CHRIS PAPPAS WINS NEW HAMPSHIRE SENATE SEAT AS FIRST OPENLY GAY SENATOR

Chris Pappas, a Democratic congressman from New Hampshire, has won the state's US Senate election, defeating Republican John Sununu, a former senator who previously held the seat. The result makes Pappas the first openly gay man elected to the US Senate. He will succeed Jeanne Shaheen, the retiring Democratic senator who has held the seat for several terms. The race was closely fought and became a late source of concern for Democrats hoping to retain the seat. Pappas is serving his fourth term representing New Hampshire in the US House of Representatives.

Pappas built his Senate campaign around presenting himself as a check on the Trump administration, which his campaign characterised as unpopular in New Hampshire. He received endorsements from several senior Democrats ahead of the vote. Pappas sought to portray Sununu as someone who would ultimately support President Donald Trump's agenda despite presenting himself as independent. He highlighted policies including the war against Iran and Medicaid cuts contained within the One Big Beautiful Bill Act as unpopular among voters. Pappas has previously broken with his own party on some significant legislation during his time in the House.

Sununu represented New Hampshire in the Senate before losing his seat in 2008, and campaigned as an independent-minded candidate despite accepting Trump's endorsement. He criticised the war against Iran and accused the Trump administration of failing to do enough to support Ukraine. Sununu once called Trump a "loser," and in a campaign advertisement he said he had "never met" the president. Pappas's win keeps the seat under Democratic control following Shaheen's decision to step down. The contest formed part of the wider 2026 US midterm elections.