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Sununu targets Pappas over record as New Hampshire Senate race tightens
Republican John E. Sununu is making the case that Democrat Chris Pappas has failed to deliver for New Hampshire after eight years in Washington. Election handicappers have recently shifted the open-seat contest into toss-up territory.
John E. Sununu, the Republican nominee for Senate in New Hampshire, is building his general election message around attacks on Chris Pappas, the Democratic congressman he faces in the race to replace retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.
In an interview with Fox News Politics, Sununu argued that Pappas has spent eight years in Washington without producing enough for New Hampshire. He focused in particular on transportation funding, saying the state has lagged badly in highway support. Fox News Politics noted that, based on federal and state figures, New Hampshire receives some of the lowest total and per-capita levels of federal funding for roads, highways and bridges in the country.
Pappas earlier this year introduced the Highway Fair Share Act, which would raise federal infrastructure and transportation funding for New Hampshire by requiring that every state receive at least 0.5% of total federal-aid highway formula funding. In June, Pappas and the state’s all-Democratic congressional delegation also highlighted 9 million dollars in federal funding for projects in New Hampshire.
Pappas’ campaign pushed back in comments to Fox News Politics, saying he has led efforts to expand healthcare benefits for 3.5 million veterans, bring high-speed internet to communities across the state, put more money back into the budgets of working parents, and secure millions of dollars for repairs to roads, bridges and buildings. Campaign manager Rachel Petri also described him as one of the more effective and bipartisan lawmakers.
Fox News Politics reported that the race has become more competitive in recent weeks. The Cook Political Report moved it from lean Democrat to toss-up, and Inside Elections made a similar change earlier this month.
Sununu, a former senator and former House member, pointed to his past legislative experience but also stressed that he has spent the last 16 years in the private sector, including work with tech firms, small businesses, the Waterville Valley ski area and college teaching. He said that background gives him a perspective he believes is missing in Washington.
Pappas recently told Fox News Politics that New Hampshire voters are pragmatic and want problems solved. He highlighted his work on healthcare access, affordable housing and what he described as standing up to an administration that is ignoring the day-to-day concerns of Granite Staters.
As the general election begins in earnest, outside groups aligned with Republicans are pouring millions into the state to target Pappas. The congressman has warned on social media that MAGA super PACs are trying to flip the seat, and he also told Fox News Politics that those groups are outspending his side on television by a three-to-one margin. Democrats have answered with ads from an aligned super PAC criticizing Sununu over his work after leaving the Senate for lobbying firms.
Sununu was endorsed earlier this year by Donald Trump, though he told Fox News Politics that he has never met the president. He nevertheless argued that he would be a more effective voice with the current administration than Pappas.
Sources
About this piece. Written by El Notero with AI assistance, from reporting published by the outlet cited above. El Notero did no original reporting on this story.
