Democrat Chris Pappas won New Hampshire's U.S. Senate election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, defeating Republican John E. Sununu, the Associated Press projected.
Pappas defeated Sununu and Constitution Party candidate Edmond LaPlante in the race to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. The open seat drew national attention because it could help determine which party controls the Senate.
Vote counting remained underway after the AP call. The results are unofficial, and final certified totals will come from the New Hampshire Secretary of State.
What was at stake
Shaheen held the seat for almost 18 years before announcing she would step down, according to the New Hampshire Bulletin. Her retirement created an open race in a state both parties targeted.
Pappas, a four-term congressman representing New Hampshire's 1st District, won the Democratic primary on Sept. 8, defeating progressive challenger Karishma Manzur. Sununu, who represented New Hampshire in the Senate from 2003 to 2009 before losing to Shaheen in 2008, won the Republican primary over former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, according to Citizens Count's primary results.
Both candidates focused on affordability during the campaign. Pappas tied Sununu to President Donald Trump and advocated increased funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and tariff exemptions for small businesses. Sununu proposed market-based solutions, including changes to permitting regulations and measures to address federal spending, as reported by New Hampshire Public Radio.
LaPlante, a mechanic and Marine Corps veteran from Richmond, ran on a constitutional platform, according to an NHPR interview. He chairs the Constitution Party of New Hampshire.
The AP projects winners when its decision team determines that trailing candidates no longer have a path to victory. A race call does not mean that every ballot has been counted.
