Chris Pappas wins New Hampshire Senate seat to be first out gay man

Chris Pappas secures New Hampshire Senate seat

Democratic Representative Chris Pappas has defeated former Senator John Sununu to win a seat in the U.S. Senate, according to projections by Decision Desk HQ. The victory in New Hampshire makes Pappas the first openly gay man to serve in the upper chamber of Congress, The 19th News reported. This contest was a critical battleground in a broader effort by Democrats to flip the Senate, a body currently held by Republicans with a 53-47 margin.

#NHSEN — John Sununu in a new TV ad: “The way Chris Pappas tells it, I’m President Trump’s long-lost son. I’ve never even met the man." pic.twitter.com/7zgQHNoHZr”

— https://x.com/i/status/2112505235897782288

The race was an open seat following the decision by Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen not to seek reelection. Because the seat was vulnerable, Pappas’ win serves as a vital defensive victory for Democrats, who require a net gain of four seats to secure a majority. The campaign was marked by a significant financial gap; Open Secrets data shows that Pappas outraised Sununu by more than $15 million, though both candidates relied heavily on millions of dollars in out-of-state funding.

While the historic nature of the win is significant, Pappas maintained a campaign focus on traditional legislative issues. In an interview with USA TODAY, Pappas stated he was not running specifically to make history, but acknowledged the win as a sign of how far the country has progressed regarding LGBTQ+ rights.

A rare moment of civility in a heated cycle

The New Hampshire contest stood out for its relative lack of personal animosity compared to other midterm races nationwide. Sununu, who previously served in the Senate from 2003 to 2009, did not use Pappas’ sexuality as a central theme of his campaign. Instead, Sununu focused his critiques on ideology and policy, often accusing Pappas of being too closely aligned with the Democratic Party and voting for tax increases.

Sununu also attempted to navigate his relationship with the Republican base by distancing himself from President Donald Trump. In an advertisement released in late October, Sununu claimed he had “never even met the man” and pledged to oppose any presidential policies that might harm New Hampshire residents. During a candidate forum in Salem in mid-October, sexuality was mentioned only once, when Sununu noted he had voted against a ban on gay marriage during his 2004 Senate term to signal his moderate social stances.

The lack of focus on Pappas’ personal life was noted by local voters. Dave Breault, an 81-year-old volunteer at a debate, told USA TODAY that he found the lack of discussion regarding Pappas’ sexuality surprising, characterizing it as a “non-issue” for voters. This sentiment was echoed by Rachel Teague of the LGBTQ+ center Manchester True, who noted that some younger constituents were only recently aware of Pappas’ sexual orientation.

Comparing the history of LGBTQ+ Senators

Pappas joins a very small group of individuals who have broken barriers in the U.S. Senate. While several LGBTQ+ individuals have served, the number of elected officials is limited. The following table outlines the precedent set by those who came before him:

Senator	State	Status	Context
Tammy Baldwin	Wisconsin	Elected	First out LGBTQ+ person elected to the Senate (2013)
Kyrsten Sinema	Arizona	Elected	Former Democrat who became an Independent
Laphonza Butler	California	Appointed	First Black lesbian senator; appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2023

The legislative profile of a moderate Democrat

Pappas enters the Senate with a reputation for bipartisanship, though his record contains clear ideological anchors. During his four terms representing New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District, he was recognized by the Lugar Center in 2023 as one of the most bipartisan members of Congress. He frequently broke with his party on various House votes, a trait that helped him secure endorsements from Republicans like former state Senator Rick Russman and 2022 GOP nominee Don Bolduc.

Chris Pappas wins New Hampshire Senate race | The US Sun

Despite his moderate reputation, Pappas maintains strong ties to core Democratic priorities. He has consistently earned high ratings from the AFL-CIO and Reproductive Freedom for All. As a co-chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, he has also been a primary sponsor of legislation aimed at protecting LGBTQ+ rights. His campaign was bolstered by endorsements from high-profile Democrats, including former Vice President Kamala Harris.

Chris Pappas wins New Hampshire Senate seat to be first out gay man — Photo: yahoo.com

Critics, however, point to his legislative history as a point of contention. While he is viewed as a moderate, USA TODAY reports that he has voted to raise taxes on several occasions during his tenure as a state legislator, a point Sununu leveraged to argue that Pappas was too closely tied to national Democratic fiscal policies.

The transition from the House to the Senate marks a significant shift for the Manchester native, who began his political career in the state House of Representatives. As the Senate prepares for a new session, Pappas will move from representing a single district to representing the entire state of New Hampshire.