Red Sweep Jolts New Hampshire

Three Republican primary wins in one night set up New Hampshire as a November battleground with control of Congress on the line.

Story Highlights

John E. Sununu won the Republican U.S. Senate primary and will face Democrat Chris Pappas.
Anthony DiLorenzo captured the Republican nomination in the 1st Congressional District.
Lily Tang Williams secured the Republican nod in the 2nd Congressional District.
Past New Hampshire cycles show primaries signal momentum, not a guaranteed wave.

Republican Slate Emerges From New Hampshire Primaries

New Hampshire Republicans set their November lineup as John E. Sununu won the party’s U.S. Senate primary, while Anthony DiLorenzo and Lily Tang Williams took the nominations in the state’s two House districts. Sununu will meet Democratic U.S. Representative Chris Pappas in a race both parties call competitive. DiLorenzo advanced in the 1st District, and Williams earned a rematch against Democratic U.S. Representative Maggie Goodlander in the 2nd District after both won their primaries decisively.

Associated Press-cited tallies showed Sununu winning by a wide margin over Scott Brown, confirming strong Republican base support behind a familiar name. New Hampshire Public Radio and national outlets reported DiLorenzo’s win in the 1st District and Williams’s in the 2nd District shortly after polls closed, locking in a full Republican slate for federal races. These results give the party clear targets for November, when turnout and independent voters often decide close contests in the state.

Why These Primaries Matter For November

Primary wins often show which factions have energy, which candidates can build coalitions, and how organized local parties are. In New Hampshire, those signals matter because many voters are undeclared and swing between parties. Analysts who study the state say momentum from a primary helps, but it does not ensure a sweep. Ticket-splitting, candidate quality, and local issues still shape outcomes in the general election. That is why both parties see these races as truly competitive.

Republicans enter the fall with clear storylines: a known figure at the top of the ticket in Sununu, and two House challengers seeking to flip seats. Democrats counter with Pappas, a four-term House member moving up to the Senate race, and Goodlander seeking a second U.S. House term. Each side will fight for independents who decide close races. Turnout patterns, national mood, and candidate visits to small towns could determine the final margins.

What Voters’ Frustrations Mean For These Races

Voters across New Hampshire voice shared worries: rising costs, a sense that Washington works for insiders, and gridlock that ignores daily life. Conservatives point to high energy prices, illegal immigration, and debt. Liberals cite widening inequality, cuts to safety nets, and treatment of minorities. These concerns cross party lines when people feel federal leaders protect the powerful before the public. Candidates who speak clearly to these issues often earn support beyond their base.

Chris Pappas has won the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in New Hampshire and will face Republican John E. Sununu in November. If elected, Pappas would become the first openly gay man elected to the U.S. Senate #NOH8 pic.twitter.com/fzhYNJ8XY7

— NOH8 Campaign (@NOH8Campaign) September 9, 2026

Sununu, DiLorenzo, and Williams now face the test of turning primary energy into trusted plans on jobs, prices, and public safety. Pappas and Goodlander must defend records and explain how federal policy can ease local strain. New Hampshire has a record of split tickets when voters want balance in Washington. That history warns both parties: wins today do not guarantee wins in November, and the path runs through independents and practical solutions more than party labels.