Pappas Projected to Win New Hampshire Senate Seat
Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas was projected to defeat Republican former Sen. John Sununu in the race to succeed retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Decision Desk HQ projected Rep. Chris Pappas (D) as the winner of the New Hampshire Senate race shortly after 8 p.m. EST on Nov. 4, 2026. Pappas defeated former Sen. John Sununu (R) for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D).
Why it matters
The race was considered a possible Republican pickup opportunity given Sununu's candidacy and political dynasty, but Pappas benefited from an unfavorable national environment for Republicans. The outcome determines who will hold the seat for New Hampshire voters in Washington, D.C.
Pappas held nearly 61 percent of the vote with 22 percent of ballots counted shortly after 8 p.m. EST, and Decision Desk HQ gave him an 88 percent chance of winning. Final certified totals were not included in the source material.
The players
Chris Pappas
Pappas is a Democratic U.S. representative from New Hampshire who has been rated one of the most bipartisan House members in the current Congress and has served on the Transportation and Veterans' Affairs committees.
John Sununu
Sununu is a Republican former U.S. senator from New Hampshire who served one term in the 2000s and comes from a prominent political family.
Jeanne Shaheen
Shaheen is a Democratic U.S. senator from New Hampshire who is retiring and whose seat was up for election in this race.
The details
Pappas, a 46-year-old Democrat who previously served as a state legislator and county treasurer, defeated a democratic socialist candidate in the Democratic primary before winning the general election. During the campaign he tied Sununu to President Trump and the war in Iran while emphasizing his congressional record and family roots in the state.
Timeline
Months after the primary, polls showed mixed signals and ratings shifted between columns.
Nov. 4, 2026: Pappas was projected winner shortly after 8 p.m. EST.
Political Context
The race was seen as a possible Republican pickup opportunity tied to Sununu's political dynasty, but the national environment worked against Republicans in this cycle. Pappas's win keeps the seat in Democratic hands as Shaheen steps down.
New Hampshire voters now have a new U.S. senator set to take over the seat once Shaheen leaves. The result determines who represents the state in the Senate on issues that come before Congress.
The takeaway
Senate races can turn on candidate profile and national mood at once, and this result shows both factors working in Pappas's favor. Voters tracking future Senate contests should watch how bipartisan records and family ties influence outcomes in close states.
Further reading
For more on how the state's voting process works, see Elections coverage for New Hampshire.
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