Democrat Chris Pappas says “we’re taking nothing for granted” amid “tough race” in New Hampshire

October 11, 2026 / 11:19 AM EDT / CBS News

Washington — Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas, who's running to represent New Hampshire in the Senate, said on Sunday that "we're taking nothing for granted" as Election Day approaches, amid a "tough race" in the Granite State.

"I'm hopeful about where we're going to end up at the end of this thing, but we've got to put in the work over the next 23 days," Pappas said on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan."

Pappas, who's represented New Hampshire in the House since 2019, is facing off against former GOP Sen. John Sununu in a race that could be key to determining which party controls the Senate. And although Republicans have been eyeing a possible opportunity to flip the seat, after Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen announced she wouldn't seek reelection, CBS News rates New Hampshire as leaning Democrat.

But Pappas said given New Hampshire's status as a purple state generally and the state's lack of early voting options, his campaign is taking nothing for granted. The focus now is on "how we get to those independent, swing voters, how we energize the base, how we reach out to Republicans over the…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/