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Democratic Representative Chris Pappas won New Hampshire’s Democratic Senate primary on September 9, 2026, and quickly used his victory to challenge the Trump administration’s economic narrative. After his projected win, Pappas turned to voters with a pointed question: are Americans actually living in President Trump’s so-called “golden age”?
Pappas Wins New Hampshire Democratic Senate Primary
NBC News projected Pappas as the winner of the New Hampshire Democratic Senate primary. His victory positions him as the Democratic candidate heading into the broader Senate race. However, Pappas wasted little time shifting focus from his own win to a larger political argument.
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Speaking after the result, Pappas directly questioned whether ordinary Americans feel the benefits that Trump has promised. His remarks framed the Senate race as a referendum on Trump’s economic record. The challenge, in effect, signals the tone Democrats plan to set heading into the general election.
A Night of Competitive Primaries Across the Country
New Hampshire was not the only state holding significant primary contests that evening. In neighboring Massachusetts, Representatives Markey, Neal, and Lynch all won their Democratic primaries. Meanwhile, Michael Minogue secured the Massachusetts Republican gubernatorial primary, according to NBC News projections.
In the South, South Carolina’s GOP Senate runoff produced a clear result. Senator Darline Graham defeated Ralph Norman, who conceded after the loss. Graham publicly thanked President Trump following her victory. Also in the South, Everton Blair won Georgia’s 13th District special election, as NBC News projected.
Further west, Oklahoma’s Republican gubernatorial primary runoff went to Mike Mazzei. In Florida, Representative Byron Donalds celebrated a projected win in the GOP governor primary. On the Democratic side, David Jolly won Florida’s Democratic gubernatorial primary, while Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz held her seat by winning Florida’s 20th District Democratic primary.
Mail-In Ballot Fight Reaches the Supreme Court
Alongside the primary results, a major legal battle over mail-in voting moved forward on the same day. The Supreme Court allowed Trump’s mail-in ballot restrictions to take effect. This marked the third time Trump had asked the court to permit those restrictions to move forward.
The decision drew significant attention from election observers. A whistleblower also warned that the United States Postal Service’s ballot handling system could cause major disruptions. Together, these developments added a layer of uncertainty to the broader electoral landscape.
Alaska and Other Key Races Round Out the Evening
In Alaska, Republican Senator Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola both advanced in the state’s Senate race. Their progress set up what is expected to be a competitive contest. Earlier results from Florida, California, Wyoming, and Alaska also drew attention as key primary outcomes across the country.
Back in New Hampshire, the night ultimately belonged to Pappas. His primary win gives Democrats a candidate ready to mount a direct challenge against the Republican narrative. By questioning whether Americans truly feel the effects of Trump’s promised prosperity, Pappas made clear that economic accountability will sit at the center of his Senate campaign.
