Chris Pappas

Rep. Chris Pappas has his eyes set on bigger things.

The three-term congressman from New Hampshire is seeking a trip to the Senate this November and will face either John Sununu or Scott Brown, both former senators running for the Republican nomination.

Pappas homed in on Sununu during our conversation earlier this month.

"I'm ready to take on an opponent with a famous political name who, frankly, is a relic of New Hampshire's political past," said Pappas.

The Granite State is a unique political environment. The state's entire Congressional delegation is Democratic, while Gov. Kelly Ayotte is a Republican and the State House consists of GOP majorities.

"It's a very purple state," said Pappas. "The plurality of voters are independents. They're not affiliated with either party, and there's a lot of suspicion about both parties."

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Like many Democrats running in 2026, Pappas is reckoning with the party's future, weighing whether the old guard should remain at the political helm — specifically when it comes to current Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

"We need some turnover, and that goes on both sides of the aisle, frankly," said Pappas. "So we will see who's running for leader after the election, and I'll make an assessment that's in the best interest of my state."

While he considers what steps he may take in the Senate, Pappas says he plans to go everywhere during this campaign aiming to convince Granite Staters he should be sent to the Senate come 2027.

"I think they're going to understand the assignment if we're able to deliver the message," he said.