New Hampshire holds primaries ahead of 2026 midterm elections
New Hampshire voters went to the polls Tuesday to select candidates for the Senate and House races that will decide control of Congress in November. A late surge by a progressive challenger has added uncertainty to the Democratic Senate primary, complicating Representative Chris Pappas' path to nomination.
New Hampshire held primary elections on Tuesday, selecting the candidates who will represent their parties in the fight for seats in the US Congress this November. The state is among the last in the country to hold its 2026 primaries, with the results arriving just eight weeks before the November 3 general election that will determine which party controls Congress.
Drama on the Democratic side
The most closely watched race is the Democratic Senate primary, where a progressive challenger has mounted an unexpectedly strong late campaign push. That surge has introduced fresh uncertainty for US Representative Chris Pappas, who had been considered the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination.
Multiple races on the ballot
On the same day, voters also cast ballots in the Republican Senate primary and in primaries for New Hampshire's two US House seats. The outcomes will determine which candidates go on to compete for these congressional seats in November.
National stakes
New Hampshire's primaries are seen as an early signal ahead of the broader 2026 midterms, which will decide the balance of power in Congress. With only a short runway before the general election, nominees from both parties will need to move quickly into the final stretch of campaigning once primary results are confirmed.
