New York Times Released New Hampshire Senate Poll

The poll examines the race between Democrat Chris Pappas and Republican challenger John E. Sununu.

Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration showing a stone wall and a capitol building silhouette against a geometric sky.
The New York Times released a new poll for the New Hampshire Senate race, showing a tight contest between Chris Pappas and John E. Sununu. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you trust professional election polls over prediction markets to forecast who will win?

The New York Times has released a new poll detailing the current status of the New Hampshire Senate race. The seat is currently held by retiring Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen.

Why it matters

The outcome of this race is critical to the balance of power in the U.S. Senate, with the contest currently classified as a toss-up by the Cook Political Report.

Prediction market participants currently assign an 85% probability of a Democratic victory in the race. The Cook Political Report classifies the competition between the candidates as a toss-up.

The players

Chris Pappas

He is the Democratic candidate running for the open United States Senate seat in New Hampshire.

John E. Sununu

He is the Republican candidate campaigning for the United States Senate seat in New Hampshire.

Jeanne Shaheen

She is the current Democratic Senator from New Hampshire who is retiring from the chamber.

The New York Times

This is a national news organization that conducted and released the polling data for the New Hampshire race.

Cook Political Report

This nonpartisan organization provides analysis and handicapping of U.S. House, Senate, and gubernatorial races.

The details

Democratic candidate Chris Pappas maintains a lead over Republican candidate John E. Sununu in the latest polling data. The race follows the announcement that incumbent Senator Jeanne Shaheen will not seek re-election.

Timeline

  1. The New York Times released the poll on September 24, 2026.

Political Context

Opposition groups maintain that the race remains highly competitive despite current market odds, pointing to historical trends in New Hampshire's split-ticket voting patterns. They argue that local economic factors could still shift the momentum away from the Democratic candidate before Election Day.

Voters in New Hampshire may experience increased campaign advertising and outreach as both candidates attempt to solidify their standing in a toss-up race. The election results will directly determine which party holds the state's seat in the U.S. Senate.

The takeaway

Voters should pay close attention to upcoming televised debates, as these events are expected to be the primary drivers of voter movement. Engaging with non-partisan candidate guides can help citizens better understand the specific platforms of the two major candidates.

Further reading

For more on the latest state-level contests, visit New Hampshire Elections.

Live Poll

Do you trust professional election polls over prediction markets to forecast who will win?