Former Sen. John E. Sununu (R-NH) and Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH) won their respective primary elections on September 8, 2026, setting the field for a general election contest for the U.S. Senate seat held by retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). Sununu, who served in the Senate from 2003 to 2009, defeated former U.S. Ambassador Scott Brown to secure the Republican nomination, while Pappas won the Democratic nod after defeating a challenger.
The race has become a focal point for campaign spending as both parties contest the seat in a state where Democrats currently hold the entire congressional delegation but Republicans control the state legislature and the governorship. Last week, the Cook Political Report shifted its rating of the contest, now classifying it as a toss-up. Conversely, Decision Desk HQ currently projects the seat is likely to remain under Democratic control.
Campaign finance and advertising data show investment from national groups. Republican organizations have spent $6.7 million on aired advertising and have reserved more than $25 million for future buys, according to AdImpact data from September 17. Democrats have spent $4.2 million on aired ads with nearly $15 million in future reservations. While Sununu leads in outside group support, Pappas has raised $15 million compared to $4.1 million raised by Sununu's campaign.
Sununu has campaigned as a pragmatist who can resolve congressional dysfunction, though his opponents have highlighted his past work in the lobbying industry. He has also distanced himself from President Trump on specific policies, including tariffs and military actions in Iran, despite receiving Trump's endorsement. Pappas has emphasized his local ties and legislative record, while Republicans have criticized him over infrastructure issues and his partner's past work for Amazon.
The volume of spending, including a $10 million reservation by the MAGA Inc.-aligned No Going Back PAC and a commitment of more than $10 million from the Senate Democratic leadership's super PAC, translates to roughly $30 of targeted advertising for every person in the state over the next two months. Residents will likely notice this through television and digital advertisements focused on price-gouging, lobbying histories, and federal spending. The shift in rating to a "toss-up" by nonpartisan analysts signals that national party resources will continue to flow into the state.
What happens next: The general election will take place on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Campaign activity is expected to intensify as the candidates contrast their records on the economy and federal policy. Legal and ethics questions raised by both campaigns—including Sununu's denial of any association with Jeffrey Epstein and Pappas's consultation with the House Ethics Committee regarding his partner's disclosure—remain points of debate.