US midterm elections: Democrats flip Senate seat in North Carolina

Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas narrowly defeated former GOP Senator John Sununu in New Hampshire's Senate race, according to AP projections. This marks Pappas as the first openly gay man to be elected to the U.S. Senate. The win keeps the seat in Democratic hands and could potentially boost the party's chances of gaining control of the Senate.

Pappas secured 61% of the votes compared to Sununu's 38%, with the margin growing as more votes were counted. Pappas will replace retiring Senator Jeanne Shaheen in January. Republicans had viewed New Hampshire as a prime target for picking up a Senate seat, with GOP Senate Majority Leader John Thune actively campaigning for Sununu.

Despite Pappas leading in most pre-election polls, which showed a 5-8 point lead, the race received significant attention from both parties. Sununu, while endorsed by President Trump, criticized the president's trade war with Canada and his "anti-weaponization fund." Notably, several prominent New Hampshire Republicans, including Don Bolduc, endorsed Pappas, accusing Sununu of being too aligned with the president.

Republicans welcomed Sununu's candidacy due to his family's deep political roots in the state. Sununu served in the Senate from 2003 to 2009 before losing to Shaheen in 2008, and his brother Chris served as governor for eight years. Senate GOP Whip John Barrasso acknowledged Sununu's decision to run as a factor that made New Hampshire a top-tier U.S. Senate race. The election outcome suggests that New Hampshire voters preferred a check on Trump's power.