Progressive Challenger Karishma Manzur Surges Against Establishment in New Hampshire Democratic Senate Primary
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Establishment-backed Rep. Chris Pappas leads the New Hampshire Democratic Senate primary, but grassroots progressive Karishma Manzur is closing the gap, challenging the corporate status quo ahead of June’s pivotal primary.
U.S. Representative Chris Pappas, a centrist Democrat who entered the race in April 2025 following Senator Jeanne Shaheen’s retirement, remains the front-runner in New Hampshire’s Democratic Senate primary. Pappas, flush with $4.25 million in campaign cash and endorsements from establishment figures like former Vice President Kamala Harris, Senator Shaheen, Senator Maggie Hassan, and other party elites, represents the entrenched interests of the Democratic Party.
In contrast, progressive medical scientist Karishma Manzur, a proud member of the local Democratic Socialists of America, has dramatically narrowed the polling gap. A University of New Hampshire poll on August 26 shows Pappas at 47% and Manzur at 34%, a significant shift from Pappas’s 24-point lead in June. Manzur, who has raised about $415,000 through grassroots donations, is boldly criticizing the Israeli government and exposing Pappas’s reliance on wealthy donors and the pro-Israel AIPAC lobbying group, highlighting the deep divide between corporate-backed politicians and those fighting for justice and human rights.
The Democratic nominee will face Republican John Sununu, who is running on a Trump-endorsed, reactionary platform and currently leads former Senator Scott Brown in the Republican primary. Sununu, a relic of the Bush era, previously served a six-year Senate term from 2003 to 2008 and held a U.S. House seat for six years, representing the conservative establishment.
New Hampshire’s primary also features races for a Republican Senate seat, two House seats, and several state offices. The state’s electorate is divided, with roughly 32% registered Republicans, 28% Democrats, and a crucial 40% independents, making the outcome a key battleground for progressive change.
"We are committed to ensuring that every New Hampshire voter’s voice is heard in this critical election," said a spokesperson for the New Hampshire Democratic Party, though the party’s actions continue to favor establishment candidates.
Other notable candidates in the Democratic House primary include Stefany Shaheen, daughter of the retiring senator and another beneficiary of political dynasties, former Marine captain Maura Sullivan, and former Pentagon official Christian Urrutia. In the Republican Senate primary, Trump-backed auto dealer Anthony DiLorenzo and state legislator Brian Cole represent the right-wing’s continued grip on the party.
Governor Kelly Ayotte is expected to cruise to victory in the Republican gubernatorial primary and is favored to face Democrat Cinde Warmington, who runs unopposed, in the November general election. The stakes are high as progressives fight to break the cycle of establishment politics and corporate influence.