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August 3rd Len’s Political Note #743 Chris Pappas New Hampshire US Senator
2026 General Election
Chriss Pappas
It would be hard to overestimate the importance of Democrats gaining control of Congress in 2026. We should not underestimate Donald Trump’s capacity to think outside the box and to take advantage of opportunities. Sadly, his innovative thinking and actions have brought the United States of America closer and closer to losing its adherence to the rule of law, to losing the right to “ life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” to abandoning the checks and balances that exist through three independent branches of government and a measure of sovereignty for states.
Democrats gaining control of the House of Representatives and the Senate in the 2026 election would be a crucial check on Donald Trump’s malign innovations. The House is a body with 435 Members and a three vote Republican majority.
Democrats and Republicans know that it is possible to flip the House. Trump’s latest plan for stopping the Democratic flip is to redistrict Texas – a plan driven by the weakness with which the Republicans enter the 2026 campaign for the House. Donald Trump might just get his five additional seats from Texas. Democrats have serious and hard work ahead of them to flip the House of Representatives.
Democrats have to work even harder at gaining control of the Senate. Is there a path for Democrats to win the Senate? There are a lot of obstacles on that path. Democrats and their independent allies have 47 seats to the Republicans 53. With a Republican President and Vice President, Democrats need 51 seats to control the Senate. Can they possibly win a net of four seats?
First, Democrats have to keep every one of those 47 seats. Some are in jeopardy. Open seats are always more vulnerable. New Hampshire will have an open Democratic seat in 2026. Jeanne Shaheen has announced her retirement. Congressman Chris Pappas will be the Democratic candidate to replace her.
Chris Pappas is local. He was born in New Hampshire’s largest city – Manchester, which had 100,000 people in 2020. His family owns and operates a New Hampshire institution.
Chris Pappas’s great grandfather Arthur Pappas and a cousin opened an ice cream shop in 1917 which they called the Puritan. Today, in the you can get a chopped sirloin meal for $18.75, veal parmigiana for $26.50, fried or broiled chicken tenders for $21.00.
The Pappas’s added a function room in 1949. The function room can be used for a wedding reception or a Democratic Party fund raiser. The restaurant claims that Charlie Pappas, Chris Pappas’s grandfather invented the chicken tender in 1974. Kentucky Fried Chicken might disagree. KFC introduced chicken strips in 1974, strips which resembled offerings from restaurants in the south. Wikipedia, however, declares the Puritan Backroom as the chicken tender creator.
Chris Pappas graduated from Manchester High School in 1998 and went to Harvard. He wrote for the Crimson and returned home intending to be a Democratic politician. In high school, he had volunteered for Jeanne Shaheen’s campaign for governor. In 2002, the year he graduated from college, he was elected to the 400 seat New Hampshire House of Representatives. He served two terms, then was elected in 2006 as Treasurer of Hillsborough County – New Hampshire’s largest county.
Chris Pappas was re-elected as County Treasurer in 2008, but lost in 2010 to Robert Burns, a devoted and persistent New Hampshire Republican politician. Pretty persistent himself, Chris Pappas ran for the Executive Council. New Hampshire’s Executive Council can veto a pardon, any state contract worth more than $10,000, and various political appointments. For example, Chris Pappas voted to support substance abuse treatments as well as prevention and support services during recovery while on the Executive Council.
In 2018, Chris Pappas announced a run for Congress. One personal issue became more noticeable than in his past runs. Chris Pappas is gay. He was attacked in that election as being “weak,” as not having a “backbone.” He took those attacks as being homophobic.
There were other issues in the campaign. Chris Pappas accepted an endorsement from a business-oriented organization supported by the Kochs. The attacks from the left as a consequence probably helped him in the 2018 general election campaign. He was elected as a moderate Democrat – fiscally conservative, progressive on social issues.
One way he showed his moderation in Congress, was to oppose quickly developing proposals. In 2020, he opposed a plan to remove cannabis from the controlled substance list – arguing the change was being rushed through. In 2022, he opposed Joe Biden’s proposal to forgive college loans on the grounds that it did not include long term plans for reducing the high cost of a college education.
IN his 2020 campaign, surprised during a televised debate, he denied a relationship with a former Amazon lobbyist, then corrected that denial the next day. In the 2022, he defeated Karoline Leavitt by 8 points. The daughter of another family that had its business beginnings with an ice cream stand, she is now the President’s Press Secretary.
The world has changed since Chris Pappas was first elected to Congress. He is married to a man now. Concerned that the Supreme Court could take away rights, Chris Pappas has become something of an activist on behalf of the LGBTQ community
Some things don’t change. Funding local projects is still a big deal. New Hampshire Members of Congress and US Senators work together and announced together federal grants for local public schools and local police departments. Chris Pappas would continue that cooperation with his colleagues and that focus on bringing resources tro New Hampshire as a US Senator. Will the Trump administration, on its way to abolishing the Department of Education, have grants for New Hampshire to be announced? Without a Democratic House and Senate, will the Trump administration have any grants at all for New Hampshire?
Chris Pappas has been a moderate, even a cautious Member of Congress. He voted against legalizing cannabis, suggesting that removing it from the controlled substances act was sufficient. He was critical of Joe Biden’s student loan relief efforts, insisting that assisting those with student loan debt should be accompanied by federal efforts to reduce the cost of a college education.
We want Chris Pappas in the Senate. We want him because he will be a valuable member of the Senate. We want him because we are protecting the 47 Democratic Senators.
DONATE to the Chris Pappas campaign. Help keep this seat Democratic
THE PATH TO A DEMOCRATIC SENATE
Seats to protect
Jon Ossoff
- Georgia: Jon Ossoff is the incumbent. See Len’s Political Note #713 At the end of the second quarter, his COH was $15.5 million. DONATE. Two of his announced opponents – Congressman Buddy Carter and Congressman Mike Collins reported, respectively, their COH was $4 million and $1 million. A third candidate, not yet announced, may be Derek Dooley, a football coach and son of the University of Georgia football coach.
Haley Stevens
- Michigan: Gary Peters retired. Democratic candidates and their COH and the end of the second quarter are County commissioner Abdul El-Sayed (COH $1.1 million), State Senator Mallory McMorrow (COH $800,000) and Congresswoman Haley Stevens $2 million). I have not yet written an advocacy piece for this seat, but, at this point, suggest donating to Haley Stevens. Former House Speaker Joseph Tate had COH $70,00. Former Congressman Mike Rogers (COH $2.4 million)
Angie Craig
- Minnesota: Tina Smith retired. Two Democrats have announced: Congresswoman Angie Craig (COH $1.8 million) and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan (COH $800,000. I have not yet written an advocacy piece fo this seat, but, at this point, suggest donating to Angie Craig. Republicans have three announced candidates: former NBA player Royce White (COH $200,000) and two candidates for whom there are no reports — Navy SEAL vet Adam Schwarze and former sportscaster Michele Tafoya.
Chris Pappas
- New Hampshire: Jeanne Shaheen retired. Chris Pappas ,about whom today’s piece is written, will be the Democratic nominee. His COH at the end of the second quarter is $2 million. DONATE (Two Republicans have announced. Former US Senator from Massachusetts Scott Brown and State Senator Dan Issis. Neither has a financial report.
Of the remaining Democrats up for election, it is hard to imagine any of those nine being in jeopardy. But, to have a chance of gaining a majority Democrats really do have to win every one of those four seats that are in jeopardy and flip four Republican seats.
Republicans have more seats up for election, and more that are in some jeopardy
Roy Cooper
- North Carolina: Incumbent Republican Thom Tillis retired. Former Governor Roy Cooper has announced his candidacy for the US Senate. He will be the Democratic nominee. Former Congressman Wiley Nickel, who had $800,000 COH, has withdrawn. DONATE to Roy Cooper’s President Trump has endorsed former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley, who has just announced. Other Republican candidates to date are: Engineer and author Brooks Agnew, Attorney Dan Brown, and Businessman Andy Nilsson. None of them made a financial report. It is possible that none of them will last.
Jordan Wood
- Maine: Incumbent Republican Susan Collins. Democrat Jordan Wood, a former Congressional staffer, has announced and has COH $800,000. DONATE.. If the term limited governor, Janet Mills, persists in refusing to run, Jordan Wood may be the nominee. He will need an extraordinary effort to raise enough money to complete with Susan Collins if she does, indeed run. She has not yet announced but has $5.3 million COH.
JD Scholten
- Iowa: Incumbent Republican Joni Ernst. Democrats have three candidates. State Rep JD ScholtenCOH $50,000. See Len’s Political Note #733. DONATE. Local Chamber of Commerce Director Nathan Sage COH $300,000. And State Senator Zack Wahls COH $600,000. It is not possible to run a successful campaign for the US Senate, even in a relatively small state like Iowa without resources. If JD Scholten cannot raise more funds, I will have led you wrong by urging his support – appealing as he is. The Republican incumbent, despite her memorably offensive remarks at an angry Town Hall, is still competing. COH $3.4 million. Her only Republican primary opponent, State Senator Jim Carlin, reported $700 COH for the end of the second quarter.
Dan Osborn
- Nebraska Incumbent Republican Senator and former Governor, Pete Ricketts was a member of the family trust that owns the Chicago Cubs. He reported an end of the second quarter COH of $1.5 million. Independent Dan Osborn reported COH of $100,000. He had led a strike against Kellogg’s before his 2024 run for the Senate against Incumbent Deb Fischer, a race he lost 53 – 47. Democrats will again defer to his candidacy and not name a candidate. DONATE to Dan Osborn’s See Len’s Political Note #614 written for the 2024 race.
Sherrod Brown
- Ohio: Incumbent Republican John Husted. No Democrats with political experience have announced. Democratic members of congress may be waiting to see if Ohio’s redistricting kicks them out of a job. They or other Democrats may be waiting to see if former US Senator Sherrod Brown, voted out of office in 2024, decides he wants to run to get back in the Senate. The incumbent, the former Republican Lt. Governor, was appointed to this seat, formerly held by Vice President JD Vance. Husted did not file a financial report even though he has announced his candidacy and has been endorsed by Donald Trump.
Colin Allred
- Texas: Incumbent Republican John Cornyn. In a recent poll, former Democratic Congressman Colin Allred led announced Democratic candidates and candidates with a reasonable possibility of announcing among fellow Democrats. However, Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, who is not a candidate, led Colin Allred 35-20. Most Democrats expect that announced candidates Colin Allred (COH $55,000) will win the primary, though former Astronaut Terry Virts (COH $85,000} is also an interesting candidate. The Democratic race is sufficiently unsettled so that Congressman Joaquin Castro or former Congressman Beto O’Rourke or former San Antonio mayor Ron Nirenberg or even Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett or even phenom State Rep James Talarico could get in the race. The Republican is only two candidates, but it is a better contest. Incumbent John Cornyn (COH $5.9 million) is facing a primary against the Attorney General Ken Paxton (COH $2.5 million). Paxton is leading in the polls, but some Republicans fear that he is not electable to the US Senate.
Democrats must raise enough money to win four of the above six races.
Of the remaining 17 seats that are up for election, a few could conceivably be in jeopardy
Josh Weil
- Florida: Appointed Republican incumbent and former Attorney General Ashley Moody faces teacher Josh Weil who overperformed in a congressional special election. Moody has no financial report; Weil’s COH was $200,000. See Len’s Political Note #704 written for the special election.
- Kansas: Republican Incumbent and medical doctor Roger Marshall (COH $2.7 million). No Democrats have yet announced, though former Obama Administration official Christy Davis is considering as is state Senator Cindy Holscher. Perhaps they are both waiting to see if term limited popular governor Laura Kelly will change her mind and run for the Senate.
Stephen Colbert. Annie Andrews
- South Carolina: Lindsey Graham Three Democrats have announced. While Activist Catherine Fleming Bruce reported only $5,000 COH, contractor Lee Johnson reported $450,000, and pediatrician Annie Andrews reported $700,000. DONATE to Lee Johnson. DONATE to Annie Andrews. The Democrats are, nevertheless, far behind. Incumbent Lindsey Graham reported $16 Million COH. One of his two primary opponents, Businessman Mark Lynch reported $5 million – enough to put up a fight against Graham. Another potential primary opponent, former Lt. Governor Andre Bauer reported on $50,000 COH for the second quarter. Republicans have come up with a new figure – Paul Dans, the initiator of Project 2025, the comprehensive and extreme governing plan that Donald Trump has been following. There is one other potential candidate, a new Democratic figure. In 2008, ,he ran, as a joke, in the primary of his home state – South Carolina. Stephen Colbert’s current confrontation with politics is no joke. Few Americans and no famous American have had a more direct confrontation with the American drift to an Authoritarian presidency. I have not yet heard a Steve Colbert candidacy being broached. So – I am broaching it here. While we wait for that candidacy, be practical. Donate as I suggest above to Annie Andrew
Barack Obama would do us all a favor if he would dip back into politics just long enough persuade some great candidate to runs: Joe Biden could take a crack at it, too.
Governor Janet Mills of Maine
Governor Laura Kelly of Kansas
Former US Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio
Television personality Stephen Colbert
