New Hampshire Senate Election 2026
Jeanne Shaheen (D) is retiring. Rating: Lean D.
Status: upcoming. Election day is November 3, 2026.
Candidates
| Candidate | Party | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Pappas | Democratic | U.S. Representative |
| John E. Sununu | Republican | Former senator |
Polls
| Date | Pollster | Chris Pappas | John E. Sununu |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 5, 2026 | Rasmussen (R) | 49% | 44% |
| October 5, 2026 | YouGov | 51% | 43% |
| September 29, 2026 | Saint Anselm | 51% | 44% |
| September 27, 2026 | Trafalgar (R) | 47% | 41% |
| September 22, 2026 | NYT/Siena | 50% | 45% |
| September 21, 2026 | Univ. of New Hampshire | 50% | 42% |
| September 17, 2026 | InsiderAdvantage (R) | 48% | 40% |
| September 11, 2026 | co/efficient (R) | 46% | 46% |
| September 10, 2026 | Rasmussen (R) | 45% | 34% |
| August 30, 2026 | Fabrizio (R) | 36% | 37% |
| August 24, 2026 | Univ. of New Hampshire | 43% | 45% |
| August 18, 2026 | Univ. of New Hampshire | 48% | 41% |
| June 27, 2026 | Peak Insights (R) | 43% | 42% |
Average of the 7 most recent polls: Chris Pappas 49.4%, John E. Sununu 42.7%. Polls are snapshots, not predictions.
Where the candidates stand
Chris Pappas (D)
- Committed to keeping abortion safe and legal. (2026-10) source
- Voted to expand background checks and supports red-flag laws. (2022) source
- Supports a path for Dreamers along with enforcement against serious criminals. (2026-10) source
- Voted against extending the 2017 tax cuts, calling them giveaways to the wealthy. (2025) source
- Voted to raise the federal minimum wage to $15. (2019) source
- Sponsored bills to expand union organizing rights. (2025) source
- Supports clean energy and climate resilience investment. (2022) source
- Calls the Iran war a war of choice and voted five times to require congressional approval. (2026) source
- Opposes efforts to dismantle public education. (2026-10) source
- Voted for federal recognition of same-sex marriage. (2022) source
John E. Sununu (R)
- Calls himself pro-life but says abortion is a state issue. (2026-01-09) source
- Wants concealed-carry permits honored across state lines like driver's licenses. (2026) source
- Would deport people here illegally who commit crimes and supports legal worker programs. (2026-10) source
- Supported extending the 2017 tax cuts. (2026-01) source
- Supports expanding oil and gas production and called the 2022 climate law reckless spending. (2026-10) source
- Says he would not have started the Iran war but expects long-term security gains; Iran must not get a nuclear weapon. (2026-10) source
- Supports New Hampshire's universal school voucher program. (2026-05-12) source
- Supports the Supreme Court ruling that upheld bans on transgender athletes in girls' sports. (2026-06-30) source
Sources
- 2026 United States Senate elections (Wikipedia)
- Latest Senate polls (RealClearPolling)
- 2026 election polls (Political.org)
- Cook Political Report Senate ratings
- The Green Papers: 2026 candidates by state
- Cook Political Report Senate overview: South Carolina, Mississippi, Minnesota (Oct. 20, 2026)
- Midterm Elections in Ohio, October 2026 (Marist Poll)
- Midterm Elections in Michigan, October 2026 (Marist Poll)
Ratings, candidates and polls last updated October 24, 2026. Ratings are expert forecasts, not results.