Marine veteran launches bid for Pappas House seat in NH

Maura Sullivan, a Marine Corps veteran, launched her bid for outgoing Rep. Chris Pappas's (D-N.H.) House seat, becoming the first candidate to run for New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District in 2026. 

Sullivan, an Iraq war veteran, kicked off her run in a 90-second video where she touted her military background and service in the Obama administration. 

“I put my life on the line to defend our country because I believe in the constitutional ideals of freedom, justice and opportunity for all,” Sullivan said in the video published Thursday. “I saw too many of my fellow Marines give their lives for this country to just sit by and watch [President] Donald Trump and Elon Musk tear it down.

“They’re driving up costs for New Hampshire families, making it even more difficult to own a home and pay the bill, and that’s why I’m running for Congress,” she said. 

Sullivan previously ran for the seat in 2018. She finished second in the competitive Democratic Party primary, losing to Pappas.

Earlier this month, Pappas announced he will run for Senate in hopes of replacing Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), who is retiring. No other candidates have announced their intent to run for Pappas's seat.

Following her service in the military, Sullivan attended Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School.

“When I witnessed fellow veterans dying because of wait times at the VA [Department of Veterans Affairs], I wanted to do something about it, so I joined the Obama administration,” Sullivan said. “I was proud to work on matters of national security, health care and reforms to help fellow military families like mine.” 

She was appointed by former President Obama in 2014 as the as assistant secretary of Veterans Affairs in the Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs. And she worked in the Defense Department, where she led department communications.

Sullivan moved to the Granite State three months before launching her congressional bid in 2018. She raised more than $1.6 million, according to Federal Election Commission filings, and she accumulated endorsements from number of groups, including EMILY’s List, Serve America and VoteVets. 

The seat is rated “likely Democrat” by nonpartisan Cook Political Report.