Rising fuel costs shaped New Hampshire’s Senate campaign, where Tuesday media projections showed Rep. Chris Pappas defeating Republican John Sununu, Reuters reported, as Democrats pursued Senate control.
Republicans began Tuesday with 53 seats to Democrats’ 47; Democrats needed four net gains to take control of the chamber, Reuters reported. Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is retiring after 18 years, and Pappas is set to succeed her.
Energy costs also featured in the New Hampshire campaign, Reuters reported. The conflict with Iran interrupted oil shipments and pushed up gasoline and heating oil costs. Pappas blamed President Donald Trump and Republicans for the war, while Sununu argued that greater domestic energy production would lower prices.
Al Jazeera reported that Democratic Senate candidate Roy Cooper defeated Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley in North Carolina, flipping a Republican-held seat. Cooper was the first Democrat elected to one of North Carolina’s two Senate seats since 2008, the outlet reported. Republican Sen. Thom Tillis did not seek a third term, Al Jazeera said.
