Biography

Chris Pappas, born on June 4, 1980, in Manchester, New Hampshire, is a Democratic politician representing New Hampshire's 1st congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2019. He is the first openly gay man to represent New Hampshire in Congress. Before his congressional tenure, Pappas served on the New Hampshire Executive Council from 2013 to 2019 and was a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from 2002 to 2006. He is also a co-owner of his family's restaurant, the Puritan Backroom, a Manchester landmark established in 1917.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Graduated from Manchester Central High School in 1998; earned a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Harvard College in 2002.

• Political Experience:

  • Elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 2002, serving two terms.
  • Served as Treasurer of Hillsborough County from 2007 to 2011.
  • Elected to the New Hampshire Executive Council in 2012, serving until 2019.
  • Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018; re-elected in 2020, 2022, and 2024.

Notable Achievements and Positions

• Bipartisanship: Recognized as one of the most bipartisan members of Congress, ranking eighth among Democrats for voting against party lines.

• Legislative Effectiveness: Ranked as the 12th most effective House Democrat and 14th overall in the 435-member body.

• Committee Assignments: Serves on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and the Small Business Committee.

• Policy Focus:

  • Advocates for lowering costs for working families, including health care and child care.
  • Supports reproductive rights and has opposed attempts to restrict women's access to health services.
  • Committed to veterans' affairs, including expanding VA emergency care and increasing benefits.

• 2026 U.S. Senate Candidacy: Announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat to be vacated by Senator Jeanne Shaheen in 2026.

Chris Pappas Announces 2026 U.S. Senate Bid: