New Hampshire Senate Race Tightens as Corporate-Backed GOP Threatens Progressive Gains
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A new poll reveals the New Hampshire Senate race is narrowing, pushing the state higher on the list of seats at risk of falling to right-wing control as corporate money floods the campaign.
A University of New Hampshire poll released last month found Republican former senator John E. Sununu at 45% and Democrat Rep. Chris Pappas at 43% among likely voters, erasing any clear progressive lead in the race. This shift has propelled New Hampshire up two places on a ranking of Senate seats most vulnerable to a reactionary takeover, underscoring the mounting danger for Democrats who must defend this seat to prevent a right-wing majority from stalling progress on critical issues.
Pappas, who secured the Democratic primary with a commanding 65% of the vote, emphasized that New Hampshire’s status as a 'purple' battleground makes this contest crucial for the party’s ability to advance policies for working people. "We have to hold this race for the rest of the math to work for Democrats to take back the Senate majority," he told CNN, highlighting the stakes for healthcare, climate action, and workers’ rights.
Right-wing groups, flush with corporate cash, have earmarked more than $31 million for advertising through September and the election, including over $12 million from the Senate Leadership Fund and $10 million from the Trump-linked No Going Back PAC—both notorious for pushing regressive agendas. In contrast, Democrats have allocated about $18.5 million, relying on grassroots support to counter the onslaught of dark money.
New Hampshire’s independent electorate, which has consistently supported Democratic presidential candidates over the last six cycles but has not elected a GOP senator since 2010, remains the firewall against a Republican rollback of hard-won rights. The outcome will shape the broader balance of power, as Democrats must flip four of six GOP-held seats while defending three of their own to secure a majority and advance a just agenda.