Greek-American Democratic Congressman Chris Pappas and former Republican Senator John Sununu exchanged sharp accusations over President Donald Trump, healthcare costs and political independence Tuesday during their first debate in New Hampshire’s closely watched U.S. Senate race.
The debate, organized by the Mt. Washington Valley Economic Council, highlighted the candidates’ competing efforts to portray each other as closely aligned with their respective parties’ national leadership.
Moderator George Epstein opened the discussion by asking whether the election was essentially a referendum on Trump’s policies. Pappas, who has repeatedly sought to connect Sununu to the president, agreed that Trump’s leadership was a central issue.
“I think there is a fundamental question in this election about whether you think the country is moving in the right direction, whether you support the leadership of Donald Trump,” Pappas said, adding that voters who approved of the president had another candidate on the stage.
Sununu rejected that characterization.
“This election is about much more than the president,” he said. “This race isn’t about next year or the next two years. It’s about the next six years and the kind of voice and leadership we’re going to have in New Hampshire.”
When Sununu reiterated that he had never met Trump, Pappas responded that personal acquaintance was irrelevant.
“I’ve never met the guy either. But the fact is, I know who he is. I see how devastating his policies are to New Hampshire,” Pappas said.
Dispute Over Biden and Prescription Drug Costs
Sununu challenged Pappas over his support for former President Joe Biden, criticizing the congressman’s positions on immigration, inflation and Biden’s 2024 reelection campaign.
“You supported his open border policies. You supported his inflation acts, and you even supported him for reelection when everyone knew that he had no business running for office,” Sununu said.
The moderator also questioned Pappas about his support for Biden during New Hampshire’s 2024 Democratic presidential primary and whether he regretted not calling for Biden to withdraw earlier.
“I wish there was another candidate who had stepped to the fore, who either could have challenged Joe Biden or that there were people around him that could have pushed him out of the race,” Pappas responded.
“But that wasn’t the reality that we were facing at that moment in time, and I didn’t want Donald Trump to come back as president.”
Sununu countered that another Democratic candidate, then-Congressman Dean Phillips of Minnesota, had been on the ballot.
The debate’s most contentious exchange concerned prescription drug prices and Sununu’s alleged connections to pharmaceutical interests.
Pappas defended measures allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices and limiting insulin costs for Medicare beneficiaries. He accused Sununu of siding with pharmaceutical companies during his previous Senate service and subsequently earning as much as $35 million through corporate interests.
“Senator Sununu voted with Big Pharma when he was in office,” Pappas said, arguing that his Republican opponent was poorly positioned to address rising prescription drug costs.
Sununu categorically denied the allegations.
“Chris is lying. I never worked for Big Pharma, and goodness knows I didn’t make $35 million,” he responded.
When Pappas repeated the accusation, Sununu challenged him to identify the pharmaceutical company he allegedly worked for.
“What Big Pharma company did I work for? Which one? I think that’s a perfectly reasonable question,” Sununu said.
Pappas did not name a company during the exchange.
“It’s disgraceful that you would say that here in North Conway and not be able to name the company,” Sununu added.
Candidates Emphasize Political Independence
Throughout the debate, both candidates sought to establish their independence from national political leaders.
Pappas argued that New Hampshire needed a senator willing to oppose Trump when necessary, while Sununu accused his Democratic opponent of consistently supporting Biden’s policies.
The discussion also included lighter moments, with the candidates asked to name their favorite superheroes. Sununu selected Superman, while Pappas chose Batman.
In his closing statement, Pappas returned to his criticism of Trump’s influence over Republican candidates.
“What we don’t need is a senator who’s just going to be a yes man for this president,” he said.
Sununu rejected the suggestion that he would follow Washington’s political leadership and criticized Pappas’ record as an elected official.
“I don’t care what anyone thinks in Washington,” Sununu said. “I’ll stand up for New Hampshire every single day.”
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