Chris Pappas

In the 2024 House race for NH-1, Chris Pappas (D) won with 54.0% of the vote, defeating Russell Prescott (R) who received 45.9%. 3 additional candidates split the remaining vote. Chris Pappas's 8.1-point lead over the runner-up showed solid but not overwhelming support.

As the incumbent, Chris Pappas benefited from name recognition, established constituent services, and the roughly 2-3 point advantage that sitting members typically enjoy. The 2024 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket. This seat will likely stay on party watch lists as potentially competitive in future cycles.

In the 2022 House race for NH-1, Chris Pappas (D) won with 54.0% of the vote, defeating Karoline Leavitt (R) who received 45.9%. A third candidate also appeared on the ballot. Chris Pappas's 8.1-point lead over the runner-up showed solid but not overwhelming support.

As the incumbent, Chris Pappas benefited from name recognition, established constituent services, and the roughly 2-3 point advantage that sitting members typically enjoy. As a Democrat, Chris Pappas won despite the historical midterm penalty against the president's party (Democrat Biden was in office). This seat will likely stay on party watch lists as potentially competitive in future cycles.

In the 2020 House race for NH-1, Chris Pappas (D) won with 51.3% of the vote, defeating Matt Mowers (R) who received 46.2%. 2 additional candidates split the remaining vote. Chris Pappas's 5.1-point lead over the runner-up showed solid but not overwhelming support.

This was an open-seat race. Open seats typically attract stronger candidates and heavier spending from both parties. The 2020 presidential election drove higher voter turnout, which can help or hurt down-ballot candidates depending on the top of the ticket. This seat will likely stay on party watch lists as potentially competitive in future cycles.

In the 2018 House race for NH-01, Chris Pappas (D) won with 53.6% of the vote, defeating Eddie Edwards (R) who received 45.0%. A third candidate also appeared on the ballot. Chris Pappas's 8.6-point lead over the runner-up showed solid but not overwhelming support.

This race flipped the seat from Republican to Democrat. Frank C. Guinta (R) held the seat previously but either retired or lost in a primary. Party flips at the seat level are relatively rare and often signal shifting district dynamics. As a Democrat, Chris Pappas benefited from the historical midterm penalty against the president's party — with a Republican in the White House, the opposition typically gains seats.