DEMOCRAT

Chris Pappas

New Hampshire Senate 2026 · 2026

Policy Positions

61%

Avg Confidence

Issue Areas

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Policy Positions

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Economy

2 positions

Would you support raising the federal minimum wage to $17 per hour?

Support

Voting RecordPappas voted for the Raise the Wage Act of 2021 (which targeted $15/hr) while in the House, and has generally supported minimum wage increases, but there is limited direct evidence of his position on a $17 specifically as a Senate candidate. Fact-check this →

Would you support imposing tariffs of 25% or more on imports from countries that do not meet US labor and environmental standards?

Support

Party InferencePappas has generally supported trade policies that protect American workers and has backed measures linking trade to labor and environmental standards, consistent with mainstream House Democrats, but no direct statement on this specific tariff threshold was found. Fact-check this →

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Environment

2 positions

Do you support legislation to reduce US carbon emissions by 50% from 2005 levels by 2035?

Support

Voting RecordPappas has supported clean energy legislation including the Inflation Reduction Act and has backed emissions reduction goals generally, but has not explicitly championed the specific 50% by 2035 target, requiring some inference from his broader environmental voting record as a House Democrat. Fact-check this →

Do you support stopping the issuance of new federal permits for oil and gas drilling on public lands and offshore waters?

Neutral

Party InferencePappas has a moderate environmental record as a House Democrat representing a swing district in NH, supporting clean energy but not clearly advocating for a full ban on new federal oil and gas permits; his Senate campaign platform emphasizes energy independence and climate action without explicit endorsement of halting all new federal drilling permits. Fact-check this →

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Foreign Policy

2 positions

Would you support increasing the federal defense budget by more than 5% per year above the rate of inflation?

Oppose

Party InferencePappas served on the House Homeland Security Committee and generally supported strong national defense but as a moderate Democrat has not advocated for large above-inflation defense increases, making a position opposing >5% real growth above inflation the most plausible inference from his overall record and ideological positioning. Fact-check this →

Would you support maintaining or increasing current levels of US foreign assistance to allied and developing nations?

Support

Voting RecordPappas, as a House Democrat, generally supported foreign aid packages including Ukraine assistance, but has not made foreign assistance a centerpiece issue; position inferred from voting record pattern and general moderate Democratic stance. Fact-check this →

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Gun Policy

2 positions

Would you support requiring background checks for all firearm purchases in the US, including private sales and gun show transactions?

Support

Voting RecordAs a U.S. House member, Pappas voted for H.R. 8 (the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 and 2021), which would require universal background checks for all firearm transfers including private sales and gun show transactions, indicating clear support for this policy. Fact-check this →

Do you support a federal policy prohibiting the manufacture and sale of semi-automatic rifles with detachable magazines to civilians?

Neutral

Public StatementPappas, a moderate Democrat from NH representing a competitive district, has supported background checks and red flag laws but has not clearly endorsed a full ban on semi-automatic rifles with detachable magazines; his position on this specific policy is not well-documented in his Senate campaign record. Fact-check this →

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Healthcare

2 positions

Would you support expanding Medicare to cover all Americans regardless of age?

Neutral

Party InferencePappas, a moderate Democrat representing a competitive NH district in the House, has supported strengthening the ACA and expanding Medicaid but has not clearly endorsed Medicare for All, suggesting a cautious centrist position inferred from his general legislative record. Fact-check this →

Would you support federal legislation requiring Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices directly with pharmaceutical manufacturers?

Strongly Support

Voting RecordPappas voted for the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which included Medicare drug price negotiation provisions, and has publicly supported Medicare negotiating drug prices as a key healthcare priority during his House tenure and Senate campaign. Fact-check this →

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Immigration

2 positions

Would you support a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who have lived and worked continuously in the US for more than 5 years?

Support

Voting RecordAs a U.S. House member, Pappas voted for the American Dream and Promise Act and supported comprehensive immigration reform including pathways to citizenship for long-term residents, though he has not made this a singular centerpiece issue in his Senate campaign. Fact-check this →

Would you support significantly increasing federal funding for border security infrastructure and personnel at the US southern border?

Neutral

Public StatementPappas, as a moderate New Hampshire Democrat, has supported bipartisan border security measures including the 2024 Senate border deal framework, but has not made significantly increasing border infrastructure funding a centerpiece issue, and his record reflects a balanced approach rather than strong advocacy for major funding increases. Fact-check this →

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Taxes

2 positions

Would you support raising the top federal income tax rate to 50% for individual income exceeding $10 million per year?

Neutral

Party InferencePappas has supported raising taxes on the wealthy generally and backed the Inflation Reduction Act's corporate minimum tax, but has not taken an explicit public position on a specific 50% top marginal rate at the $10 million threshold; position inferred from moderate-to-progressive Democratic voting record. Fact-check this →

Would you support raising the federal corporate income tax rate from 21% to 28%?

Support

Voting RecordPappas has generally aligned with mainstream House Democrats supporting corporate tax increases as part of broader fiscal packages like Build Back Better, but has not been a prominent champion of the 28% rate specifically, with position inferred from his voting record and general progressive-moderate Democratic stance. Fact-check this →

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Voting Rights

1 position

Would you support federal legislation requiring all states to automatically register eligible citizens to vote when they interact with government agencies?

Support

Voting RecordPappas has supported voting rights legislation including the For the People Act as a House member, which included automatic voter registration provisions, but no direct statements specifically championing automatic voter registration as a standalone issue were found; position inferred from voting record and general stance. Fact-check this →