Key swing state voters to settle dueling Senate primary fights in crucial open-seat race

New Hampshire Primary Tests Party Divides in Key Midterm Battleground

Manchester, N.H. — Voters in New Hampshire head to the polls Tuesday to settle high-stakes primary races that could shape the balance of power in the U.S. Senate and highlight deepening ideological divides within both major parties.

The spotlight is on the Democratic Senate primary, where longtime incumbent Chris Pappas is facing an unexpectedly strong challenge from Karishma Manzur, a first-time candidate aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America. Manzur has surged in recent weeks, turning what was once considered a longshot bid into a competitive race that underscores growing tensions between progressive insurgents and the party establishment.

Manzur, a scientist with a Ph.D. in biochemistry and a nonprofit leader, is advocating for sweeping policy changes including universal healthcare, a $20 minimum wage, the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and an end to all military aid to Israel. She has accused Pappas of enabling what she calls genocide by the Israeli government in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

“Chris Pappas has had his turn and has not been able to serve this state honorably,” Manzur said in a recent interview. “He hasn’t done a good job in serving his corporate donors, his AIPAC foreign-aligned lobbies.”

Pappas, a four-term representative and the early favorite for the nomination, has pushed back sharply on those claims. He defended Israel as a key democratic ally while criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership.

“Israel's a historic ally of the United States, the only democracy in the region,” Pappas said. “And you can say that while you have vehement disagreements with the Netanyahu government, as I’ve expressed.”

He added, “I think Netanyahu's being incredibly reckless right now. He faces voters in a matter of weeks and could lose his election. And I think that would be important to set a new tone for the U.S.-Israel relationship.”

Despite his establishment backing—including support from labor unions and pro-Israel groups—Manzur argues that Pappas is only adopting populist messaging now because he’s slipping in the polls.

“It’s really embarrassing and insulting to the people of New Hampshire,” she said. “He’s been there for eight years. He has not provided any of that sort of populist messages, and now he's realizing, wait, he's dropping in the polls, and now he has to catch up.”

Pappas rejected that characterization, pointing to his record of pushing to remove big money from politics since his election to Congress in 2018. He emphasized his appeal to moderate voters, noting that New Hampshire “is not a left wing or a right wing state. It’s a state of voters who are pragmatic.”

On the Republican side, the Senate primary features a clash between former Sen. John E. Sununu and former Sen. Scott Brown, both vying to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who was the first woman in the nation’s history to be elected governor and senator.

Sununu, a Trump critic who received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump earlier this year, also has backing from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Brown, meanwhile, argues that Sununu is too beholden to party leadership and outside interests.

“He’s got 70 endorsements on his website, but he doesn’t have the president’s,” Brown said. “He never talks about it. He’s embarrassed by it.”

Brown, who previously served as one of Trump’s early ambassadors, claimed that he has maintained support among the MAGA base for over a year and that Sununu is merely joining the race late.

“Johnny came lately, and he's here, and now he thinks everyone's going to just vote for him,” Brown said. “That’s not how it works. You got to go earn it.”

Sununu countered by saying his focus remains squarely on serving New Hampshire.

“I'll have one job—stand up for the people of New Hampshire every single day,” Sununu said. “I don't need to make anyone in Washington happy.”

He also distanced himself from some of Trump’s policies, notably disagreeing with the administration’s trade tensions with Canada.

“I don’t think it’s the right thing to pick a trade war with Canada,” Sununu said. “They're a great trading partner for New Hampshire.”

When asked whether he would welcome Trump on the campaign trail, Sununu replied, “I don’t need anyone from outside New Hampshire to campaign for me. I’ve said that from the very beginning.”

While the Senate races draw the most attention, several competitive House primaries are also on the ballot. In New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District, where Pappas is running for Senate, his eventual successor will be chosen through a crowded Democratic field that includes Stefany Shaheen, daughter of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, and Maura Sullivan, a Marine veteran and former Defense Department official. Progressive contender Carleigh Beriont, a local selectwoman, has also gained momentum heading into Election Day.

On the Republican side in the 1st District, Trump-backed businessman Anthony DiLorenzo competes against Hollie Noveletsky, a businesswoman and former state party official. In the 2nd District, first-term Democratic Rep. Maggie Goodlander faces a leftward challenge from state Rep. Paige Beauchemin. Libertarian-turned-Republican Lily Tang Williams leads the GOP primary there.

At the top of the ticket, Gov. Kelly Ayotte, a former U.S. senator and state attorney general, faces minimal opposition as she seeks re-election. Cinde Warmington, a former Executive Councilor, is unopposed for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

As one of the nation’s earliest voting states, New Hampshire often sets the tone for national political trends. With control of the U.S. Senate hanging in the balance this fall, Tuesday’s contests offer a preview of broader battles to come—not only between parties, but within them.