Rep. Chris Pappas is leading the Democratic nomination in New Hampshire's Senate race by 56 points according to an internal survey of 422 voters. The poll conducted from Aug. 19-25 found that 71% of Democratic primary voters support Pappas, while 15% back Karishma Manzur and 14% are undecided. National Democrats are not concerned about Pappas' primary standing but expect a tight general election against Republican John Sununu. The article highlights the contrast between Pappas' strong lead in public polls and a recent University of New Hampshire poll that showed a much closer race.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-28,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Rep. Chris Pappas, the Democratic candidate running for the Senate seat in New Hampshire, has a significant lead in the primary election, with 71% of the vote compared to 15% for his closest competitor, Karishma Manzur. This is according to an internal survey conducted by GQR from August 19-25 among 422 Democratic primary voters, which also found that 14% were undecided. The news may come as a relief to national Democrats who had been concerned after a previous poll showed Manzur within 13 points of Pappas in the September 8 primary. However, while Pappas' lead is substantial, Democrats are still anticipating a tight general election against his potential Republican opponents, including former Sen. John Sununu, who has shown a narrow lead in some polls.
Written for “New Hampshire Democratic Primary” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
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stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score +0.15 for article 3093 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-28
Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H., has a commanding lead in his bid for the Democratic nomination in New Hampshire’s Senate race, according to numbers from his campaign, shared first with Semafor.
uncertain
Pappas → have → Semafor
That will likely settle some nerves among national Democrats rattled by this year’s primary polling — particularly after a University of New Hampshire poll placed Democrat Karishma Manzur just 13 points behind Pappas in the Sept. 8 primary.
asserted
poll → settle → primary
Pappas is currently earning 71% of Democratic primary votes compared to 15% for Manzur, with 14% undecided, according to the internal survey of 422 Democratic primary voters conducted by GQR from Aug. 19-25.
uncertain
% → earn → Aug.
Democrats aren’t sweating Pappas’ primary standing, but they anticipate a tight general election.
asserted
they → sweat → election
The UNH poll showed former Republican Sen. John Sununu with a narrow lead over Pappas in the race, and polls with similarly tight results are circulating among Republicans.
asserted
polls → show → Republicans
Another poll released in July and shared with Semafor shows Pappas with a one-point lead.
asserted
poll → release → lead
And Semafor is told another private poll conducted in August also forecast a tied race.
asserted
poll → tell → race
Pappas has been bracing for this — he told Semafor in June New Hampshire is still “very much a purple state” despite Democrats’ recent successes, and anticipates the race will “stay in the margin of error from here to November.”
asserted
race → brace → November
The UNH poll could be an outlier: Pappas is leading in the primary by 20 points or more in other public polls.
uncertain
Pappas → lead → polls
Pappas also has support from across the Democratic Party — including from progressive stalwart Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. — while Manzur’s highest-profile national endorsement is from former New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman.
asserted
endorsement → have → Bowman
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., hasn’t endorsed, an aide said, and it’s not clear if he will.
asserted
he → endorse → ?
And Sununu still has to beat former Sen. Scott Brown in his own primary, although the latest UNH poll showed Sununu with a big lead.
asserted
Sununu → beat → lead
