Polling places in New Hampshire and Rhode Island open this week as voters select candidates for the November US midterm elections. These contests offer critical insights into the broader political landscape, particularly regarding the Republican Party’s alignment with President Donald Trump and the ability of Democratic incumbents to withstand primary challenges.
In New Hampshire, the defining race is the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Democrat Jeanne Shaheen. The state’s polls open at 11:00 local time on Tuesday, September 8, and close no earlier than 7:00 pm.
US Representative Chris Pappas leads the Democratic field, though his margin has tightened. He faces Karishma Manzur, a democratic socialist who has gained traction by criticizing US policy toward Gaza and Pappas’s ties to pro-Israel donors. Pappas, who supports a two-state solution and increased humanitarian aid to Gaza, recently received the endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris.
On the Republican side, John Sununu, a member of the state’s prominent political dynasty, seeks to reclaim the Senate seat he lost in 2008. Despite historical tensions between the Sununu family and Trump, the president has endorsed Sununu over former senator Scott Brown. Recent polling indicates a statistically tied race between Sununu and Pappas, with nearly 25% of voters still undecided.
Meanwhile, in Rhode Island, the top contest is for governor rather than Congress. Voting begins at 7:00 am on Wednesday, September 9, with polls closing at 8:00 pm.
Democratic Governor Dan McKee is struggling against a primary challenge from Helena Foulkes, a pharmacy executive. McKee has trailed Foulkes by as much as 38 points in some surveys, largely due to public frustration over safety closures at a major Providence freeway bridge. A loss would make McKee the first sitting US governor to be defeated in a primary in eight years.
In the Republican primary, the party has endorsed state trade association executive Aaron Guckian over former actress Elaine Pelino. Rhode Island has not elected a Republican governor in two decades.
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