The story so far
- Sununu and Pappas Vie in New Hampshire Senate Race4 sources
- Pappas Defeats Sununu in New Hampshire Senate RaceYou are hereLatest
Updated 1m ago · Politics
Pappas Defeats Sununu in New Hampshire Senate Race
Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas beat former Republican Sen. John Sununu for New Hampshire's open Senate seat. The AP, CBS News and Decision Desk HQ projected the win.
- 61% to 38%: Pappas's lead over Sununu with 20% of votes counted.
- 5 to 8 points: Pappas's lead in most polls before Election Day.
- Pappas will be New Hampshire's first openly gay man in the Senate.
- Both nominees won their September primaries by more than 30 points.
Why it matters: Republicans recruited Sununu to flip a Democratic seat. His loss narrows their path and could help Democrats' push for a Senate majority.
- New Hampshire has not elected a Republican senator since 2010.
- Pappas cited tariffs and the Iran war to cast Sununu as a weak check on Trump.
How 23 sources split on this story
Source landscape
Factuality
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Mixed
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Strong LeftLeftLean LeftCenterLean RightRightStrong Right
Political Bias
Coverage by lean
23 sources · 30 articles · 44% Right coverage
Where they split: Outlets agree on the result but differ on the cause: national headwinds and a desire to check Trump, or a strong Republican recruit who fell short.
Center coverage, 7 sources: The center sees Democrats fending off a top Republican target as voters sought a check on Trump.
Axios6hDemocrats beat back GOP Senate challenge in N.H. with Pappas winNOTUS6hDemocrat Chris Pappas Wins Election to U.S. Senate From New Hampshire - The Washington SunPBS NewsHour4hWATCH: Democrat Chris Pappas speaks after winning New Hampshire Senate seatThe Hill6hDemocratic Rep. Chris Pappas wins Senate seat in New HampshireThe National Desk5hDemocrat Chris Pappas to become first openly gay male US senator with win in New HampshireWESH 2 News6hChris Pappas wins US Senate election in New Hampshire to become first openly gay male senatorYahoo News6hChris Pappas will be the first out gay man in the U.S. Senate
Left coverage, 6 sources: The left sees a Democratic hold driven by headwinds for Republicans, including the Iran war and high fuel prices.
CBS News6hChris Pappas wins New Hampshire 2026 Senate electionThe Boston Globe2hAfter 2026 blue wave, the writing is on the wall for RepublicansAl Jazeera17mFirsts for women and minorities in US midterm electionsBoston.com6hChris Pappas defeats John E. Sununu to keep New Hampshire US Senate seat in Democratic handsHollywood Reporter4hChris Pappas Becomes First Openly Gay Man Elected to SenateThe Guardian6hDemocrat Chris Pappas wins New Hampshire Senate race to become first out gay senator
Right coverage, 10 sources: The right sees a setback for Republicans, whose prized recruit could not overcome a hostile national environment.
Washington Examiner1hRepublican Kelly Ayotte wins second term as New Hampshire governorTownhall11hDemocrat Chris Pappas Defeats Republican John Sununu to Win New Hampshire Senate RaceFox News3hGOP governor defies Dem enthusiasm, tough political climate to win re-election in key swing stateNTD6hDemocrat Pappas Defeats GOP's Sununu to Win New Hampshire US Senate ContestBreitbart News5hRep. Chris Pappas Wins New Hampshire Senate RaceCitizen Free Press6hChris Pappas wins in New Hampshire.New York Post6hChris Pappas halts Sununu comeback in New Hampshire, makes Senate historyOne America News14hN.H.: Pappas wins Senate electionThe Center Square6hPappas defeats Sununu in key U.S. Senate raceThe Epoch Times1dDemocrat Pappas Defeats GOP’s Sununu to Win New Hampshire Senate Contest
What’s next: Pappas replaces Shaheen in January. Shaheen's daughter Stefany is running for his House seat.
- Democrats are eyeing flips in several other races that could deliver a Senate majority.
- Will Sununu's public distance from Trump shape how Republicans run in other swing states?
- What was Pappas's final margin once all votes were counted?
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