New Hampshire Primaries Advance Sununu, Pappas for Senate

Stefany Shaheen secured the Democratic nomination for New Hampshire’s First Congressional District on Tuesday, defeating former Marine Maura Sullivan in a race that tested the strength of family political networks against outsider appeals. The victory came after a late surge of support from established state Democrats and a donor base that overlapped heavily with her mother, retiring Senator Jeanne Shaheen.

Official results showed Shaheen prevailing by a narrow margin after an increasingly negative campaign. Sullivan sought to highlight Shaheen’s family connections and portray her as an extension of the Washington establishment. Shaheen countered by emphasizing her own record in Portsmouth local government and advocacy for medical research, while criticizing aspects of federal budget deals her mother had supported. Two other candidates exited the race in its final weeks, with progressive Christian Urrutia endorsing Shaheen.

Fundraising data underscored the family linkage. Nearly 740,000 dollars, or 39 percent of Shaheen’s itemized contributions, came from donors who had previously given to her mother, according to an analysis of campaign filings. Some of those donors reported direct outreach from the senator on her daughter’s behalf. Sullivan’s campaign attempted to make those ties a central issue, arguing they represented the kind of insider advantage voters in other states have rejected this cycle.

The outcome fits a broader pattern in New Hampshire’s primaries. In the open Senate race to replace Jeanne Shaheen, Representative Chris Pappas defeated a progressive challenger for the Democratic nomination, while former Senator John Sununu easily won the Republican side. Both nominees bring long records in state and federal office, offering voters recognizable profiles in contests that will help determine control of Congress next year.

New Hampshire’s results stand out against a national primary season that has produced several progressive gains and defeats for candidates viewed as too closely tied to party leadership. Here, institutional advantages appeared decisive. Shaheen benefited from endorsements by prominent state Democrats and a campaign operation that could draw on existing donor lists and volunteer networks. Sullivan, despite her military background and fundraising from national security circles, could not overcome those structural edges in the final weeks.

The general election matchup in the First District will pit Shaheen against the Republican nominee, Anthony DiLorenzo, a car dealership owner who received an assist from former President Trump’s endorsement. Pappas and Sununu will face off in the Senate contest, which both parties regard as competitive. Early polling and fundraising suggest the races could remain close into the fall, with control of the House and Senate potentially hinging on outcomes in states like New Hampshire.

For Democrats, Shaheen’s win preserves a chance to hold a seat the party has targeted as winnable. For Republicans, Sununu’s nomination revives a candidate who previously held statewide office and lost to Jeanne Shaheen nearly two decades ago. The results illustrate how family political capital and established donor networks can still shape outcomes even in an environment where voters elsewhere have shown willingness to back challengers.

Voter turnout data and precinct-level results will offer further clues about whether the preference for continuity reflects local conditions or a wider recalibration after a volatile primary period. Either way, the Granite State delivered nominations to candidates with deep roots in its political system rather than those seeking to disrupt it.