Republican Senate Candidate Critiques Democratic Rival

CONCORD, N.H. – A Republican aiming to secure a blue Senate seat in a pivotal battleground state is challenging the Democrats’ narrative against incumbents. Former Senator John E. Sununu, the GOP nominee seeking a return to Capitol Hill after an 18-year hiatus, is accusing his Democratic opponent, Representative Chris Pappas, of failing to deliver results for New Hampshire during his eight years in Washington.

Sununu and Pappas are set to compete in the midterm elections to fill the vacancy left by retiring Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen. This race is among several that could determine whether Republicans maintain their Senate majority.

“He’s done very little in Congress. Seriously, his accomplishments are even fewer,” Sununu stated in an exclusive interview this week, criticizing Pappas, a four-term congressman.

The Cook Political Report recently indicated a notable shift, moving the New Hampshire race from lean Democratic to toss-up, following Inside Elections’ similar designation earlier this month. This move is somewhat unusual, considering the political climate typically favors the party in power, especially during challenging economic times marked by inflation, rising fuel prices and President Donald Trump’s low approval ratings.

So, what’s Sununu’s edge? Well, part of it is simply his name. The Sununu family has a longstanding political presence in New Hampshire. His father was a six-year governor and later became the White House chief of staff under President George H.W. Bush. Additionally, Sununu’s younger brother, Chris, served eight years as governor before taking a break.

Moreover, Sununu’s strategy involves attacking Pappas as an ineffective incumbent during this anti-incumbent wave—essentially flipping the typical Democratic tactic on its head.

“He’s been on the Transportation Committee for eight years, yet New Hampshire ranks last in highway funding in New England. That’s detrimental for our state,” Sununu claimed, asserting that Pappas’s lack of effectiveness harms New Hampshire by not securing necessary federal support.

Though New Hampshire isn’t at the absolute bottom across every category, it does receive some of the lowest levels of federal funding per capita for infrastructure compared to other states, according to various figures.

Pappas has recently introduced the Highway Fair Share Act. This bill aims to increase federal funding for New Hampshire’s infrastructure by ensuring each state gets at least 0.5% of total federal-aid highway funding.

In June, Pappas along with the state’s all-Democratic congressional delegation highlighted $9 million in federal funding for various New Hampshire projects.

“Chris has been instrumental in expanding healthcare benefits for millions of veterans, bringing high-speed internet to more towns, and securing funds for improving roads and bridges,” noted Pappas’s campaign manager, Rachel Petri, in response to Sununu’s claims.

Petri argued that Pappas is seen as one of the most effective and bipartisan lawmakers and pointed out Sununu’s record of supporting cuts to Medicare and efforts to privatize Social Security.

Interestingly, Sununu’s anti-incumbent rhetoric feels a bit ironic, considering his own past—having spent six years in the House and a term in the Senate before losing to the then-governor Shaheen in 2008.

Reflecting on his time in Washington, Sununu emphasized his legislative accomplishments across different administrations. Yet, he also conveyed the value of his experiences in the private sector over the past 16 years, which he believes gives him a needed perspective absent in Washington.

Pappas recently asserted that New Hampshire voters are pragmatic and want tangible improvements in their lives, highlighting his focus on healthcare access and affordable housing.

But Sununu isn’t the only one scrutinizing Pappas. His primary opponent, scientist Karishma Manzur, also criticized Pappas, claiming he only seeks to secure his job in D.C.

Pappas decisively won that primary, while Sununu captured the GOP nomination in a landslide against former Senator Scott Brown.

As the general election approaches, Republican-aligned groups are investing millions to target Pappas. In response, Pappas has raised alarms about the influx of funding from outside special interest groups, claiming it greatly overwhelms his campaign’s spending.

Pappas has also stated that Sununu is receiving support from out-of-state interests, emphasizing the significant imbalance in advertising spending.

Meanwhile, a Democrat-aligned PAC has begun airing ads suggesting that Sununu profited from lobbying firms after his time in the Senate. Sununu was endorsed earlier this year by Trump, and since then, Democrats have linked him to the former president, whose approval ratings in New Hampshire are quite low.

Pappas referred to Sununu as Trump’s “hand-picked candidate.” However, when asked about being associated with Trump, Sununu mentioned, “I’ve never even met the president.” He then reiterated his belief that he would be a more effective voice under the current administration than Pappas.