Greek-American Democratic candidate Chris Papas won the Senate race in New Hampshire, defeating Republican former Senator John Sununu and retaining the seat for his party.
Papas will succeed Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who is stepping down. He also becomes the first openly gay man to be elected to the U.S. Senate.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
The politician, who traces his roots to Livadi, Elassona, had served four terms in the House of Representatives and secured the seat of outgoing Senator Jean Shaheen, keeping it under Democratic control in a particularly critical election.
His election held special significance for the Greek-American community, as Papas had been highly active in Congress in promoting Greek-American relations, strengthening defense cooperation with Greece, and supporting the Republic of Cyprus. At the same time, he made history as the first openly gay man to be elected to the U.S. Senate.
Chris Papas had made holding the Trump administration accountable a central focus of his campaign.
Christopher Charles Papas was born on June 4, 1980, in Manchester, New Hampshire, to a family of Greek descent. He grew up in the same city, attended public schools, and graduated in 1998 from Manchester Central High School. He then attended Harvard University, from which he received his bachelor’s degree in 2002.
His involvement in business began at a young age, as he worked at his family’s restaurant, a historic Manchester business that has been in operation for over a century.
He began helping out at the restaurant at age 14, serving customers and assisting with daily operations. He later took on management responsibilities, gaining experience that he often drew upon to highlight the challenges faced by small businesses and their employees.
His political career also began early. In 1996, while still a student, he participated in Jean Shaheen’s campaign for governor of New Hampshire.
In 2002, at just 22 years old, he was elected to the state House of Representatives and subsequently served as treasurer of Hillsborough County.
From 2013 to 2019, he served on the five-member New Hampshire Executive Council, which had significant authority over the approval of state contracts and appointments.
During his tenure, he supported the expansion of the Medicaid healthcare program, the development of renewable energy sources, and the continuation of funding for Planned Parenthood.
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Interventions regarding Turkey’s F-35s and Cyprus
Beyond his ties to the Greek diaspora, the Pope has taken the initiative on issues of Greek interest as co-chair of the Congressional Greek Caucus, alongside Republican Gus Bilirakis.
In September 2025, ahead of a meeting between Donald Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, he spearheaded a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegese, expressing objections to the potential sale of American F-16 and F-35 fighter jets to Turkey.
The lawmakers pointed out that Ankara still possesses Russian S-400 and called on the U.S. government to enforce the relevant legislative restrictions.
In March 2026, Pappas reacted strongly to the deployment of Turkish F-16s in the occupied territories of Cyprus, denouncing the move as a violation of U.S. law.
“Turkey’s deployment of F-16s in northern Cyprus is unacceptable and illegal under U.S. law. This move further threatens Cyprus’s sovereignty and contributes to the destabilization of one of our closest allies and the entire region,” he stated.
The Greek-American congressman accused the Turkish president of repeatedly ignoring U.S. legal restrictions, while criticizing successive administrations of both parties for their stance toward Ankara.
He called for the immediate removal of U.S.-made fighter jets from the occupied territories and warned that, if the government did not demand their withdrawal, he would take the necessary initiative in Congress.
At the same time, he advocated for restrictions on the sale of U.S. weapons systems to Turkey, citing regional security concerns and compliance with U.S. law.
The 2026 Initiative on Greek-U.S. Defense Cooperation
In May 2026, Pappas announced that a bipartisan bill to strengthen Greek-American defense cooperation had passed the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives.
Gus Bilirakis, Dina Titus, and Nicole Malliotakis also participated in the initiative.
The bill provided for a five-year extension of U.S. assistance to Greece through the International Military Education and Training (IMET), with the aim of strengthening cooperation and interoperability between the armed forces of the two countries.
“Greece is a key partner of the United States in ensuring regional security and prosperity,” Papas had stated.
In the same remarks, he emphasized that military training cooperation was a critical element of bilateral relations.
“I will continue to push for the passage of legislation to strengthen cooperation with our ally, Greece, and to protect America’s national security interests,” he said.
This initiative was part of his broader efforts to strengthen Greek-American relations, with particular emphasis on the strategic role of Greece and Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Personal Life and a Historic First in the Senate
Chris Papas lives in Manchester with his husband, Van Bentley, to whom he announced his engagement in December 2021.
On his personal website, he noted that they enjoy running, board games, and family gatherings with their nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
His personal life was not a central focus of the election campaign, despite the fact that his election to the Senate marked a significant historic first.
“I’m not running to make history,” he had stated during the campaign, noting that voters focused primarily on his policy positions and everyday issues.
His electoral victory capped a journey that began in New Hampshire’s local politics and continued with four terms in the House of Representatives.
For the Greek diaspora, his election to the Senate took on special symbolic significance, as a politician of Greek descent—who had undertaken specific initiatives on behalf of Athens and Nicosia— had secured a seat in one of the two legislative bodies that shape U.S. foreign policy.
Source: APE-MPE/PROTO THEMA
