Chris Pappas wins New Hampshire Senate seat, becoming first openly gay male U.S. senator

U.S. Representative Chris Pappas defeated former U.S. Senator John E. Sununu in New Hampshire on Tuesday, keeping a critical open U.S. Senate seat under Democratic control. The race filled the seat vacated by three-term Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen and was among a handful that could determine the balance of power in the Senate.

Pappas, 46, grew up working in his family's Manchester restaurant, which opened in 1917 and claims to have invented chicken tenders. He served as a state lawmaker, county treasurer and state executive councilor before being elected to Congress in 2018 to represent the state's 1st Congressional District.

“Tonight's results are a wake-up call for corporate special interests and billionaires who have been rigging the economy.”

With the win, Pappas will become the first openly gay male U.S. senator. He will be succeeded in the House by Shaheen's daughter, Stefany Shaheen.

Pappas told supporters his win was a victory for Team New Hampshire over the broken status quo. He described the results as a wake-up call for corporate special interests, billionaires, congressional cowards and an incompetent president.

New Hampshire voters have not elected a Republican to Congress since 2010 and have voted for Democrats for president since 2004, though Republicans have dominated at the state level in recent years.