Chris Pappas wins New Hampshire Democratic primary in history-making U.S. Senate campaign

U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas won New Hampshire’s Democratic primary for U.S. Senate on Tuesday, advancing to a fiercely competitive general election that could determine control of the chamber. He is also one step closer to making LGBTQ+ history.

Decision Desk HQ called the race for Pappas at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, with 21 percent of the vote counted. Pappas received 60.08 percent, defeating progressive medical scientist Karishma Manzur, who received 38.36 percent. Three other candidates also ran.

Pappas will compete in November for the seat held by retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.

On the Republican side, former New Hampshire Sen. John E. Sununu faced former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown in a contest between two men previously defeated by Shaheen. Sununu, who represented New Hampshire in the Senate from 2003 to 2009, lost the seat to Shaheen in 2008 and entered Tuesday with President Donald Trump’s endorsement. Brown, who later served as Trump’s ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, moved to New Hampshire after leaving the Massachusetts seat and unsuccessfully challenged Shaheen in 2014. Decision Desk HQ projected Sununu as the Republican nominee at 8:00 p.m. Eastern. Sununu had 70 percent of the vote with 15 percent of votes counted.

“Tonight’s victory sends a clear message that voters are looking for leaders who will fight for their rights, their freedoms, and to be treated with dignity and respect,” Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson said in a statement. “Chris Pappas has delivered results, stood up for equality, and showed up for the people he serves. HRC was proud to mobilize Equality Voters across New Hampshire to help power this win. We don't have a second to waste between now and November. We look forward to continuing our work with Rep. Pappas as he drives toward victory in November so he can help return a pro-equality majority to the United States Senate.”

Related: Democrat Chris Pappas in dead heat with John Sununu in New Hampshire Senate race

Pappas entered the race as the frontrunner, armed with a sizable fundraising advantage and endorsements from Shaheen, Sen. Maggie Hassan, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and major LGBTQ+ political organizations. But Manzur narrowed his polling lead late in the campaign, challenging him from the left over healthcare, corporate influence, and his support from donors aligned with the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC.

A Manchester native, Pappas was first elected to the House in 2018, becoming New Hampshire’s first out LGBTQ+ member of Congress. He is a cochair of the Congressional Equality Caucus and has cosponsored the Equality Act, introduced legislation to prohibit the gay and transgender “panic” defense, and advocated for LGBTQ+ veterans.

Related: Gay New Hampshire congressman's challenger has anti-LGBTQ+ history

His record has also drawn scrutiny. Pappas was the only LGBTQ+ member of Congress to support a 2024 defense bill that prohibited Tricare, the military’s health insurance program, from covering gender-affirming care for transgender minors. He told The Advocate that he opposed the provision but backed the larger legislation because of its military pay and shipyard investments.

If elected in November, Pappas would become the first out gay man elected to the Senate and only the third out LGBTQ+ senator in U.S. history, following Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and former Sen. Laphonza Butler of California.

“I’ve never sought to make history,” Pappas previously told The Advocate. “That’s just happened along the way while I’ve tried to be of use to people in New Hampshire through public service.”