Poll Shows Shifts in New Hampshire Senate Race as GOP Aims to Flip Seat

A new poll has revealed significant shifts in New Hampshire's Senate race as the Republican Party seeks to flip the seat currently held by retiring Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen. In the Democratic primary, front-runner Representative Chris Pappas now leads progressive Democrat Karishma Manzur by only 13 points, with the support of 47 percent of likely Democratic primary voters compared to Manzur's 34 percent.

The poll, conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, found that 18 percent of voters remain undecided in the race. The once overwhelming 51-point gap between Pappas and Manzur in a September survey has narrowed dramatically, reflecting the growing grassroots support for Manzur's campaign. Pappas, a four-term representative, previously led Manzur by a significant 51-point margin in September, with 65 percent supporting him and 14 percent backing the progressive candidate.

Manzur's campaign highlighted the surge in grassroots support, praising the volunteers who are rallying behind her due to her commitment to honesty, integrity, and accountability. The Republican side of the race has also shown significant changes. Former Senator John Sununu is leading former Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown by 60 percent to 20 percent among likely Republican primary voters, with 17 percent undecided.

Sununu's position has strengthened over the past year, increasing from a 6-point lead in September to a narrow 2-point advantage now. The general election matchup between Sununu and Pappas is also seeing shifts, with Sununu holding a narrow 2-point lead over Pappas, 45 percent to 43 percent, with 7 percent undecided. The New Hampshire primary is scheduled for September 8.