Trump-backed Bolduc endorses Pappas in New Hampshire, signaling GOP fracture

Key points

• Don Bolduc, a former Army brigadier general and 2022 Trump-endorsed Senate nominee, endorsed Democrat Chris Pappas, joining 57 other Republicans and independents.
• Pappas holds a seven-point lead over Republican John Sununu in recent polling by the New Hampshire Institute of Politics.
• Former state Sen. Rick Russman criticized Sununu as a 'MAGA machine' candidate, stating he does not represent traditional Republican values.
• Critics argue Pappas’s legislative record lacks major accomplishments, though experts note he performs above the average member of Congress.
• Both candidates focused on Social Security during an AARP forum, with Pappas advocating for higher taxes on the wealthy and Sununu defending past private account proposals.

Background

The New Hampshire Senate race has been a critical battleground for national party control since the September primaries, where Sununu secured the Republican nomination with Trump’s endorsement and Pappas won the Democratic nod. Democrats have been scrambling for resources to counter Sununu’s campaign in this purple state, which has not elected a Republican senator since 2010. Recent polling indicates Pappas has an edge, but the race remains tight, with voters expressing deep distrust of federal candidates and focusing on economic relief over other issues.

How outlets are covering it

Axios emphasizes the significance of the cross-party endorsement by Don Bolduc and other Republicans, highlighting how dissatisfaction with the Trump agenda may influence moderate and independent voters. New Hampshire Public Radio focuses on the debate over Pappas’s legislative record, noting that while critics claim he has accomplished little, experts from the University of Virginia argue he performs above the average member of Congress. WMUR highlights the candidates’ focus on Social Security during an AARP forum, with Pappas advocating for higher taxes on the wealthy and Sununu defending past proposals. The New Hampshire Union Leader, which first reported the endorsement, is not accessible due to a 403 error, but its initial reporting is cited by Axios.

Why it matters

The endorsement by Don Bolduc and other Republicans signals a potential fracture within the GOP in New Hampshire, a purple state that is crucial for Senate control. Pappas’s polling lead and the bipartisan support suggest that moderate and independent voters may be swayed by dissatisfaction with the Trump agenda. The race is pivotal for Democrats, who need to flip four seats to regain control of the Senate, and for Republicans, who see New Hampshire as a top pick-up opportunity. The focus on Social Security and economic concerns in the final weeks before the election underscores the importance of these issues to voters.

What to watch

The New Hampshire Senate race will conclude in the general election in November 2026. Both candidates are expected to continue focusing on Social Security and economic concerns in the final weeks before the election. The outcome of the race will be crucial for national party control, with Democrats needing to flip four seats to regain control of the Senate and Republicans seeing New Hampshire as a top pick-up opportunity. The endorsement by Don Bolduc and other Republicans may influence moderate and independent voters in the state.