Sununu, Pappas both face tests in quest for New Hampshire US Senate seat

New Hampshire’s open U.S. Senate seat is turning into a clash of presumptive nominees inside both major parties, with Republicans rallying around former senator John E. Sununu and Democrats around Rep. Chris Pappas—while other challengers could still swing November’s outcome. Sununu faces former Sen. Scott Brown, R-Massachusetts, in the GOP primary; Pappas faces scientist and first-time candidate Karishma Manzur in the Democratic primary. The Senate is currently held narrowly by Republicans, 53-47. Sununu and Pappas have focused mostly on each other, amid national influence—Trump’s endorsement on the GOP side and an anti-establishment trend among Democrats.