Chris Pappas

Chris Pappas is an American Democratic politician and restaurateur who served as a New Hampshire state representative, Hillsborough County treasurer and executive councilor before becoming a U.S. Representative in 2019. In November 2026 he was elected U.S. Senator from New Hampshire, defeating former Senator John E. Sununu John E. SununuJohn E. Sununu is an American Republican politician and corporate director who served in the U.S. House from 1997 to 2003 and as a U.S. Senator from New Hampshire from 2003 to 2009, and later sat on the boards of companies including Boston Scientific. He was the Republican nominee in New Hampshire’s 2026 U.S. Senate election, which he lost to Democrat Chris Pappas.Open the full entry.

Contents11 sections

Key facts

Family and the Family Restaurant

Pappas is a descendant of Greek immigrants who grew up in Manchester and attended its public schools. His family runs the Puritan Backroom, a Manchester restaurant more than a century old, and Pappas is a co-owner of the family business.⁠[1][2][3]

1980–2002Birth and Education

Pappas was born in Manchester, New Hampshire, in 1980 and earned a bachelor’s degree in government from Harvard University Harvard UniversityHarvard University is a private research university in Massachusetts, established by the Massachusetts Bay Colony legislature in 1636 and named in 1639 for early benefactor John Harvard. Its principal campuses are in Cambridge and the Allston and Longwood neighborhoods of Boston. It includes Harvard College, graduate and professional schools, and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. Two governing boards share oversight. Alan M. Garber was president as of October 2026, and the endowment stood at $56.9 billion at the end of fiscal 2025.Open the full entry in 2002.⁠[3]

2002–2011State Representative and County Treasurer

From 2002 to 2006 Pappas served two terms in the New Hampshire House of Representatives, representing Hillsborough County, and from 2007 to 2011 he was Hillsborough County treasurer.⁠[3]

2013–2019New Hampshire Executive Council

From 2013 to 2019 Pappas served three terms on the New Hampshire Executive Council, representing District 4.⁠[3][1]

2019–2026U.S. Representative

Since January 3, 2019, Pappas has represented New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House; he was the first openly gay member of the House elected from New Hampshire. As of 2025 he was serving his fourth term.⁠[3][4]

In the 119th Congress he serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (including its Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation; Highways and Transit; and Water Resources and Environment subcommittees) and the Veterans’ Affairs Committee (Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs; Economic Opportunity).⁠[5]

April 2025Senate Campaign Launch

After Democratic U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen decided not to seek another term, Pappas traveled around New Hampshire exploring a candidacy and announced his Senate campaign in a social media post on April 3, 2025, with a kickoff event in Manchester that evening.⁠[4]

September 2026Democratic Primary

On September 8, 2026, Pappas won the Democratic primary with 64.6% (60,119 votes), defeating Exeter scientist Karishma Manzur, who received 33.2% (30,942 votes), and other candidates; on the Republican side, former U.S. Senator John E. Sununu defeated former Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown.⁠[3][2]

November 2026Election to the U.S. Senate

On November 3, 2026, the Associated Press called New Hampshire’s U.S. Senate race for Pappas over Republican John E. Sununu, making him the first openly gay man elected to the U.S. Senate.⁠[6]

Policy Positions

His campaign website says he has pushed for “tax cuts for working families and small businesses” and has stood “up to Big Pharma to lower drug costs.”⁠[1]

Related Organizations, Websites, and Public Accounts

Office of Congressman Chris Pappas: Official website: https://pappas.house.gov/ (opens in a new window).⁠[7]

Chris Pappas for Senate: Official website: https://www.chrispappas.org/ (opens in a new window).⁠[1]

X: Public account: https://x.com/RepChrisPappas (opens in a new window).⁠[7]

X: Public account: https://x.com/chrispappasnh (opens in a new window).⁠[1]

YouTube YouTubeYouTube is Google’s video-sharing and creator platform, founded in 2005 by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim and acquired by Google in 2006. Built around video uploading, viewing, and creator earnings, the platform has developed Shorts, YouTube Music, Premium, YouTube TV, and products for children, and is headquartered in San Bruno, California, United States.Open the full entry: Public channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisPappasNH (opens in a new window).⁠[1]