Democratic Senate candidate Chris Pappas stresses relentless organizing in a razor-thin New Hampshire race
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Rep. Chris Pappas says his campaign is refusing to take anything for granted as the New Hampshire Senate contest tightens, leaning on outreach to independents and warning that John Sununu’s ties to Donald Trump would deepen Washington’s corruption and weaken accountability.
Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas, the party’s Senate candidate in New Hampshire, told "Face the Nation" that his campaign is "taking nothing for granted" as Election Day approaches, underscoring the need to keep organizing hard in the final 23 days of the race. "I'm hopeful about where we're going to end up at the end of this thing, but we've got to put in the work over the next 23 days," Pappas said.
Pappas, who has served in the House since 2019, faces former GOP Sen. John Sununu in a contest that could shape Senate control. While CBS News rates the state as leaning Democratic, Pappas stressed that victory still depends on turning out the Democratic base, winning over independent swing voters, and speaking to Republicans disillusioned with the right-wing direction of the party.
He pointed to the narrow margin in the 2016 Senate race and Sununu’s well-known political family, saying, "I'm up against a candidate with a very famous political pedigree in New Hampshire. He's been a U.S. senator before. But this isn't about going back to the failed politicians with failed ideas from the past, it's about looking ahead to the future."
Pappas linked Sununu’s campaign to Donald Trump, arguing that the current president’s influence could make congressional oversight even harder and shield corruption in Washington. "The fact is, Donald Trump has said this, that 'pretend I'm on the ballot.' He’s on the ballot through candidates like John Sununu, who will maintain his majority in the U.S. Senate, will make it harder for us to hold this administration to account to address the culture of corruption in Washington and fight to lower costs for New Hampshire families," he said.
When asked about Democratic priorities if they regain control of Congress, Pappas said the party must focus on economic pressure, affordable housing, ending the war in Iran, lowering energy prices, and restoring health-care coverage. He also called for realistic immigration reform, saying ICE abuses must be curbed while due process is respected and immigrants are welcomed into the country’s extended American family.
"We have to be realistic — Donald Trump's going to be president for the next two years. We got to find every point of leverage we possibly can to rein in the disgusting abuses we have seen from ICE," Pappas said. "We have to make sure that we are going after the worst of the worst criminals that are violating the law, while also respecting due process rights and making sure immigrants are part of our extended American family. And people in New Hampshire support that."