New Hampshire Voters Choose Senate Nominees in Key Primary
New Hampshire voters selected nominees in the Democratic and Republican primaries for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by retiring Senator Jeanne Shaheen, with the outcome potentially influencing control of the Senate. The race features prominent former senators John Sununu and Scott Brown on the Republican side, and a progressive challenge to incumbent Democrat Chris Pappas on the Democratic side.
Consensus
- New Hampshire voters participated in primaries for the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by retiring Senator Jeanne Shaheen.
- The Democratic primary features incumbent Congressman Chris Pappas facing a progressive challenger, Karishma Manzur.
- The Republican primary includes former Senators John Sununu and Scott Brown as leading candidates.
- The outcome of the New Hampshire Senate race could influence control of the U.S. Senate.
- Democrats need a net gain of four Senate seats to retake the chamber.
- The 1st Congressional District seat is also contested in the primary, with Pappas running for Senate and the House seat open.
- Chris Pappas is an openly gay member of Congress who has represented the 1st District since 2019.
- Scott Brown previously served as a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts from 2010 to 2013.
- John Sununu previously served as a U.S. Senator and represented the 1st District from 1977 to 2003.
- The National Republican Congressional Committee considers the 1st District a top target for Republicans.
- The 1st District has changed party control multiple times in recent decades.
Points of divergence
- Sununu endorsed Nikki Haley for president in 2024, and wrote an op-ed titled 'Trump is a loser.' — pbs
- Trump has backed Sununu over Brown in the Republican primary despite past conflicts with the Sununu family. — pbs
- Trump appointed Scott Brown as U.S. ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa during his first term. — pbs
- John Sununu's father, John H. Sununu, called Trump 'a loser all his life' during the 2016 primaries. — pbs
- Karishma Manzur is a medical scientist campaigning on progressive policies like Medicare for All. — cbsnews
- Manzur is hoping to replicate the upset victory of Angie Nixon, a DSA member who won Florida's Senate primary in August. — cbsnews
- Kamala Harris won New Hampshire by three points in 2024. — cbsnews
- The 1st Congressional District has been highly competitive, switching parties five times since 2006. — cbsnews
- There are nine Democrats vying for the Democratic nomination in the Senate primary. — cbsnews
Coverage (3 sources)
- Live Results: New Hampshire midterm primaries — PBS NewsHour
- New Hampshire voters pick midterm nominees as Sen. Shaheen's exit sparks scramble for key seats — PBS NewsHour
- New Hampshire voters choose nominees for open Senate seat with Shaheen's retirement, and more races to watch today — CBS News