Lead Art: Charles Krupa/AP

[badsha0002]

Pappas, 44, is in his fourth term. He entered the race Thursday morning after a 10-county listening tour. He has a formal launch event slated for this evening in Manchester.

Democrats are dealing with an increasingly difficult map to defend after a wave of retirements that also include Michigan Sen. Gary Peters and Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith.

First-term Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-N.H.) is also looking at the seat. Former Rep. Annie Kuster (D-N.H.) had said she would consider a bid if Pappas didn’t run. On the Republican side, former Sen. Scott Brown, who telegram data represented Massachusetts but now lives in New Hampshire, and former Gov. Chris Sununu are mulling campaigns.

Pappas’ decision also sets off a scramble for his seat in the more competitive of New Hampshire’s two House districts. Maura Sullivan, a vice chair of the state Democratic Party who ran for the 1st District seat in the race Pappas ultimately won in 2018, is seriously considering making another run for it.


Senate Majority Leader John Thune walks in the U.S. Capitol.
2 days ago
Capitol agenda: What’s next in the GOP budget saga
By Mia McCarthy and Lisa Kashinsky