Democratic Senate candidate Chris Pappas emphasizes effort in tight New Hampshire race

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, noting the need to work 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 influence Senate control. While CBS News rates the state as leaning Democratic, Pappas stressed the importance of reaching independent swing voters, energizing the Democratic base, and appealing to Republicans.

He referenced the narrow margin of 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 former president’s influence could hinder congressional oversight. "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 challenges, affordable housing, ending the war in Iran, lowering energy prices, and restoring health-care coverage. He also called for realistic immigration reform, noting the need to curb ICE abuses while respecting due process and supporting immigrant integration.

"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."