EXPERIENCE

First elected representative in 2018

 

After graduating from Harvard College in 2002, Chris returned to New Hampshire to help run his family’s more than100 year-old small business, the Puritan Backroom Restaurant.

 

Prior to serving in Congress, Chris represented District 4 on the New Hampshire Executive Council, from 2012-2018. This five-member group, with the governor, effectively runs the state.  In this role he worked with governors of both parties to implement Medicaid expansion, expand treatment and recovery services, approve funding for family planning providers, and support renewable energy and infrastructure projects.

 

When Chris was elected to the U.S. House in 2018, he became New Hampshire’s first openly gay member of Congress.

 

ON THE ISSUES

• “Our most pressing need remains the evacuation of U.S. citizens, diplomats, and our Afghan allies and partners who stood with us for decades,” said Congressman Chris Pappas. “This is a matter of life or death for thousands, and I was encouraged that this afternoon President Biden committed to this priority. I continue to urge the Administration to do everything in its power to ensure the safety and well-being of all who need to be evacuated. My office is working closely with the U.S. State Department to help those who contact us in need of assistance.”  (pappas.house.gov)

 

• Opposes attempts to restrict women's access to reproductive health services." (votesmart.org)

 

• "Supports the repeal of the Global Gag Rule so that organizations can provide family planning services to women around the world." (votesmart.org)

 

• "Chris supports universal healthcare and will work to ensure everyone has quality, affordable health care coverage." (votesmart.org)

 

• "Congressman Pappas has supported legislation which will lower premiums, strengthen patient protections, and crack down on junk plans that could send New Hampshire families right into bankruptcy. Last year, the House passed H.R. 3, which makes historic reforms to drive down the costs of prescription drugs while expanding and strengthening Medicare." votesmart.org)

 

• Endorsed by End Citizens United. (votesmart.org)

 

• "Co-sponsoring a Constitutional Amendment to overturn Citizens United." (votesmart.org)

 

• “I rise in strong support of the Equality Act. This landmark legislation will bring our Nation closer to the promise of its founding and will change the lives of generations of LGBTQ Americans for the better. This should be one of the easiest and most-affirming votes we ever take. Equality is, after all, a self- evident truth. It is part of the bedrock of this Nation.” 

 

• “As a small business owner, I know it takes well-trained workers to keep our state’s small business economy growing. In Washington, I am continuing my commitment to increasing access to job training and career and technical education.
We also need to increase capital for small businesses and address onerous regulations that hamper the ability of our small businesses to thrive. “ 

 

• “Over the last year, more than 200,000 DACA recipients have been identified as frontline workers in our collective fight against COVID-19. Dreamers are part of our American family. These individuals enrich our communities, strengthen our economy, and call no other country but the United States home. It is time to provide the long overdue relief to the millions of immigrants who have lived in and contributed to our nation for decades and grant them pathway to citizenship and allow them to continue building their American dream.” (pappas.house.gov)

​

NEW HAMPSHIRE POLITICS

As the result of the 9/13 NH primary, Pappas will face Karoline Leavitt in the November general election. Leavitt, a pro-MAGA former Trump White House staffer defeated Pappas’s 2020 opponent, and republican establishment candidate, Matt Morris. New Hampshire has two extremely pro-MAGA candidates: the Pappas seat (district 1) and U.S. Senate. Leavitt supports the big lie that Trump won the 2020 election and is running as a staunch conservative and political outsider.