP Sen. John E. Sununu, who previously held the seat for one term before Democrat Jeanne Shaheen defeated him in 2008 (Shaheen isn’t running for reelection).
Before his election to the U.S. Senate in 2002, Sununu served six years in the U.S. House of Representatives from a district currently represented by Pappas.
This race has turned out to be competitive, with the most recent University of New Hampshire (UNH) poll showing Sununu taking a two-point lead for the first time in 2026 polling in a hypothetical matchup, with a 2.1% margin of error. The previous UNH poll from June showed Pappas ahead of Sununu by three:
2026 New Hampshire Senate Race
🔴 John E. Sununu: 45%
🔵 Chris Pappas: 43%This would be a 🔵 D -> 🔴 R Flip
UNH poll | 8/20-8/24 pic.twitter.com/YgqXAfjO6E
— OSZ (@OpenSourceZone) August 26, 2026
For what it’s worth, an NRSC-commissioned poll also showed Sununu slightly ahead, but within the 4% margin of error:
NH SENATE POLL For @NRSC (R)
🟥 John Sununu: 37%
🟦 Chris Pappas: 36%
🟨 Other: 3%
⬜️ Not sure: 23%Fabrizio | 8/27-30 | LV | R36/D30/I32https://t.co/wwg3Px8Lhh pic.twitter.com/TrhV0GgJQx
— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) September 3, 2026
Here’s how both Pappas and Sununu are running in the Granite State:
Pappas is running as a champion of the middle class, focusing on bringing down the cost of living, supporting public education and protecting Medicaid and Social Security.
[…]
“These are the only two people who have been elected as Democrats to the Senate from New Hampshire in the last half a century,” Pappas told WBUR, calling the coming election “a game of inches.”
[…]
For his part, Sununu is running as a traditional conservative, promising to lower taxes and cut regulations “and make government work again.” He’s being helped by national Republican super PACs, who have already spent millions of dollars backing his campaign.
As a former senator, whose father and brother both served as New Hampshire governors, Sununu represents something akin to political royalty in the state.
To advance, Pappas needs to get by newcomer and self-described “peace activist” Karishma Manzur, who socialists in New Hampshire are said to be rallying behind. They had a debate on Friday after polls showed she had closed the gap on him to 13% headed into Tuesday’s primary. She got in this nice zinger on Pappas:
Far-Left Democrat Karishma Manzur calls out Chris Pappas for being a do-nothing member of Congress.
“I wish the congressman would have actually addressed it years ago instead of waiting for another person to author it.” pic.twitter.com/oTNXS12qeo
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) September 5, 2026
As for Sununu’s primary competition, former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown is running but seems to be going nowhere, with RealClearPolitics showing Sununu ahead of him by an average of 33%.
Keep this one on your “one to watch” list. It doesn’t contain any controversial or bombastic candidates, but it does have one named Sununu, which is potentially very good news for Republicans:
All eyes should be on New Hampshire. John Sununu will give Granite Staters the conservative voice that we deserve. This is the most overlooked Senate race. https://t.co/8RwRHuhy4x
— Sam Farrington (@SamFarringtonNH) August 27, 2026
It’s just one poll, but if anyone can win a Senate race in New Hampshire in a Democratic-favorable year, it’s someone with the last name Sununu. https://t.co/7rwL4OZt0s
— Preston Hill (@realPrestonHill) August 26, 2026
Stay tuned.
– Stacey Matthews has also written under the pseudonym “Sister Toldjah” and can be reached via X. –
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