New Hampshire Primary Showdown: Key Races and Surprising Twists

Hey, the Politics Desk drops a fresh update each day. Tonight the focus is New Hampshire’s primary contests as the polls close. The political team will highlight the top races.

In the Democratic Senate race, Rep. Chris Pappas is seen as the favorite to win the nomination. He captured a swing district in 2018 and will face Sen. Jeanne Shaheen after she steps down. He is preparing for November. He stresses rising costs and political misconduct. He has launched an ad that targets a possible GOP opponent. His main challenger is Karishma Manzur, a researcher and member of the Democratic Socialists of America. She backs progressive ideas like Medicare for All. She has strongly condemned Pappas for supporting Israel, saying he is helping genocide.

The Republican Senate contest features two former senators: John Sununu and Scott Brown. Sununu served New Hampshire from 2003 to 2008 after a House stint. He lost his 2008 re‑election bid to Shaheen, but Republicans think his famous family name may give him an edge because his brother and father have both been governors. He enjoys backing from President Donald Trump, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Brown represented Massachusetts for three years. He previously challenged the New Hampshire Senate race in 2014. He served as Trump’s ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa during the first presidential term.

Eight weeks before Election Day, both parties sense the Senate could be contested this fall, even in traditionally red areas. Trump lost New Hampshire by only three points in 2024, giving Republicans optimism that this contested race might become competitive. The GOP hasn’t captured a Senate seat there since 2010, though New Hampshire currently has a Republican governor, Kelly Ayotte.

In Texas, the first ad from Musk’s super PAC in the tight Senate race has just appeared, focusing on transgender issues. The spot, titled ‘Non-binary,’ shows Democratic candidate James Talarico repeating ‘God is non-binary’ twice in 15 seconds, and notes he opposed a bill that would bar biological men from women’s sports. To round it off, Ken Paxton’s campaign posted an AI-made ad on social media this morning with comparable messaging. These ads illustrate how Republicans are leaning on familiar themes to protect Senate control in conservative states.