New Hampshire’s Chris Pappas wins Democratic nod for Senate

Update: Tuesday, 9:18 p.m.:

Polls closed Tuesday night in New Hampshire’s primary and the Associated Press had already called several key races. In the race to replace retiring three-term Democratic U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Rep. Chris Pappas secured the Democratic nomination and former Sen. John Sununu landed the Republican spot.

For the state’s 1st Congressional District, auto dealership owner Anthony DiLorenzo won the GOP spot, and Portsmouth City Council member Stefany Shaheen—the daughter of Sen. Shaheen—led in the Democratic primary with more than 50% of the votes counted, though the race had not yet been called at the time of publication.

Incumbent Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte secured her renomination and will face uncontested Democratic candidate and attorney, Cinde Warmington, in the November general election.

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Camille Coulborn of Chesterfield, N.H., fills out her ballot inside a voting booth in Chesterfield during the New Hampshire State Primaries. The Brattleboro Reformer via Associated Press / Image by Kristopher Radder

Voters in New Hampshire will nominate candidates for a selection of races Tuesday, including an open U.S. Senate seat that Republicans are fighting to flip.

After two terms in Congress, Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is retiring, and former Republican Sens. John Sununu and Scott Brown are racing for the GOP nomination in a crowded field of eight. Five Democrats—including medical scientist Karishma Manzur and U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas—seek their party’s nomination. President Donald Trump endorsed Sununu in the race despite past criticisms he has received from the former senator, including a 2024 op-ed titled “Donald Trump is a loser.”

What else is on the ballot? U.S. House, governor, and several state offices are also up for election on Tuesday. With Pappas on the campaign trail for Senate, eight Democratic and five Republican candidates are vying to take his U.S. House seat. Former Portsmouth City Council member Stefany Shaheen, the daughter of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, is among the Democratic candidates seeking to represent New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District.

Incumbent Gov. Kelly Ayotte is the only one of the three Republican gubernatorial candidates who has reported raising funds. She is expected to face the uncontested Democratic candidate and attorney, Cinde Warmington, in the November general election.

Dig Deeper: Read Liz Lykins report on a court upholding New Hampshire parents’ right to silently protest against rules allowing male students to play on girls’ sports teams.