Chris Pappas wins New Hampshire Senate seat, makes LGBTQ+ history

politicsNov 3, 2026379,617

New Hampshire voters elected Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas to the U.S. Senate, defeating Republican former Sen. John E. Sununu, Decision Desk HQ called the race at 8 p.m. Eastern. With 22 percent of precincts reported, Pappas led Sununu 60 percent to 37 percent. Pappas will succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and his victory preserves the seat for Democrats in a contest both parties viewed as competitive. Pappas was first elected to the House in 2018 as New Hampshire’s first out LGBTQ+ member of Congress and his House record includes support for the Equality Act, legislation banning the gay and transgender panic defense, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ veterans. His record drew scrutiny after he backed the 2024 defense authorization bill despite opposing a provision that restricted Tricare coverage of gender-affirming care for transgender minors; he said he supported the larger bill for defense investments including support for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Pappas’s election makes him the first out gay man elected to the U.S. Senate and transfers his voting record and priorities to a chamber that controls federal legislation, judicial confirmations, and executive branch appointments.

Pete Buttigieg

@petebuttigieg.bsky.social

I am so proud of my friend Chris Pappas and the historic campaign he ran. New Hampshire is lucky to have another great Senator fighting for them in Washington.

25863h ago

Frastis - Center - Sentience - centrist Democrat .3

This is a big win.

Donna C3

A victory made all the sweeter because it means nepo baby Sununu lost, again.

AtheistScott3

I think a lot of us in the northeast are left saying “the first ever? And it was New Hampshire?”

anotherday24.bsky.social1

Coming soon: The 2027 US Senate chamber. 💙

Nero1

Glad I got to vote for Mr. Pappas!

Quoting this

Mike.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀17

why is it historic? 🙂

Decision Desk HQ

@decisiondeskhq.bsky.social

Decision Desk HQ projects Chris Pappas wins the NH US Senate General Election #DecisionMade: 8:00 PM EST Follow live results here: votes.decisiondeskhq.com/races/2026-1...

20423h ago

Kalli45

As a Mass resident who had to keep seeing Sununu ads, I hope he gets torn apart by hyenas.

davidkc.bsky.social22

A year ago the GOPers thought this would be a top flip opportunity for them.

TatiSky14

Lmfao. NYT told me this was a tight race 😂

Gerard Harbison12

The sun goes down on Sununu.

Amy Hampton, M.A.9

Please add reelected or flipped to your graphics please! Thank you!

exposurejb.bsky.social5

Outstanding NH Senator Pappas FTW Sununu was so no no LFG BLUE

Quoting this

Florida Chris271

Hey friends- New Hampshire just elected the first openly gay man to the US Senate.

Mike Rothschild164

The GOP was looking at NH as a potential flip. It was called in 15 minutes.

Daniel Drezner88

Another alleged battleground state called awfully damn early in the evening.

Nied58

Feels good when your hard work pays off.

Pierce49

She can continue to scream into the void. Senator Chicken Tenders 🫡

Gautam Hans49

Representation ain’t everything but having an out gay man elected Senator for the first time is certainly something.

Evergreen Intel36

DDHQ projects Pappas to win NH Senate seat. Dems now have 42 Senate seats locked up.

Luke Bonner25

Turning Point thought they could buy this seat by sending a bunch of d-list celebs to NH polling stations today…

Cai : go see DIGGER15

End of the Sununu Empire!

Dean Barker11

Open seat GOP pickup opportunity - DENIED

Allison Gill

@muellershewrote.com

NEW: Fox News has called New Hampshire for Democrat Chris Pappas

17483h ago

Not Leon Tusk12

Karolying Leavitt being involved in calling that was cherry on top.

PAUL WOLSTENCROFT5

Everytime fox calls a win for democrats, trumps blood pressure goes through the roof. Imagine the raging and screaming going on right now. How awesome is that!

Katie 🇨🇦 🇺🇦 🇵🇦 🇬🇱 🇪🇺 🇳🇴 🇫🇮 🏳️‍🌈 ❌ 👑 🐸4

Yes!!! I was in NH in September, Sununu signs all over the place. Nice win!!! 🌊

Wawamaxxing2

Voters obviously didn’t listen to Trump’s closing pitch on the reflecting pool.

Brewt Blacklist1

Doing the Lord's work, there, watching fox so we don't have to. Thank you for your service.

Barkeromo!!!1

... Well, I guess we all sununu that was gonna happen.

Quoting this

Craig's Late Night Douche Bag Patrol🦘🦘🦘7

He's going to stroke out.

Boss Best4

HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO SENATOR CHRIS PAPPAS (@chrispappasnh.bsky.social), WHO WILL MAKE #BLUES VERY PROUD IN NEW HAMPSHIRE!!! GET TO WORK HOLDING THE REDUMBICANS ACCOUNTABLE!!! Thank you for your attention to this matter! Future Inevitable President BOSS BEST

Ricky Davila

@therickydavila.bsky.social

Democratic candidate Chris Pappas has won the US Senate race in New Hampshire against MAGA lunatic former NH governor Chris Sununu. Awesome.

7463h ago

NH's "Play-by-Play" Guy3

John E. Sununu, not Chris (they are brothers)

Quoting this

Ohighoan3

Sununu needs to climb back under his rock.

Christopher Wiggins

@cwnewser.bsky.social

History made in New Hampshire! Chris Pappas is the first out gay man elected to the U.S. Senate. www.advocate.com/politics/ele...

5303h ago

Quoting this

Noah Berlatsky101

just want to reiterate how fucking stupid the NYT, "Pappas could lose" piece was when there was literally no indication he was going to lose.

Daniel Suitor52

A historic night, but what people who aren't from New Hampshire might not know is that Chris Pappas is also the scion of the family that invented Chicken Fingers at the Puritan Backroom restaurant.

itsonlyzach29

Pappas becomes the first OUT gay man to be elected to the US Senate, and we gotta say OUT because honey....

Otto von Biz Markie8

Posted this earlier, adding it to the thread. Good Things Are Happening

Scare-ah6

not to be rude but why is his haircut straight republican coded

jensuths3

pleasantly surprised by my home state

Foxxi, First of her Name3

The gay agenda pushes forward!!!

The Fresh Prince of Donair2

Congrats on not being a disappointment for once New Hampshire

19thnews

@19thnews.org

Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas will be the first openly gay man to serve in the Senate after defeating Trump-backed former Sen. John Sununu in New Hampshire. https://bit.ly/3WjUxKl

People are gathered, with one person warmly embracing another. Text on the image reads: "Election 2026. Historic Win. Chris Pappas will be the first out gay man in U.S. Senate. In a battleground race in New Hampshire to see which party controls the Senate, LGBTQ+ history is being made.

3943h ago

Quoting this

Dave Awl7

It's a double win that New Hampshire has not only elected the first openly gay man to the Senate, but also broken the power of Big Sununu

Passing Strange At Present4

This makes me very happy. Sununus have never been good for NH.

The Bulwark

@thebulwark.com

Chris Pappas: "Tonight's results are a wake up call for corporate special interests and billionaires who have been rigging the economy for the cowards in Congress who have enabled health care cuts, tariffs, and war. And for the incompetent president who can't even be bothered to care."

3042h ago

Anonymous

@youranoncentral.bsky.social

Democrat Chris Pappas has defeated Republican former Sen. John Sununu in New Hampshire. Democrats hold a key seat in the fight for Senate control. #USElection #Midterms Congratulations @chrispappasnh.bsky.social 🎉

2912h ago

Michael J. Stern

@michaeljstern.bsky.social

Congratulations to Chris Pappas, @chrispappasnh.bsky.social, who will be the first openly gay man in the U.S. Senate! 19thnews.org/2026/11/elec...

2283h ago

A.V.1

I did not see the "openly" on my first read. I was thinking "What about the late Graham or Hawley?"

Quoting this

kenny 🙋🏻‍♂️25

ayeeeeeee, well deserved. he’s a good’n. we like him here in NH

Are you mad at me?14

I know Lady G is looking up from hell with tears in his eyes

Brown Anthony™8

NYT needle says this is a good sign for Madonna winning Album of the Year.

benji (moon’s dad)7

Senate twink is filling out a job application as we speak

Alec2

it can be okay, sometimes.

Doug2

Cool to finally have a gay guy in the Senate! Lol.

FinTwitter

@fintwitter.bsky.social

Chris Pappas wins New Hampshire's Senate race, defeating Republican John Sununu, according to Decision Desk HQ.

1873h ago

Gale Sinatra1

Of course we know there was one before, RIP. . .

Quoting this

Joey Politano🏳️‍🌈4634

Officially the first (out) gay man in the US Senate. Nowhere near the most important thing about this election, but still wow what a historic moment.

Annie Zaleski35

I had Spanish class with him freshman year of college! So wild.

Gales of Novem-Blanx.13

This pleases me greatly. Fuck a Sununu

letithappenalreadymama11

FUCK YEAH NEW HAMPSHIRE YOU DID IT

Drew3

One of the most important families in America, folks.

Stormland3

John Sununu was still alive? I remember hearing that name on Murphy Brown in the 90s...

Kotu3

Ok so he can stop emailing me about Azerbaijan.

Michael Gattozzi2

Oh my god Republicans lost New Hampshire?! Holy shit

VoteHub

@votehub.com

VoteHub projects Chris Pappas to win the New Hampshire U.S. Senate election.

1273h ago

Quoting this

Fanzine. Moxism was always the right way274

NEVER FORGET BITCH ASS TRIPLE H WAS AT A TPUSA GET OUT TO VOTE EVENT AHEAD OF THIS. FUCK THAT BALD HEADED FUCK

FULL COURT D2

He stinks but he's way better than Sununu.

The Downballot

@the-downballot.com

New Hampshire Democrat Stefany Shaheen holds the open 1st District, once one of the most volatile House districts in the nation. Shaheen will replace fellow Democrat Chris Pappas, who was just elected to succeed retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen-Stefany Shaheen's mother.

642h ago

James Ball

@jamesrball.com

This is a Dem hold rather than a flip, but it's one of the very few Senate seats there were some jitters that the Dems could lose. So this is promising. Chris Pappas would also become the first out gay man elected to the US Senate, ever.

603h ago