Pappas focused on economy, housing in Congressional reelection bid

Congressman Chris Pappas, who represents New Hampshire’s First Congressional District, is seeking reelection in November. He’s the likely Democratic candidate and will face one of numerous Republicans vying for their party’s primary nomination. 

Leaning on a series of successes spanning his first three terms in Washington, Pappas emphasized the importance of what he called a “common-sense” approach to issues at the forefront of the mind of Granite Staters this election cycle: housing, inflation, reproductive rights, immigration and bipartisanship.

First elected to Congress in 2019, lifelong Manchester resident Pappas previously served New Hampshire as executive councilor after a successful campaign in 2012. Pappas beat Manchester Alderman Joseph Kelly Levasseur in a tight election by four points — about 5,000 votes — to win that executive council seat for District 4. Levasseur is now competing in the GOP primary for the 1st Congressional District.

In the run up to the 2024 General Election, which will be held on Tuesdya, Nov. 5, Pappas raised about $2.8 million to date in campaign contributions — roughly half of the $5.2 million he raised through the last election cycle in 2022, according to Federal Elections Commission data. 

Pappas has served House committee assignments on veterans affairs, transportation and infrastructure and small business. 

“This is an important moment where we have to focus on making progress for the people of New Hampshire and getting things done,” Pappas said in an interview Thursday morning. “Far too many politicians and members of Congress are only focused on scoring points and getting attention for themselves and this should really be about how we make people’s lives better and how we lower costs, how we protect people’s personal freedoms, create opportunities for everyone across our state and that’s the work that I have been doing in Washington.”

Pappas has consistently been ranked as one of the most bipartisan members of Congress by GovTrack, which records the number of bills co-sponsored by representatives of both parties. He’s been the primary sponsor of 10 bills which have been passed into law and has missed 18 of 3,076 roll call votes in the period between 2019 and 2024, about four times lower than the median.

“I believe that solutions are found somewhere in the middle,” Pappas said. “I have focused on what we can do to support our small businesses, to provide greater care and benefits to our New Hampshire veterans, to invest in our transportation infrastructure in New Hampshire and there’s much more work to do. At this moment, I think it’s going to take someone who understands the state, who’s willing to work across the aisle to move New Hampshire forward.”

Pappas cited the economy, lowering costs for Granite Staters and ensuring housing and necessities are affordable for everyone as some of the biggest challenges facing New Hampshire through this election cycle.

“We have a serious housing crisis that is particularly felt in central and northern New Hampshire and so the Lakes Region is no stranger to this issue,” he said. “That’s why we have to continue to work to bolster the stock of affordable housing.”

He pointed toward support for programs that work to spur housing development, such as expanding the low-income housing tax credit and various Community Development Block Grant programs as avenues to ease the burden on Granite Staters.

“I think the set of economic challenges and issues around affordability are the most important issues in this campaign,” he said. “I can show we’ve been doing some work across the aisle to make progress, but where we need practical solutions and not just political attacks to make life better for the people of the state.”

But the problem cannot be solved only by the federal government, he noted, calling for a whole-of-government approach categorized by collaboration between federal, state and local partners to find creative solutions to various barriers to the development of workforce and affordable housing. He pointed to a child tax credit program, effectively reducing the tax burden on middle-class families, as one example of that approach, and referred to Laconia Housing as an example of a local organization doing great work. 

His stance on the potential regulation of private equity firms, which purchase vast swaths housing stock and raise their prices and values, isn’t much different from that described by GOP candidate for Congress Chris Bright. 

“That’s something that needs to be considered because you’re seeing the scenario where working people are being crowded out of being able to afford housing in New Hampshire,” he said. “It is an issue of supply and demand and I have concerns with how private equity has been operating, and my focus is going to continue to be on making sure that the housing market is fair and also that we have the supply that we need for the future.”

And Pappas also discussed his views on domestic energy dependence. Noting New Hampshire residents pay among the highest rates in the country for electricity, he said the state must become more resilient in terms of local energy production and should be a leader in clean energy.

“We need more production,” he said.

Pappas has been criticized by GOP candidates this primary cycle for what they view is his laissez-faire approach to immigration reform. He said Thursday immigration is one of his political priorities and the system needs to be revamped on nearly every level.

“I’m very focused on the issue of immigration, I have been since I got to Congress and I stood up to members of my party when I thought they were wrong on this issue,” Pappas said. “I pushed the administration when it came to the ending of pandemic-era provisions along the border and concern that I had over what that might mean in terms of the flow of immigrants into this country.”

Pointing to a potential reform of the asylum process, investing in border security personnel and technology, Pappas said legal pathways need to be maintained in order for New Hampshire employers to remain competitive. 

“We have to be prepared and create an orderly system along the southern border,” he said. “We have seen progress being made since the administration issued executive orders a couple of months ago.”

One of the most polarizing issues in this election cycle will be related to the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade in the Dobbs case. Pappas said that decision, which he disagreed with, set a dangerous precedent, and his position differentiates himself from other candidates. 

“It’s going to continue to be a top issue for New Hampshire, it’s something I hear about everyday from folks as I’m traveling the state,” he said. “I’m proud to be a pro-choice candidate — I will always stand up for the reproductive freedom of women in New Hampshire.”

And Pappas said the Democratic party is in a strong position going into Election Day following President Joe Biden’s announcement of his withdrawal from the campaign in late July.

“It was his decision and his decision alone to make, and I do think he made a good decision for the country,” he said. “It was important for the focus to be on the issues that matter and not necessarily on the personalities of the individuals who are running for president.”

While he stopped short of endorsing of Cinde Warmington, Joyce Craig or Jon Kiper — Democratic candidates for governor — he said Vice President Kamala Harris’ selection of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz made their party’s ticket stronger, up and down the ballot.

“I do think there’s a lot of excitement around the Harris-Walz ticket in New Hampshire,” he said.

“Anytime you can add someone with state-level experience to a national ticket, it’s a positive development. And he’s the governor of a significant state, he’s served in the House of Representatives, he’s a veteran.”