Pappas neck-and-neck with Sununu in New Hampshire Senate race: Poll

Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) and former Sen. John E. Sununu (R-N.H.) are neck and neck in the New Hampshire Senate race to succeed retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), according to a new poll. 

An Emerson College Polling survey released on Thursday showed Pappas barely edging out Sununu in a hypothetical matchup for the Granite State’s Senate race, with the congressman receiving 45 percent while the former senator received 44 percent. A separate 11 percent said “someone else” or were undecided. 

Because the polling falls within the survey’s 2.9 margin of error, the two men are essentially tied. 

In a hypothetical matchup between Pappas and former Sen. Scott Brown (R-N.H.), the congressman widens his lead, with Pappas receiving 48 percent while Brown receives 39 percent. A separate 13 percent said “someone else” or were undecided. 

The survey found Sununu was the clear favorite in the GOP primary, receiving close to 48 percent support among likely GOP primary voters while Brown received 19 percent. But a separate 33 percent said they were undecided, meaning Brown still has some time to make up the deficit.  

“Women support Pappas by a nine-point margin, 49% to 40%, while men support Sununu by six points, 48% to 42%,” Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, said in a press release.  

“Voters under 40 support Pappas by a 23-point margin, 54% to 31%, along with voters over 70 by a six-point margin, 51% to 45%, while voters in their 50s and 60s break for Sununu by 12 points, 51% to 39%,” he added. 

Republicans landed a key recruit last fall when Sununu announced he would be running for his old seat. There was speculation that former Gov. Chris Sununu (R) would run for the seat, but he said last April he would be passing on a bid.  

However, Democrats remain the favorite to beat at this point. The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report rates the seat as “lean Democrat.” 

The Emerson College Polling survey was conducted between March 21 and March 23, with 1,000 likely New Hampshire voters surveyed. The margin of error is 2.9 points. There were 524 likely Republican primary voters surveyed, with a margin of error of 4.2 points.  

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