Democrat Chris Pappas has defeated Republican John Sununu in New Hampshire’s US Senate race, securing the state’s open Senate seat, according to an Associated Press projection.
Pappas’s victory gives Democrats a win in one of the closely watched contests of the 2026 US midterm elections.
The New Hampshire race attracted national attention as both parties competed for control of the Senate, with the outcome carrying potential implications for the balance of power in Washington.
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Pappas, 46, has represented New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District in the US House of Representatives since 2019. Before entering Congress, he served in the New Hampshire state legislature and on the state’s Executive Council.
Sununu, a former US senator, served in the chamber from 2003 to 2009 before losing his re-election campaign to Shaheen. He entered the 2026 contest seeking to reclaim the seat.
The campaign focused heavily on the economy, energy costs, healthcare and President Donald Trump’s administration. Pappas sought to link Sununu to Trump’s policies, while Sununu campaigned on his experience and record as an independent-minded Republican.
Sununu conceded shortly after polls closed, congratulating Pappas on his victory.
The result also makes Pappas the first openly gay man elected to the US Senate, marking a historic milestone in American political representation.
Pappas will take over the seat when Shaheen’s term ends in January 2027.
