Chris Pappas (American politician)

Early life and education

Pappas was born in Manchester, New Hampshire, the son of Dawn and Arthur Pappas. His paternal great-grandfather, also named Arthur Pappas, arrived in New Hampshire as a new American citizen in the early 20th century, having recently emigrated from Greece. In 1917, Arthur Pappas and his cousin Louis Canota founded an ice cream shop in Manchester. By 1919, they had expanded the business into a restaurant, now known as the Puritan Backroom, and in 1949, they added a function room. In 1974, Charlie Pappas, grandfather of Chris Pappas and co-owner of the Puritan at the time, invented the chicken tender. The business remains family-owned, and as of 2020, Chris Pappas was one of the owners.

Pappas graduated from Manchester Central High School in 1998. He then attended Harvard College, earning his Bachelor of Arts in government in 2002. While at Harvard he wrote for The Harvard Crimson.

Early political career

In 1996, as a high school student, Pappas met Jeanne Shaheen, then a state senator and the Democratic nominee for governor. He signed on as a volunteer for Shaheen's campaign, marking his first foray into politics.

Pappas returned to Manchester after graduating college and was elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 2002. He served two terms before being elected treasurer of Hillsborough County. He was defeated by Bob Burns for a third term as county treasurer in 2010.

In 2012, Pappas was elected to the New Hampshire Executive Council from the 4th district, defeating Burns. He was reelected in 2014 and 2016.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2018

For years, Pappas was floated as a potential candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, the United States Senate, and governor of New Hampshire. After U.S. representative Carol Shea-Porter announced that she would not seek reelection in 2018, Pappas announced his candidacy for her seat in New Hampshire's 1st congressional district. Pappas defeated ten other candidates for the Democratic nomination, including former assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs Maura Sullivan and Bernie Sanders's son Levi Sanders, with 42.2% of the vote.

Pappas defeated Republican Eddie Edwards, a former police chief and member of the New Hampshire State Division of Liquor Enforcement, in the general election, with 53.6% of the vote. He won every county except Belknap County.

2020

Pappas ran for reelection to a second term and was unopposed in the Democratic primary. He defeated Republican Matt Mowers, a former New Hampshire Republican Party executive director and former U.S. State Department staffer, in the general election, receiving 51.32% of the vote.

2022

Pappas was reelected in 2022. He ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and defeated future Trump administration official Karoline Leavitt with 54% of the vote.

2024

Pappas ran for a fourth term in 2024. He defeated Kevin Rondeau for the Democratic nomination, winning 95.2% of the vote. He faced Republican Russell Prescott, a former state senator with whom Pappas served on the New Hampshire Executive Council, in the general election. He was reelected by 32,641 votes.

Committee assignments

• Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
  • Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
  • Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
  • Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
• Committee on Veterans' Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity
  • Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
• Committee on Small Business

Caucus memberships

• Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus (co-chair)
• New Democrat Coalition
• Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
• House Pro-Choice Caucus
• Rare Disease Caucus

Political positions

Pappas was ranked the most bipartisan Democrat and 3rd in bipartisanship overall among members of the House in the year 2023 by the Lugar Center.

In 2020, Pappas voiced support for the Supreme Court's ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, which held that LGBTQ workers are protected under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He also co-sponsored the Equality Act, which would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in education, employment, housing, credit, federal jury service, public accommodations, and the use of federal funds.

Pappas was one of six House Democrats to vote against the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act to legalize cannabis at the federal level in 2020. Pappas said he supports removing cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act but that he had concerns with other provisions of the bill and felt that it was being rushed through.

After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, Pappas expressed support for passing a law in Congress to restore abortion rights nationally.

In August 2022, Pappas criticized President Biden's plan to cancel $10,000 in federal student debt for those making less than $125,000 and up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients, calling it "no way to make policy" and saying it did little to address the root cause of increasing costs of higher education.

In 2025, Pappas was one of 46 House Democrats who joined all Republicans to vote for the Laken Riley Act. Pappas said that he was horrified by Laken Riley's murder and wrote "Everyone should be held accountable if they commit a crime" and that the bill provides "federal law enforcement with the necessary tools" to enforce U.S. laws and ensure "swift, significant consequences."

Foreign policy

In March 2023, Pappas voted against H. Con. Res. 21, which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days. But he called for a critical review of the U.S. military's role in the region after 20 years of engagement and urged the Biden administration to consult with Congress, develop a clear strategy, and base decisions on ground intelligence and coordination with military leaders.

In the aftermath of the October 7 attacks, Pappas has expressed support for both Israel's right to defend itself and Palestinian self-determination. On November 7, 2023, Pappas voted, along with 212 Republicans and 22 Democrats, in favor of H.Res 845 to censure Representative Rashida Tlaib. The censure resolution accused Tlaib of "promoting false narratives regarding the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and for calling for the destruction of the state of Israel." The resolution said that the phrase "from the river to the sea" is "a genocidal call to violence to destroy the state of Israel and its people to replace it with a Palestinian state extending from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea". Pappas has voiced support for a two-state solution and sending humanitarian aid to Gaza and has criticized the Israeli Defense Force's targeting of civilians in Gaza.

2026 U.S. Senate campaign

Main article: 2026 United States Senate election in New Hampshire

In March 2025, after incumbent Democratic U.S. senator Jeanne Shaheen announced that she would not run for re-election in 2026, it was reported that Pappas was "definitely considering" running for the seat. On April 3, 2025, Pappas announced his candidacy for the seat.

Personal life

Pappas is openly gay. He married Vann Bentley in February 2023. They live in Manchester, New Hampshire. Pappas is an Orthodox Christian and is affiliated with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

Pappas co-owns the Puritan Backroom restaurant in Manchester. The Puritan Backroom is well-known in New Hampshire as a frequent stop for presidential candidates during the New Hampshire primary.

Pappas appeared on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? on October 10, 2011, and won $17,500.

Electoral history

References

References

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2. (November 7, 2018). "LGBTQ Candidates Record Historic Midterm Wins In Rainbow Wave | HuffPost". Huffingtonpost.com.
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8. [http://www.washingtonblade.com/2012/06/19/gay-n-h-executive-council-candidate-stumps-in-d-c/ "Gay N.H. Executive Council candidate stumps in D.C."] {{Webarchive. link. (October 27, 2017. ''[[Washington Blade]]'', June 19, 2012.)
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13. "Q&A: Chris Pappas likes mixing politics and ice cream {{!}} New Hampshire". UnionLeader.com.
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23. (2022-11-07). "The Northeast Is Supposed to Be Democrats' Stronghold. Instead, It's Where They Might Lose Their House Majority.".
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36. (December 4, 2020). "Pappas one of six Democratic 'no' votes on marijuana decriminalization proposal". Manchester Ink Link.
37. (2022-10-27). "Pappas talks inflation, abortion, border policies amid tight race against Leavitt".
38. Sexton, Adam. (2024-10-13). "Chris Pappas says he supports passing law in Congress to restore abortion rights nationally".
39. (August 24, 2022). "Vulnerable House Democrat rebukes Biden's $300 billion student loan handout: 'No way to make policy'". Fox News.
40. McPherson, Lindsey. (August 24, 2022). "Biden to cancel up to $20K student debt per borrower". Roll Call.
41. Rogers, Josh. (2025-01-23). "NH's all Democratic delegation joins GOP to pass Laken Riley Act".
42. Ketschke, Ross. (2025-01-08). "Pappas, Goodlander break with Democrats to support Laken Riley immigration bill".
43. DiStaso, John. (2021-02-02). "Should US troops come home from Middle East? Granite State congressional delegation weighs in".
44. (November 7, 2023). "House censures Rep. Rashida Tlaib over Israel remarks". NBC News.
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48. Fink, Jenni. (7 November 2023). "Full List of Democrats Who Voted to Censure Rashida Tlaib". Newsweek.
49. (November 7, 2023). "House Moves Closer to Censuring Tlaib, Citing 'River to the Sea' Slogan". [[The New York Times]].
50. Graham, Michael. (2024-04-05). "Pappas on Israel in Gaza: 'No Nation Should be Targeting Civilians'".
51. (2024-10-11). "Conversations with the candidates: CD1 Democratic incumbent Chris Pappas".
52. (2025-03-24). "Frustrated Dems urge U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas to stand up to Trump: 'Fight, fight, fight'".
53. (12 March 2025). "Scoop: Rep. Chris Pappas eyes Jeanne Shaheen's newly open N.H. Senate seat". Axios.
54. (12 March 2025). "Pappas considering Senate run after Shaheen announces retirement". POLITICO.
55. (20 February 2023). "Rep. Chris Pappas marries partner Vann Bentley". The Hill.
56. (2021-01-07). "Greek-American Leaders Criticize Capitol Riot, Call for Unity".
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