Federal race · November 3, 2026

U.S. Senate

U.S. senators write and vote on federal laws, confirm presidential nominees such as judges and Cabinet members, and approve treaties.

6-year term. Open seat: no incumbent is running. Open seat: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D) is not seeking reelection. Three candidates are printed on the ballot: Chris Pappas (Democratic), John E. Sununu (Republican), and Edmond Laplante (Constitution Party, listed in the ballot's "Other Candidates" column). Party primaries were held Sept. 8, 2026.

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name.

  • Edmond Laplante

    Auto mechanic and school board member
    Constitution

    Laplante is the Constitution Party's nominee, an auto mechanic and Marine Corps veteran from Richmond who serves on a school board. He qualified for the ballot by petition. His campaign centers on limiting federal power, ending U.S. involvement in foreign wars, and enforcing existing immigration law.

  • Chris Pappas

    U.S. Representative, New Hampshire's 1st District (since 2019)
    Democratic

    Pappas is a Democrat who has represented New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District since 2019 and previously served on the state Executive Council. He co-owns his family's Manchester restaurant. His campaign centers on lowering costs, an anti-corruption agenda, and protecting Social Security, Medicare and abortion rights.

  • John E. Sununu

    Former U.S. Senator from New Hampshire (2003–2009)
    Republican

    Sununu is a Republican and engineer who represented New Hampshire in the U.S. House from 1997 to 2003 and the U.S. Senate from 2003 to 2009, and later worked in business and on corporate boards. He is seeking the seat he lost in 2008. His campaign centers on the economy and affordability, congressional accountability measures such as term limits, and what he calls an independent, practical approach.

Compare on the issues

Summaries of each candidate's stated positions. See each profile for sources and details.

Candidate positions by issue for U.S. Senate
IssueEdmond Laplante
Constitution
Chris Pappas
Democratic
John E. Sununu
Republican
Education

Supports expanding homeschooling freedom and strengthening parents' role in their children's education.

No public position found yet

Supports allowing states to bar transgender athletes from girls' and women's sports and praised the 2026 Supreme Court ruling allowing such bans.

Elections & DemocracyNo public position found yet

Sponsors the DISCLOSE Act, which would require groups such as super PACs to disclose donors giving over $10,000, and supports overturning Citizens United.

Says he will push for congressional term limits, require members of Congress to pay the full cost of their health care, and cut lawmakers' pay if they vote to shut down the government.

Foreign Policy

Calls for ending U.S. involvement in wars abroad and stopping foreign aid.

Supported aid to Ukraine and security assistance for Israel and backs a two-state solution. In 2026 he said U.S. policy toward Israel needs "a reset" and voted "present" on a measure to restrict weapons sales to Israel.

No public position found yet
Immigration

Supports enforcing existing immigration laws and says people in the country illegally should not receive state or federal benefits meant for citizens and lawful residents.

Supports comprehensive immigration reform, more border technology and funding for 22,000 Border Patrol agents, and protections for DREAMers. Calls for "guardrails" on ICE and opposed an ICE detention facility in Merrimack.

No public position found yet
Social Security & MedicareNo public position found yet

Says he will "never vote to cut benefits" and opposes raising the retirement age or privatizing Social Security.

Promised in his campaign launch video to protect Medicare and Social Security benefits.

TaxesNo public position found yet

Proposes a "Tax Cuts and Lower Costs Blueprint" that includes cutting energy taxes, suspending the federal gas tax, rolling back tariffs on food and everyday goods, and strengthening the Child Tax Credit.

Says he consistently opposed tax increases in Congress and, as a senator, wrote the law banning taxes on internet access.

AbortionNo public position found yet

Supports restoring and writing into federal law the abortion rights established under Roe v. Wade. Says he helped pass the Women's Health Protection Act in the House and introduced bills on IVF access and interstate travel for abortion care.

No public position found yet
Child CareNo public position found yetNo public position found yet

His campaign says affordability is his top focus and that he will work to lower child care and other costs for families.

Civil LibertiesNo public position found yetNo public position found yet

Says he pushed to reform federal surveillance laws; as a senator he joined a filibuster of the USA PATRIOT Act reauthorization.

Economy & JobsNo public position found yetNo public position found yet

Says he will focus on "the economy, jobs, our debt and making our lives more affordable."

Government Transparency

Calls for restoring constitutional limits and "full transparency," and criticizes the Federal Reserve and fusion centers as unaccountable.

No public position found yetNo public position found yet
Health CareNo public position found yet

Supports strengthening the Affordable Care Act and says he is defending Medicare and Medicaid from cuts he attributes to Republicans. Cites his support for capping insulin at $35 and letting Medicare negotiate drug prices.

No public position found yet
HousingNo public position found yet

Says he would cut red tape to build more housing, support first-time homebuyers, and take on Wall Street firms he says are driving up costs.

No public position found yet
Veterans

Says veterans' care is a federal duty and "no one who served this country should face delayed or denied care." Wants states and communities to lead on civilian health care, including mental health and addiction treatment.

No public position found yetNo public position found yet

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