NH Congressman Chris Pappas (D-CD1) is a very right wing congressman. His ultra-right wing antics have not only caused problems for him in his Senate Primary, they have also caused challenges for him in his general election.
It also may be a problem for the ultimate Democratic nominee seeking to replace him in CD1, especially if that candidate has supported him knowing full well his ultra-right-wing views and record. They are likely to become a target from the left as well, because once the left attacks Pappas, there is no extra cost to target right wing Democratic nominees for NH’s two congressional seats.
Pappas has taken $523,333 in AIPAC money and he simultaneously has been in lock step with AIPAC’s commands given to the candidates they support. It’s not enough for Pappas to have supported the bombs and funding that allowed the genocide in Gaza.
Pappas also voted to censure the very popular Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-MI CD13), the only Palestinian American in Congress, who still has family in Gaza. That will show voters just how committed Pappas is to funding the war crimes in Gaza with their hard earned taxpayer cash.
And here at SpankTheElephant.com, our SuperPAC has always considered Tlaib one of the candidates we support and defend and Pappas is someone we will defend ALL members of the Squad from his right wing attacks. It would be an understatement to say that we are looking very serious at Pappas and any Congressional campaign who supports Pappas’ right wing attack on the Squad. Hopefully the congressional nominees will stay out of our SuperPAC’s way if Pappas does become one of our targets. Not that we really care. Our budget will not be affected if we limit our target to just Pappas, or expand it to any supporters he has on the ballot with him for the congressional seats.
Pappas has a very strong challenge in his primary from Dr. Karishma Manzur. Pappas inherited his position in his family restaurant, and that is less likely to sell in a year where voters are skeptical of the inherited class. Dr. Manzur is a real scientist running for a seat in a Congress who desperately needs real scientists to stand up to the science deniers in Congress.
In the past Pappas was always able to claim that he was more electable because he was the right wing choice for the general election. That isn’t going to work against the likely John E. Sununu, a Republican who once held this Senate seat, and likely to be the candidate the ultimate Democratic nominee for Senate faces. Pappas is way too close to Sununu’s anticipated campaign positions to insure a win. Pappas will split his Democratic base wide open in a year where the Senate and Congressional races will be very close.
There is a really good chance that Karishma Manzur will beat Pappas in the primary. But if Pappas is the nominee Democrats are unlikely to hold the NH Senate seat. The real question is, will Democrats be able to hold the two Congressional seats as well.
A right-wing Pappas nomination greatly diminishes the odds that the Congressional nominees will be able to hold on as well.
2026 will be a very different general election campaign than in the past. How Democrats are able to respond to those differences could be the difference between having a Democratic congressional delegation, and losing their grip on that delegation.
Pappas is not the most electable candidate for voters to consider in the primary in 2026 for the general election. And Pappas’ nomination will effect the whole 2026 ballot.
