Democratic · New Hampshire
Chris Pappas
U.S. Senator-elect from New Hampshire; U.S. Representative, NH-1
Rep. Chris Pappas won New Hampshire's open U.S. Senate seat 56.0% to former Sen. John E. Sununu's 42.2% on Nov. 3, 2026 (AP data via NBC News). He will be the first openly gay man elected to the Senate.
- 2026 race
- U.S. Senate, New Hampshire
- Result
- Won (hold): Pappas 56.0%, Sununu 42.2% [Source]
Biography
Pappas has represented New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District since 2019. He previously served on the New Hampshire Executive Council and in the state House, and his family runs the Puritan Backroom restaurant in Manchester. Sununu conceded, telling supporters it was "not our night," CBS News reported.
Record
- U.S. House, NH-1, since 2019
- New Hampshire Executive Council (2013–2019)
Life & background
- His family's Manchester restaurant, the Puritan Backroom, dates to the early 1900s; his grandfather claimed to have invented the chicken tender there in 1974. [Source]
Coverage
No articles yet.
Sources
- 2026 Senate Results: Democrats retake control — NBC News (AP data)
- 2026 Senate midterm election results as Democrats win control — CBS News
- Chris Pappas (American politician) – Wikipedia — Wikipedia