Pappas projected to win
November 3, 2026 · 8:52 p.m. Eastern
Democratic U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas is projected to win New Hampshire’s U.S. Senate race, defeating Republican former Sen. John E. Sununu and keeping the open seat in Democratic hands, according to Decision Desk HQ and the Associated Press.
Decision Desk HQ said it called the race at 8 p.m. Eastern. In its 8:41 p.m. snapshot, with an estimated 35% of the vote reported, Pappas had 59.44% of counted votes to Sununu’s 38.80%. Those figures are preliminary and will change as more votes are reported.
The race call is a projection, not a certified outcome. Election officials will continue counting and reviewing ballots before the state finalizes its results.
A race for Shaheen’s seat
Pappas, who has represented New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District for four terms, sought the seat of retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. Republicans saw the open contest as an opportunity to pick up a Senate seat, though the state has backed Democratic presidential candidates since 2004, AP reported.
Sununu previously served in both the U.S. House and Senate. Shaheen defeated him in his 2008 Senate reelection bid. Pappas grew up working in his family’s Manchester restaurant and won the Democratic Senate primary in September after eight years in the House, according to AP.
During the campaign, Pappas sought to tie Sununu to President Donald Trump and presented himself as a check on the administration. Sununu, whom Trump endorsed, criticized Pappas as ineffective and said he would stand up to his party and the president when New Hampshire’s interests required it, AP reported.
A historic distinction
If he takes office, Pappas would become the first openly gay man to serve in the U.S. Senate, according to AP. Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin, an openly lesbian woman, became the first openly LGBTQ person elected to the Senate in 2012.
New Hampshire is a Democratic hold because Shaheen already holds the seat. The outcome does not by itself determine which party will control the next Senate.
