Pappas, Kuster, face pro-Trump Republicans in New Hampshire

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire’s two congressional races pit Democratic incumbents against pro-Donald Trump Republican challengers.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas faces Republican Karoline Leavitt, who worked in former President Donald Trump’s White House press office, in the 1st Congressional District. U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster, also a Democrat, faces Republican Robert Burns, who runs a pharmaceutical quality control business.

Leavitt conceded the race to Pappas on Tuesday after polls closed, saying, “I certainly wish tonight’s results came in a little bit differently. I’m nevertheless still humbled by the outpouring of support that we received across every single city and town and more.”

The Associated Press has not yet determined a winner in the race. Leavitt would become the youngest woman elected to Congress at age 25, if she were to win. She campaigned on strengthening parental rights in schools and increasing domestic energy production.

Pappas, who helped run his family’s restaurant, said in a victory speech to campaign supporters Tuesday night, “We know this campaign was a tough fight. But it was always about the people of New Hampshire and putting them first.”

Pappas said he respected Leavitt’s campaign, adding, “we should all be grateful for those who step up to run for office.”

The 1st District has a history of switching between parties. It flipped five times in seven elections before Pappas, now 42, won the open seat in 2018. The district includes Manchester, the state’s most populous city, Portsmouth on the Seacoast and rural communities farther north.

The winner in New Hampshire’s other congressional race, the 2st District between Kuster and Burns, hasn’t been determined yet. The sprawling, mostly rural 2nd District stretches from New Hampshire’s border with Canada to the Massachusetts line. It includes the cities of Nashua and Concord.

Burns ran for the seat once before in 2018, but lost in that primary to Steve Negron, who was later defeated by Kuster.

If Burns wins, it will be the first time the district is back in GOP hands since Kuster defeated former Republican Rep. Charles Bass in 2012.

But it wouldn’t be the first time New Hampshire sends a Robert Burns to Congress. Voters elected one in the 19th century. Robert Burns, who practiced medicine and was a Jacksonian, served as a U.S. representative from 1833-1837.

Both the current Robert Burns and Leavitt, who campaigned on a pro-Trump “America First” platform, defeated candidates favored to win in their primary races.

Leavitt beat Matt Mowers, who won the nomination in 2020 and was endorsed at the time by Trump, but lost in the general election to Pappas. Burns defeated George Hansel, the mayor of Keene and a moderate who was endorsed by Republican Gov. Chris Sununu.

Leavitt said she believed the 2020 election was stolen from Trump; Burns said Joe Biden had enough votes to win the presidency. Trump recently endorsed both of them.

Pappas and Kuster focused their campaigns on the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which caps the amounts seniors pay for prescription drugs and allows Medicare to negotiate drug prices. It includes Kuster’s bill to make vaccines available to seniors for free. Leavitt and Burns argued that the measure actually increases inflation and that the price negotiations don’t go into effect until 2026.

Democrats kept abortion rights at the forefront of the campaigns. Pappas and Kuster said they would support the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would protect the right to access abortion care throughout the nation in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Leavitt and Burns both describe themselves as pro-life. Leavitt said she supports having state legislatures make decisions on abortion regulations and would oppose a federal abortion ban. Burns initially said he supports a federal “heartbeat bill” banning abortions, with an exception if the mother’s life is at risk. He now says he’d support a ban at 12 or 15 weeks.

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Kathy Mccormack, The Associated Press