Chris Pappas Beats John Sununu To Keep New Hampshire Senate Seat In Democratic Hands

Democratic New Hampshire Rep. Chris Pappas beat former Republican Sen. John E. Sununu on Tuesday, keeping an open Senate seat Republicans hoped to flip.

The Associated Press called the race for Pappas at around 8:20 p.m. ET. He led Sununu 60.4% to 37.9%, with about 22 percent of the vote counted.

Pappas will succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. Republicans held a 53-47 Senate majority going into Election Day, and Democrats needed a net pickup of four seats to win control, according to Inside Elections ratings.

Pappas, who has represented the state’s First Congressional District in the House since 2019, ran for the Senate instead of seeking a fifth term, the Washington Sun reported.

Shaheen ousted Sununu in 2008 after the senator had served a single term, according to NOTUS. He served in the House for six years before that.

Sununu’s younger brother, Chris, is a former governor, and their father, John H. Sununu, was governor and later White House chief of staff, Roll Call reported.

Sununu ran with President Donald Trump’s backing. Trump endorsed him Feb. 1, NBC News reported.

Pappas gave up the House seat he held for four terms to run for the Senate.

Shaheen ousted Sununu in 2008 after a single Senate term. He served in the House for six years before that.