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By Mary Ellen McIntire, Andrew Menezes and Daniela Altimari

Labor Day typically marks the kickoff of the general election campaign, but there are still a few primaries to settle first.

One of those states is battleground New Hampshire, where Democrats on Tuesday will wrap up a bitter battle to pick their nominee for the 1st District seat Rep. Chris Pappas is vacating to run for Senate. 

Polls have shown a close Democratic primary race between Marine Corps veteran Maura Sullivan and former Portsmouth City Councilor Stefany Shaheen, the daughter of retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. Several other candidates will appear on the ballot, including Hampton Select Board Chairwoman Carleigh Beriont, who is trying to stake out the progressive lane. Former Pentagon lawyer Christian Urrutia, who was also running as a progressive, dropped his campaign over the weekend and endorsed Shaheen. His name remains on the ballot. 

The race between Sullivan and Shaheen has grown increasingly negative. Shaheen has accused Sullivan’s campaign of being funded by AIPAC donors, while Sullivan’s team has gone after Shaheen’s “fancy last name.” With such a late primary, the winner will have to quickly unite the party heading into the fall election. 

Republicans are hoping to wage a more competitive campaign in the 1st District this year without an incumbent on the ballot. Kamala Harris carried the district, which covers eastern New Hampshire, by 2 points in 2024, and strong Republican performances in the state’s gubernatorial and Senate races could help boost the party’s 1st District nominee. Businessman Anthony DiLorenzo, who has largely self-funded his campaign, has President Donald Trump’s endorsement and is backed by the NRCC. 

But first he has to get past businesswoman Hollie Noveletsky, who ran for the seat two years ago, and state Rep. Brian Cole. Two other candidates who’ve ended their campaigns and endorsed DiLorenzo will also be on the ballot. 

Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the general election for the 1st District as Lean Democratic. 

In the 2nd District primary, Democratic incumbent Maggie Goodlander is being challenged from the left by state Rep. Paige Beauchemin. On the Republican side, activist Lily Tang Williams faces three opponents as she makes her third straight bid for the seat. In 2024, she lost to Goodlander by 6 points. 

Inside Elections rates the race Likely Democratic. 

Battleground Senate race

New Hampshire’s Senate race could be among the most competitive this year. Inside Elections moved it into the Toss-up category last week, and recent polls have shown the November election within the margin of error.

Pappas is looking for a decisive win in the Democratic primary over biochemist Karishma Manzur, whose progressive campaign appears to have picked up momentum in the contest’s closing stages. Pappas campaigned this weekend with both Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly.

On the GOP side, former Sen. John E. Sununu has Trump’s support and is favored to claim the nomination 18 years after he lost reelection to Jeanne Shaheen. Like Pappas, he too has to get past a primary opponent Tuesday. Former Massachusetts Sen. Scott P. Brown is making his second Senate run from the Granite State.

New Hampshire hasn’t elected a Republican to the Senate since 2010, but the party has signaled some optimism about the race in a year in which Democrats have more offensive opportunities across the country. 

Rhode Island votes Wednesday

The Ocean State is holding its primaries Wednesday, a day later than usual to ease matters for election workers post-Labor Day.

Democrats are expected to dominate congressional races in Rhode Island this fall, including Sen. Jack Reed, who faces two primary opponents Tuesday. Democratic Reps. Gabe Amo and Seth Magaziner are unopposed in the primaries for their deep-blue seats.  

Perhaps a more interesting contest is the Democratic primary for governor. Polls have shown Gov. Dan McKee trailing challenger Helena Buonanno Foulkes, a former CVS executive who narrowly lost to him in the 2022 primary. 

Foulkes has a couple of notable connections to Congress. Her maternal grandfather, Thomas J. Dodd, and uncle Christopher J. Dodd represented Connecticut in the Senate and House. And her late mother was a college roommate of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who campaigned for Foulkes in Providence late last month.

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