


EXCLUSIVE — The campaign arm of Senate Republicans is setting its sights on Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH), the fourth-term congressman, building toward an entry into the race to replace retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).
Although yet to make his candidacy official, Pappas is the subject of a new oppo website launched by the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) that offers an early preview of the GOP’s playbook to redefine Pappas as an out-of-touch, far-left ideology.
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The site highlights what Republicans consider unpopular votes on hot-button issues like a Biden-era pandemic stimulus, sanctuary cities, law enforcement immunity, gas-powered cars, taxes, transgender men in women’s sports, and government funding to avert a shutdown.
According to his voting record, Pappas is one of the House’s most centrist and bipartisan Democrats. Still, the NRSC’s site, which features a spoof music theme tour, says Pappas is “playing the hits from the far-left” on his “Bad Blunders Tour.”
Pappas did not respond to a request for comment. He’s expected to launch a Senate campaign as soon as next month and said at a town hall over the weekend he was “thinking of running” for the seat.
“I haven’t come to a decision yet,” he said. “But I know these times are incredibly perilous, and this is a time where we need the kind of leadership that Sen. Shaheen has demonstrated, which is about putting the needs of New Hampshire first.”
New Hampshire’s open Senate seat will be one of the most closely watched contests in the country next year as Republicans seek to expand their majority and capitalize on a string of Democratic retirements that work in the GOP’s favor.

Nonpartisan election forecasters give Democrats a slight edge in New Hampshire, but the NRSC internally considers the Granite State a toss-up due to Shaheen’s retirement. In a recent donor memo, the campaign arm cited expanded GOP majorities in New Hampshire’s state House and Senate, Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s (R-NH) more than 9-point win, and the presidential victory margin narrowing for Democrats to less than three percentage points last November.
Shaheen, 78, revealed earlier this month she would not seek reelection to a fourth six-year term. Democrats are also facing open seats in the Senate perennial battlegrounds of Michigan and Minnesota due to retirements. Democrats say the exodus foreshadows a strong off-year election to combat President Donald Trump and a chance for fresh voices in a party struggling with leadership and messaging.
Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), an alum of the Biden administration, is also weighing a run to succeed Shaheen.
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Republicans are crossing their fingers that former New Hampshire GOP Gov. Chris Sununu will seek the GOP nomination, but he’s remained noncommittal.
Meanwhile, House Republicans are looking to flip Pappas’ mildly competitive seat, which he won by roughly eight percentage points in his last two elections, including in 2022 against now-White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.