Rep. Chris Pappas is trading his House seat for a statewide gamble, jumping into the race for Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s open U.S. Senate slot and betting that a dealmaking style can still win in one of the country’s last truly purple states.
The Manchester Democrat said Sunday that he is ready to put his record in Congress in front of all of New Hampshire. In an interview, he did not bother hiding who he thinks he will be up against, or how he plans to frame the contrast.
“I'm ready to take on an opponent with a famous political name who, frankly, is a relic of New Hampshire's political past,” Pappas told NBC Boston, stressing that New Hampshire is “very purple” and that a plurality of voters are independents. He said he plans to barnstorm the state to convince Granite Staters to send him to the Senate in 2027.
Pappas Files And The Campaign Kickoff
Pappas quietly made it official earlier this month. His campaign says he filed Senate paperwork in Concord on June 8, casting the move as the next step in a larger fight for the state.
According to Pappas for Senate, the filing took place at the New Hampshire Secretary of State’s office. The campaign framed it as part of an effort to “take on those big fights for Granite Staters,” language that telegraphs a populist pitch without straying far from his usual pragmatist brand.
Shaheen’s Exit Opened The Door
The entire contest exists because Shaheen decided to step aside after three decades in high office. In March 2025, she announced that she would not seek reelection in 2026, instantly transforming what would have been a sleepy incumbent race into a marquee open-seat battle watched well beyond New England.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen's office released her announcement and a video message on March 12, 2025, confirming that her current term will be her last and clearing the path for candidates like Pappas to step up.
Who He Could Face
Republicans, unsurprisingly, are not sitting this one out. Two familiar names have already jumped into the GOP primary, giving Pappas exactly the kind of high-profile opposition he seemed to reference in his “relic” comment.
Former U.S. Sen. John E. Sununu formally entered the race in October 2025, according to reporting by WMUR. And former Sen. Scott Brown launched his own bid in June 2025, a move covered by outlets including NH Journal. Either would set up a contest framed around political legacies, moderates and which version of New Hampshire voters want to see in Washington.
What To Watch
New Hampshire’s political math is famously messy, which is exactly why this race is already being treated like a national bellwether. The state sends a fully Democratic delegation to Congress, has a Republican governor and is home to a big bloc of independents who are happy to swing either way.
State coverage and election trackers consistently point to those undeclared voters as the group that will decide who replaces Shaheen. Pappas is leaning hard into his retail-politics style, betting that town halls, small events and a bipartisan sales pitch can win them over. New Hampshire Public Radio lays out the emerging field and underscores how independents could once again be the ultimate tiebreakers.
Next Steps For Pappas
For now, Pappas is doing what New Hampshire politicians do best: logging highway miles. He says he will travel the state in the coming weeks, hitting small towns and local events to hammer a message centered on affordability and veterans’ care while drawing contrasts with his likely Republican opponents.
His campaign says it is already building an operation in counties across New Hampshire, preparing for what they expect to be an expensive and hard-fought general election. More details on his bid are posted by Chris Pappas for Senate.
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