Chris Pappas Wins Democratic Nomination in New Hampshire Senate Race

Rep. Chris Pappas secured the Democratic Senate nomination in New Hampshire, a critical contest in the upcoming midterm elections, defeating Karishma Manzur, a first-time candidate in the race to succeed retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the first woman elected both governor and senator in U.S. history.

The Associated Press reported Pappas’s win in this key swing state. Republicans, who haven’t won a Senate election in New Hampshire for 16 years, see this open seat as a prime opportunity to increase their majority.

The race between Pappas and Manzur marked one of the final contests in a six-month primary season, highlighting a conflict within the Democratic Party between far-left candidates and centrists.

Manzur emphasized her criticisms of Pappas in interviews, targeting his intentions and record, saying, “All he wants to do is get his cushy job in D.C., attend parties, dine at restaurants, and do the bare minimum.” Her platform included universal health care, a minimum wage increase to at least $20, abolishing ICE, and ending U.S. military aid to Israel.

Manzur accused Pappas of enabling “genocide,” pointing to his ties to pro-Israel groups. She criticized his alignment with corporate donors and foreign-aligned lobbies.

Pappas, who began his Senate campaign more than a year before Shaheen announced she would not seek re-election, responded to these accusations in a Fox News interview. He noted, “Israel is a historic ally of the U.S., the only democracy in the region,” despite his disagreements with the Netanyahu government.

As the frontrunner, Pappas was supported by the establishment and unions. He vowed to combat a political system “rigged for billionaires.” Yet, Manzur claimed Pappas had adopted her populist messaging as his poll numbers declined and criticized his inconsistent political strategies.

Pappas defended his record, asserting his efforts to remove big money from politics since his election to Congress in 2018. He described New Hampshire voters as “pragmatic,” stating, “It’s not a left-wing or right-wing state.”

Pappas is set to face off in the general election against either former Sen. John E. Sununu or former Sen. Scott Brown.

When asked about unifying the Democratic Party post-primary, Pappas expressed optimism, saying, “I’ve always been able to bring people together… Democrats understand this is a pivotal election determining the Senate’s balance of power.”