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MIDTERMS 2026 - SENATE

New Hampshire

LEAN D D-held - Open: Shaheen is retiring

Election day is Tuesday, November 3 - 7 days away.

DEMOCRAT

Chris Pappas

Four-term U.S. representative for New Hampshire's 1st District, giving up the seat to run for Senate. source

REPUBLICAN

John E. Sununu

Former one-term U.S. senator (2003-2009) and six-year U.S. representative, unseated by Shaheen in 2008; brother of former Gov. Chris Sununu. source

Where they differ

Only issues they disagree on. Each position is something the candidate said, voted for or published, linked to where.

2025 tax and spending law (One Big Beautiful Bill Act)

PAPPAS

Voted against the law's final passage in July 2025; wants to reverse its Medicaid cuts due next year. source

SUNUNU

Supports the law: 'It kept taxes low. It cut taxes on overtime'; backs its Medicaid work requirements. source

Social Security

PAPPAS

Would raise Social Security taxes on millionaires to shore up the program. source

SUNUNU

Defends his 2005 plan to move part of payroll taxes into private accounts, saying it would have ensured solvency. source

Proof of citizenship to register to vote

PAPPAS

Voted against the SAVE Act (H.R. 22), which requires proof of citizenship to register, in April 2025. source

SUNUNU

Supports federal legislation requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote. source

Transgender athletes

PAPPAS

Voted against H.R. 28, the bill to bar transgender girls from girls' school sports, in January 2025. source

SUNUNU

Opposes allowing transgender girls to compete on women's sports teams. source

The money

Each campaign's own filings with the Federal Election Commission, for the whole 2026 cycle. Reports are filed on different days, so check the date under each name.

RAISED

Pappas $23.7M

Sununu $5.7M

SPENT

Pappas $22.1M

Sununu $3.9M

CASH LEFT

Pappas $2.0M

Sununu $1.7M

Pappas: through 2026-10-14; Sununu: through 2026-10-14. Source: FEC, read 2026-10-23.

Outside groups

Money super PACs, parties and other groups reported spending on their own to help or hurt each candidate.

Chris Pappas

to help $266K

to hurt $1.3M

John E. Sununu

to help $3.2M

to hurt $131K

Independent expenditures reported to the FEC for the 2026 cycle, primary included. Groups that do not have to report (some issue ads) are not counted.

Latest polling

A Saint Anselm College poll of 1,042 likely voters (released around Oct. 6) had Pappas 51%, Sununu 44%. source

New Hampshire right now

How the state is doing going into the vote, from the people who count it.

JOBLESS RATE

2.6%

US: 4.2%

September 2026, seasonally adjusted, preliminary. Source: BLS

GAS, REGULAR

$4.20

US: $4.27

State average on 2026-10-27. Source: AAA

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Photos from Wikimedia Commons: Chris Pappas by Nate Payne, Public domain; John E. Sununu by Unknown author, Public domain.

Positions checked 2026-10-23. Things they agree on are left out on purpose. Spot something wrong? Use the feedback button and we will fix it.