Voters in two US states, New Hampshire and Rhode Island, will head to the polls this week to choose Democratic and Republican candidates for this November’s US midterm elections.
In a campaign season full of unexpected twists and turns, from the continued growth of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party to mixed results for Republican candidates backed by President Donald Trump, this contest marks some of the final primaries before the United States finalizes which party controls both houses of Congress.
Recommended stories
list of 3 itemsend of list
Before that happens, candidates in these New England states’ most high-profile races will have to wrestle with some of the biggest themes of the midterm: how far Republicans should align with Trump and whether Democratic incumbents can fend off their primary challengers.
The races to watch are:
A battle erupts in New Hampshire to replace a retiring senator.
When does voting start in New Hampshire? Polling place opening times vary by state, but all polling places must open by 11 a.m. (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, September 8th. When does voting close in New Hampshire? Closing times vary, but state law states voting cannot close before 7:00 PM (23:00 GMT).
The most-watched race in New Hampshire will determine the two candidates facing off to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.
U.S. Representative Chris Pappas has emerged as the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination. On the Republican side, John Sununu benefits from high profile as a member of the state’s most prominent political dynasty.
Democrats hope to hold this seat, and a key hold is essential to taking back the U.S. Senate, which is currently controlled by Republicans. But a recent poll of likely voters by the Senate Republican Party’s campaign division found that Sununu had a one-point lead over Pappas. The survey, conducted at the end of August, found that nearly one in four voters were undecided.
But both candidates could face actions from party leaders that could complicate their campaigns if they win Tuesday’s primaries.
Pappas remains the favorite in the Democratic primary, but some polls show his lead has fallen by double digits.
Pappas’ closest opponent is Karishma Manzoor, a democratic socialist who has gained support in part through her call to “end American complicity in the genocide of Palestinians.” While Pappas emphasized the importance of the current U.S.-Israel relationship, he also said he supports a two-state solution and “increased” aid to Gaza.
Mr. Manzoor criticized Mr. Pappas’ ties to political donors, including those associated with Israel.
Former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris endorsed Pappas last week. Pappas said he was “proud” to receive Harris’ support, which could help her cross the finish line as most of her party’s voters lean toward moderates in the state’s Democratic primary. Mr. Pappas has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2019 and has held elected office almost continuously since graduating from college in 2002. Before taking the job as Trump’s White House press secretary, he defeated Caroline Leavitt for re-election in 2022.
In the Republican primary, Sununu is running to regain the Senate seat he once held until losing to Shaheen in 2008. He faces fellow former senator Scott Brown, who once held the seat held by Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, and seven other opponents.
Sununu is trying to distance himself from Trump. But Trump supported Sununu over Brown in the primary, despite a long-running war of words with Sununu’s family — Sununu’s father and brother are both governors, and all have been critical of Trump.
Mr. Brown won a Massachusetts special election in 2009 following the death of Sen. Ted Kennedy, but lost his seat three years later and unsuccessfully challenged Mr. Shaheen in 2014. During the Trump administration, Brown served as the U.S. ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa.
Can Rhode Island’s unpopular incumbent Democratic governor fend off a challenge?
When does voting begin in Rhode Island? Voting will begin at 7 a.m. (11 a.m. GMT) on Wednesday, September 9, in all but one town. When does voting end in Rhode Island? Voting ends Wednesday at 8pm (midnight GMT Thursday).
Unlike other states this election cycle, Rhode Island’s biggest race is not for a seat in Congress, but for governor.
Vulnerable Democratic Gov. Dan McKee is fighting off a strong primary challenge from pharmacy executive Helena Fawkes.
Recent polls show the highly unpopular incumbent trailing Mr Fawkes, whose grandfather and uncle were both congressmen from neighboring US state of Connecticut, by up to 38 points. Mr. Fawkes also criticized Mr. McKee.
The race will be a rematch of the primary from four years ago, in which Mr. McKee, who was promoted to governor when his predecessor became former US President Joe Biden’s secretary of commerce, narrowly defeated Mr. Fawkes in a crowded field.
Ideological and generational differences have been the focus of most of this year’s competitive midterm primaries, but the outcome of this one could come down to complaints about a highway bridge in Providence, the state’s largest city, that was partially closed in 2023 due to safety concerns.
The crowding and economic fallout caused by the shutdown is fueling intense voter resentment toward Mr. McKee, one of the most at-risk Democrats this cycle. If Mr. McKee fails to defeat Mr. Fawkes, he will become the first sitting U.S. governor to lose in a primary election in eight years.
Aaron Gassian and Elaine Perino are vying for the nomination in the Republican primary. Gakian is an executive with the state trade association and was a candidate for lieutenant governor in 2022. He won the two-way primary that year with about 68% of the vote. Perino is a former actress and first-time candidate. The state’s Republican Party supports Guckian.
It’s been 20 years since Rhode Island elected a Republican governor.
