Democrat Chris Pappas' lead appears to be diminishing versus Republican John E. Sununu in the battle for U.S. Senate in New Hampshire, as midterm elections are roughly four weeks away.
A new poll released by Rasmussen Reports shows that 49 percent would vote for Pappas versus 44 percent who would pick Sununu. The five-point lead is a notable difference from a poll last month that showed Pappas with an 11-point lead over Sununu, 45 percent to 34 percent. Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen is set to retire in the Granite State, opening the seat for November's general election.
The Cook Political Report rates the race as a toss-up. Midterm elections are commonly viewed as a test of the political environment facing the party in power, and the president's party has historically lost seats during them. Republicans hold a narrow majority in both the House and Senate.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris won New Hampshire during the 2024 presidential election over President Donald Trump by less than 3 percent. The state has not elected a Republican senator in more than 15 years. Newsweek reached out to both Sununu and Pappas' campaigns via email on Monday for comment.
According to the new poll showing Sununu's gains, 3 percent would pick Constitution Party candidate Edmond Laplante and 4 percent are not sure. Pappas has 89 percent of Democrats' vote, 15 percent of Republicans and 40 percent of non-affiliated voters, the poll shows. Sununu has 84 percent of Republican support, 8 percent of Democrats' and 44 percent of unaffiliated voters.
Pappas has a large lead with women, as 53 percent favor him versus 33 percent for Sununu, while 53 percent of men favor the Republican candidate compared to 42 percent for Pappas. The survey shows a sizable advantage for Pappas, 46, among those 65 and older, with 58 percent compared to 39 percent as Sununu, 62, who represented the Granite State in the Senate from 2003 to 2009, is favored by those under 40 years old. The poll was conducted from October 2 to October 4 among 979 likely New Hampshire voters and has a margin of error of 3 percent.
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