New Hampshire U.S. Senate Voter Guide: Pappas, Sununu and Laplante on Cost of Living and Health Care
Three candidates are on the ballot for U.S. Senate in New Hampshire on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026: Democrat Chris Pappas, Republican John Sununu and Constitution Party nominee Edmond Laplante. The seat is open because Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen did not seek reelection.
The Digital Free Press voter guide video compares the three side by side on the cost of living and health care. Here is where each one stands, based on the video, the candidates' own campaign materials and New Hampshire reporting.
Chris Pappas (Democrat)
Pappas, of Manchester, has represented New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District since 2019, according to the New Hampshire Bulletin. He earlier served on the Executive Council and in the state House, and he helped run his family's Manchester restaurant business.
On the cost of living, the video says Pappas wants to suspend the federal gas tax and protect home heating assistance. In March he introduced the Gas Prices Relief Act of 2026, which would suspend the federal gas tax through Oct. 1, according to his House office, and he told NHPR in October he still favors suspending it. His campaign's Tax Cuts and Lower Costs Blueprint also calls for protecting heating and nutrition assistance and lowering energy and grocery costs.
On health care, the video says Pappas wants to strengthen the Affordable Care Act and protect Medicare and Medicaid. His campaign says he would restore and make permanent the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, protect Medicare and Medicaid from cuts, and speed access to generic drugs. He also points to his support for a $35 monthly insulin cap and for letting Medicare negotiate drug prices.
John Sununu (Republican)
Sununu, of Rye, served in the U.S. Senate from 2003 to 2009 and works in high tech, according to the New Hampshire Bulletin. He served three terms in the U.S. House before his Senate term, PBS News reported.
On the cost of living, the video says Sununu opposes middle-class tax increases and wants lower housing, health care and energy costs. His campaign site says that in Washington he "opposed tax hikes" and took on government waste. According to campaign materials collected by Smarter.Vote, he supports lowering costs through more health care competition, waiving tariffs on building materials, housing and permitting reforms, more energy production, and cutting federal spending and debt.
On health care, the video says Sununu wants lower health care costs, but his campaign site lists no specific plan. His campaign site has no issues page with a health care plan. In campaign appearances compiled by Smarter.Vote, he has proposed letting health care providers compete across state lines and expanding access to health savings accounts, and he says he would protect Medicare.
Edmond Laplante (Constitution)
Laplante lives in Richmond, according to the New Hampshire Bulletin. His campaign biography describes him as a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, a longtime auto mechanic and chair of the Constitution Party of New Hampshire.
On the cost of living, the video says Laplante wants a smaller federal role, with more decisions left to states. His platform emphasizes constitutional limits on federal power, state and local control, and lower federal spending; in his Citizens Count responses he opposes raising taxes to reduce the deficit and favors balancing new spending with cuts.
On health care, the video says Laplante calls veterans' care a federal duty but wants states and communities to lead civilian health care. He says veterans' health care should not be delayed or denied, while civilian health care, mental health care and addiction treatment should be led by states and communities. He also says he would repeal the Affordable Care Act.
Where to Follow the Candidates
Chris Pappas: @chrispappasnh on X and TikTok. John Sununu: @sununusenator on X and TikTok. Edmond Laplante: @Laplante4Senate on X.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. This guide is for information only; The Digital Free Press does not endorse any candidate.
Yossi Schmidt, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Digital Free Press
Hold Everyone Accountable.
Sources: New Hampshire Bulletin, Voter Guide, U.S. Senate: https://newhampshirebulletin.com/voter-guides/contests/2026-general-u-s-senate/ ; Office of Rep. Chris Pappas, "Amid Skyrocketing Prices, Pappas Introduces Legislation to Suspend Gas Tax": http://pappas.house.gov/media/press-releases/amid-skyrocketing-prices-pappas-introduces-legislation-to-suspend-gas-tax-and-lower-costs-at-the-pump ; NHPR, "Pappas on housing, affordability, AI and more" (Oct. 9, 2026): https://www.nhpr.org/2026-10-09/chris-pappas-nh-newhampshire-senate-2026-midterms-housing-affordability-ai-election ; Smarter.Vote, Chris Pappas: https://smarter.vote/races/nh-senate-2026/chris-pappas/ ; Smarter.Vote, John E. Sununu: https://smarter.vote/races/nh-senate-2026/john-e-sununu/ ; Smarter.Vote, Edmond Laplante: https://smarter.vote/races/nh-senate-2026/edmond-laplante/ ; PBS News, "New Hampshire's GOP primary features two familiar names from the past": https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/new-hampshires-gop-primary-features-two-familiar-names-from-the-past-and-voters-are-fine-with-that ; Citizens Count, 2026 U.S. Senate General Election: https://www.citizenscount.org/elections/2026-us-senate-general-election ; Chris Pappas campaign: https://chrispappas.org/ ; John Sununu campaign: https://www.sununusenator.com/ ; Edmond Laplante campaign: https://laplante4constitutionalnh.com/
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