Senator's daughter wins Democratic nod in closely watched race to replace outgoing Dem incumbent

Pappas, who has represented the district since 2019, announced a bid for the U.S. Senate last year.

Incumbents often present their party's best chance to win in competitive districts. Pappas last won reelection in a 54.0% to 45.9% victory over Republican challenger Russell Prescott, a local legislator.

The race attracted a crowd of Democratic challengers hoping to fill the empty seat.

In addition to Shaheen, eight contenders jumped into the race, including Maura Sullivan, a Marine veteran and an Obama-era official. The field also included Carleigh Beriont, a union organizer and progressive, and Christian Urrutia, an Army National Guard officer and international law attorney. Urrutia would eventually later drop out and endorse Shaheen who quickly became a frontrunner. 

"She's working hard to earn voters' support in her own right and on her own merits - and I couldn't be prouder to support her candidacy."

Sullivan's platform includes cracking down on what she described as price gouging, bolstering the VA, opposing Trump's tariffs and increasing federal investments in housing development.

Having cleared the primary, Shaheen will advance to the general election on Nov. 3.