The first reported results of the 2026 midterm elections are emerging from New Hampshire, where Republican Senate candidate John E. Sununu reportedly secured an early victory over Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas in the tiny community of Dixville Notch.
According to election figures shared Tuesday by Open Source Zone, Sununu received five votes, or 71%, compared with two votes, or 29%, for Pappas.
The seven-ballot result gives the Republican an early advantage in the community’s reported count as voters across New Hampshire decide a closely watched Senate contest.
The figures have not been independently confirmed through an official local election report, and they represent only a handful of voters rather than a meaningful sample of statewide sentiment.
Nevertheless, the reported results have attracted attention because Dixville Notch has maintained a longstanding tradition of casting and counting ballots shortly after midnight on Election Day.
The small community, located near the Canadian border, has become famous for reporting some of the earliest election results in the nation.
This year’s reported Republican advantage marks a change from the community’s previous federal election results.
In the 2024 presidential election, Dixville Notch split evenly between President Donald Trump and then-Vice President Kamala Harris, with each candidate receiving three votes.
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The latest figures, if confirmed, would mark a notable shift in the community’s voting pattern, with Sununu taking five of the seven ballots cast.
The Republican is seeking to reclaim the Senate seat currently held by retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who defeated Sununu during his 2008 reelection campaign.
Sununu previously represented New Hampshire in the House of Representatives before serving one term in the Senate from 2003 to 2009.
He is also a member of one of the state’s most recognizable Republican political families.
His father, John H. Sununu, and younger brother, Chris Sununu, both served as governors of New Hampshire.
Pappas, meanwhile, has represented New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District since 2019 and is seeking to keep the open Senate seat under Democratic control.
The contest has drawn national attention as Republicans attempt to expand their Senate majority while Democrats fight to retain a seat their party has controlled for nearly two decades.
Both candidates have spent the campaign emphasizing economic concerns, government spending and the cost of living.
Sununu has criticized Pappas’ record in Washington, arguing that the Democratic congressman has failed to deliver meaningful results for New Hampshire residents.
Pappas has countered by attempting to connect Sununu to Donald Trump and Republican policies, making the president’s administration a central issue in the campaign.
Despite supporting Democratic presidential candidates in recent elections, New Hampshire has continued electing Republicans to prominent statewide offices.
Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte is also seeking reelection Tuesday against Democratic challenger Cinde Warmington.
The state’s independent-minded electorate has made the Senate contest a significant target for both national parties.
Still, Dixville Notch’s seven reported votes cannot establish which candidate will prevail when ballots from larger communities are counted.
Most New Hampshire voters are casting their ballots throughout Tuesday, with polling locations closing between 7 and 8 p.m. Eastern time.
The first reported numbers offer an early Election Day development, but the statewide outcome remains undetermined.
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