Sununu, Pappas Set for High-Stakes New Hampshire Senate Showdown That Could Shape GOP Majority

New Hampshire voters chose familiar names and safer bets in Tuesday's Senate primaries, setting up a November contest that could have major implications for the Republican majority in Washington. Rep. Chris Pappas won the Democratic nomination while former Sen. John E. Sununu cruised to victory on the GOP side, teeing up what forecasters call a virtual tie in a state that both parties view as critical.

The race to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is one of the GOP's best pickup opportunities in a midterm cycle that has Republicans defending six seats, including races in Texas and Iowa where President Donald Trump won decisively. National Republicans have pledged $17 million to flip the seat and keep their 53-47 majority intact.

Why New Hampshire matters for Iowa and the national balance of power

While Iowa voters won't cast ballots in this race, the outcome will directly affect the Senate agenda on issues ranging from agriculture policy to energy independence and judicial confirmations. A Republican win in New Hampshire would give the GOP a stronger buffer against a predicted Democratic wave in the 2026 midterms.

Sununu, who previously served in the Senate after defeating Shaheen in 2002, comes from one of New Hampshire's most prominent political families. He won the endorsement of President Trump despite publicly disagreeing with the administration's trade policies and calling the president a