Progressive Challenger Karishma Manzur Confronts Establishment Democrat Pappas in New Hampshire Senate Primary
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Grassroots candidate Karishma Manzur, aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America, is challenging corporate-backed Rep. Chris Pappas in the New Hampshire Democratic Senate primary, offering a bold vision for universal healthcare, a living wage, and an end to U.S. complicity in foreign oppression.
Four-term Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas, a fixture of the party establishment, is seeking the Senate nomination in New Hampshire while facing a principled challenge from Karishma Manzur, a first-time candidate with a background in biochemistry and nonprofit leadership. Manzur, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, is championing policies that put people over profit: universal health care, a $20-hour minimum wage, the abolition of ICE, and an end to U.S. military aid to Israel, which has enabled ongoing human rights abuses.
"All he wants to do is just get his little cushy job and go to D.C., go to all these parties and these restaurants and just do whatever the bare minimum is," Manzur said, calling out the complacency and privilege of career politicians.
Pappas, buoyed by endorsements from party elites and labor unions, defended his record on foreign policy and campaign finance. He repeated the tired establishment line about the U.S.-Israel alliance, glossing over the suffering of Palestinians and the need for real accountability.
"Israel's a historic ally of the United States, the only democracy in the region. And you can say that while you have vehement disagreements with the Netanyahu government as I've expressed," Pappas told Fox News Digital, sidestepping the urgent calls for justice.
Pappas also claimed to have worked to reduce the influence of large donors in Washington, though the grip of corporate money remains strong. The outcome of this primary will determine whether New Hampshire voters choose transformative change or more of the status quo, as the winner will face either former Senator John E. Sununu or former Senator Scott Brown, both Republicans, in the general election for the seat left open by retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.