New Hampshire voters pick nominees in key Senate race

New Hampshire voters head to the polls Tuesday to choose nominees for an open U.S. Senate seat that both parties see as a major November battleground, putting President Donald Trump’s endorsement power and Democrats’ internal divides to another test.

The Senate race opened after Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen announced her retirement. Rep. Chris Pappas, who has represented the 1st Congressional District since 2019, is the Democratic front-runner. He faces Karishma Manzur, a medical scientist and member of the Democratic Socialists of America who is campaigning on progressive policies including Medicare for All and removing money from politics.

Manzur has sharply criticized Pappas over his support and funding for Israel, saying he is “enabling genocide.” Pappas, whom Shaheen has endorsed, has focused his campaign on high costs and political corruption and has already launched an ad attacking a possible Republican opponent.

On the Republican side, the primary is centered on former Sen. John Sununu and former Sen. Scott Brown. Sununu represented New Hampshire in the Senate from 2003 to 2008 after serving in the House, and lost his reelection bid to Shaheen. Brown represented Massachusetts in the Senate from 2010 to 2013, lost a New Hampshire Senate race to Shaheen in 2014 and later served as Trump’s ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa.

Trump has endorsed Sununu, who also has backing from Senate Majority Leader John Thune and the National Republican Senatorial Committee. CBS News reported Sununu is the favorite to win the primary. His family name is well known in New Hampshire: his brother Chris Sununu and father John Sununu both served as governor.

The seat could be important in the fight for Senate control. CBS News reported that Democrats need to gain four seats and defend every seat they currently hold to capture the majority. New Hampshire has not voted for a Republican for president since 2000 and has not elected a GOP senator since 2010, but Republicans have held the governor’s office since 2017. Kamala Harris won the state by three points in 2024.

Voters are also choosing nominees in Pappas’ open 1st District seat, which includes Manchester. Democrats have held the seat since 2017, but the district has a history of close races. Pappas won reelection by 8 points in 2024, while Harris carried the district by just 2 points.

Nine Democrats are seeking the nomination. Two leading candidates, Marine veteran Maura Sullivan and former Portsmouth City Council member Stefany Shaheen, are viewed as more establishment-aligned Democrats. Sullivan served at the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Pentagon during the Obama administration and lost to Pappas in the 2018 Democratic primary. Shaheen is a health advocate and the daughter of the retiring senator. CBS News reported Sullivan outraised Shaheen by more than $1 million, citing Federal Election Commission data.

Other Democratic contenders include Christian Urrutia, an Army National Guard officer, and Carleigh Beriont, a union organizer, who are running as staunch progressives. Heath Howard, backed by the local Democratic Socialists of America chapter, remains on the ballot but dropped out and endorsed Beriont.

Five Republicans are competing in the 1st District. Trump endorsed businessman Anthony DiLorenzo in July, calling him “a very successful businessman and entrepreneur” and giving him his “complete and total endorsement.” DiLorenzo faces state Rep. Brian Cole and Hollie Noveletsky, a military veteran and CEO of her family iron company, among others. CBS News reported DiLorenzo had a significant fundraising advantage over Noveletsky, though recent polling showed them statistically tied.

In the 2nd District, first-term Democratic Rep. Maggie Goodlander faces a primary challenge from state Rep. Paige Beauchemin, a former nurse running as a progressive. Beauchemin supports halting data center construction, new artificial intelligence regulations, Medicare for All, abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and labeling Israel’s conduct in Gaza a “genocide.” NBC News reported Beauchemin raised $44,000 compared with Goodlander’s $4.2 million and has not drawn outside support from progressive groups.

Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte is also seeking a second two-year term. She faces two primary challengers but is expected to win the nomination. Democrat Cinde Warmington is running unopposed for her party’s nomination. Poll closing times vary by municipality, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET.