Maura Sullivan becomes first candidate to join NH US House race to replace Chris Pappas

Maura Sullivan announced her candidacy for New Hampshire’s First District in the U.S. House on Thursday, becoming the first person to enter the 2026 race after current Rep. Chris Pappas, D-NH, announced his run for U.S. Senate.

Sullivan is a Marine Corps Iraq war veteran and former Obama administration official, serving in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. She has run for this seat before, finishing second to Pappas in a crowded 2018 Democratic primary. 

Sullivan said she made the decision after consulting with friends, neighbors and members of the community.

“I am stepping up to serve because the issues we are facing aren’t Democrat or Republican issues, they’re American issues,” Sullivan said in a statement. “The First Congressional District needs a member of Congress who will help usher in a new generation of leadership focused on lowering costs, investing in economic innovation, and helping to create a sense of security and stability.”

In her announcement video, Sullivan called out President Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

“I saw too many of my fellow Marines give their lives for this country to just sit by and watch Donald Trump and Elon Musk tear it down,” she said. “They’re driving up costs for New Hampshire families … making it even more difficult to own a home and pay the bills.”

Sullivan lives on the Seacoast of New Hampshire with her husband and three kids.

Who else is running for Congress?

On the Democratic side, Dr. Tom Sherman, the Democratic nominee for governor in 2022, told Seacoastonline Friday he is considering a run.

“They need to have the voices of physicians and providers in Congress to be able to stand up and say, ‘No, this is wrong and you’re going to hurt people if you’re going to do this,’” he said.

Other Democratic leaders in Portsmouth, like Mayor Deaglan McEachern, Assistant Mayor Joanna Kelley, and state Sen. Rebecca Perkins. Kwoka, have also been speculated about as potential candidates. However, none are committed to running.

For the Republicans, Novel Iron Works CEO Hollie Noveletsky said she will make a decision about running in the coming months.

“I will make my decision in the coming months as I evaluate the opportunity,” Noveletsky said in a statement Friday. “In the end, it’s vital that we have new leadership in the 1st Congressional District, and I am dedicated to making that happen.”

Noveletsky ran for this seat last fall, where she finished second in the primary to former NH executive counselor Russell Prescott.

Manchester at-large Alderman Joe Kelly Levasseur told WMUR this week that he’ll decide whether he’ll run for the seat at the start of 2026, but said that the next Republican nominee should be a candidate from the Manchester area. Levasseur also ran last fall, finishing third behind Noveletsky as a “Trump or bust” candidate.

What about Chris Pappas?

Pappas, who has represented New Hampshire’s First Congressional District since 2018, announced his bid for the U.S. Senate last week. He is running to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.