Meet New Hampshire's Congressional District & Senate Candidates
This fall, New Hampshire voters are deciding two races that will shape the state's voice in Washington — two U.S. House seats and a U.S. Senate seat. Between Oct. 5 and 7, we brought the nominees together for in-depth, moderated conversations: on stage for our two Congressional District forums, and in separate, recorded interviews with our two U.S. Senate nominees, since scheduling didn't allow for a live forum with both candidates together. Watch every conversation below.
Whether you're a student still figuring out where you stand, a longtime voter who wants more than a 30-second ad gives you, or just curious what these candidates think, this series was designed for you.
Kevin Sullivan, a Washington Post Pulitzer Prize winner and UNH alum, moderated each conversation.
The Candidates
1st Congressional District
Stefany Shaheen – Democratic nominee
Stefany Shaheen is a former Portsmouth city councilor and daughter of U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. "For 15 years, I've been a fierce fighter for medical research and innovation in health care to help people like my daughter, Elle, battling chronic, life-threatening diseases like diabetes," she said. Shaheen framed her run as a response to proposed federal cuts: "When I see Donald Trump crushing medical research and slashing health care...I have to fight back."
Anthony DiLorenzo – Republican nominee
Anthony DiLorenzo is a prominent seacoast businessman who has worked behind the scenes supporting Republicans for many years. He wrote on Facebook, "The greatest decision I ever made in business was choosing to build my life in New Hampshire. This state has given me a lot, but I am deeply concerned that the next generation will not have the same opportunities to live their American Dream as I did. While the people struggle, Washington is divided, stuck on the wrong issues, and lacking common sense. I am running to change that."
U.S. Senate
Chris Pappas – Democrat
Chris Pappas has served as a U.S. Representative since 2018 and previously served on New Hampshire's Executive Council. (His family is also known for their world-famous chicken tenders at the Puritan Backroom Restaurant in Manchester.) In Congress, Pappas has positioned himself as a moderate, occasionally breaking with his party on high-profile votes such as the Laken Riley Act and the Middle Class Borrower Protection Act. In 2024, Pappas won reelection to the U.S. House. He is now seeking to move up to the U.S. Senate in 2026.
John E. Sununu – Republican
John E. Sununu, a former Republican U.S. Senator and three-term congressman, hopes to win back the Senate seat he once held. First elected to the Senate in 2002 after defeating then-Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, he later lost to her in their 2008 rematch. In launching his 2026 campaign, Sununu said Congress has become "loud, dysfunctional, even angry," and that he wants to "help calm the waters." After nearly two decades in the private sector, Sununu is emphasizing civility, fiscal discipline, and practical problem-solving as he seeks to re-enter public service.
2nd Congressional District
Maggie Goodlander (incumbent) – Democratic nominee
Maggie Goodlander is a former Deputy Assistant Attorney General and speechwriter for the late Sen. Joe Lieberman. She won her race for the 2nd Congressional District in 2024 and is seeking the seat again in 2026. Goodlander is married to Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor under President Biden. As a congressperson, she has been active on cost-of-living issues, launching the bipartisan "Lowering Costs" caucus.
Lily Tang Williams – Republican nominee
Lily Tang Williams is a Republican candidate and a vocal critic of communism who fled China for the United States. This marks her third bid for New Hampshire's 2nd District House seat, having run in 2022 and 2024. Williams says of her candidacy: "I want to give back to the country I love, fight to keep the American Dream alive, and serve the people in NH-02 with integrity, compassion, and transparency."
This series is presented in partnership with the Warren B. Rudman Center for Justice, Leadership, & Public Service at UNH's Franklin Pierce School of Law.
