Summary
Current Position: US Representative of NH House District 1
Affiliation: Democrat
Former Position: New Hampshire Executive Council from 2013 – 2019
Other Positions: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations – Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
District: eastern portion of the state. The district contains parts of Hillsborough, Rockingham, Merrimack, Grafton, and Belknap counties; and the entirety of Strafford and Carroll counties.
Upcoming Election:
In 1974 Charlie Pappas, grandfather of Chris Pappas and co-owner of the Puritan at the time, invented the chicken tender. The business remains family-owned, and as of 2020 Chris Pappas was one of the owners.
He signed on as a volunteer for Shaheen’s campaign, marking his first foray into politics. In 2006, Pappas was elected to the first of two terms as treasurer of Hillsborough County.
Featured Quote:
New Hampshire’s rail trails help knit communities together, support recreation, and bolster local economies. I’ve introduced legislation to provide funding to connect trail systems and revitalize active transportation infrastructure throughout the country.
New Hampshire Rep. Chris Pappas weighs in on the state’s primary
OnAir Post: Chris Pappas NH-01
News
About
Source: Government page
For Congressman Chris Pappas, public service has always been about finding ways to give back to the community that has given him so much. A lifelong resident of Manchester, New Hampshire, Chris was born into a proud Greek-American family. After graduating from Harvard, Chris returned home where he began a career in public service while helping run the 103 year-old family restaurant where he started scooping ice cream and bussing tables at age 14.
In Congress, Chris focuses on the issues that matter most to Granite Staters, including improving access to health care, lowering the high cost of prescription drugs, combating the addiction epidemic, and protecting our environment and drinking water.
As the Chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations for the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Chris is committed to holding VA leadership accountable while serving our veterans who have sacrificed so much. He is working to protectwhistleblowers who come forward to report waste, fraud, and abuse and to ensure that more veterans can access quality care in their communities. Chris also serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee where he is fighting to modernize our nation’s infrastructure and invest in projects that will create jobs and improve quality of life in New Hampshire.
Before entering the U.S. House of Representatives, Chris served as a member of the state’s Executive Council. 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.
Personal
Full Name: Christopher ‘Chris’ Pappas
Gender: Male
Family: Single
Birth Date: 06/04/1980
Birth Place: Manchester, NH
Home City: Manchester, NH
Religion: Orthodox
Source: Vote Smart
Education
BA, Government, Harvard University, 1998-2002
Political Experience
Representative, United States House of Representatives, New Hampshire, District 1, 2019-present
Candidate, United States House of Representatives, New Hampshire, District 1, 2022
Executive Councilor, State of New Hampshire, District 4, 2013-2019
Representative, New Hampshire State House of Representatives, District Hillsborough 8, 2003-2007
Professional Experience
Co-Owner/Manager, Puritan Backroom Restaurant, 2004-present
Treasurer, Hillsborough County, 2007-2011
Offices
Washington, DC Office
323 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-5456
Dover Office
660 Central Avenue
Suite 101
Dover, NH 03820
(603) 285-4300
Manchester Office
889 Elm Street
Manchester, NH 03101
(603) 935-6710
Contact
Email: https://pappas.house.gov/contact
Web Links
Politics
Source: none
Election Results
To learn more, go to this wikipedia section in this post.
Finances
Source: Open Secrets
Committees
House Committee on Small Business
Congressman Pappas serves on the House Committee on Small Business, which oversees general small business matters; the Small Business Administration; entrepreneurship; and small business federal contracting.
As a member of the Committee, Congressman Pappas is committed to listening to the needs of New Hampshire small businesses and using his knowledge as a small business owner to address their concerns. Congressman Pappas will serve on the Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development Subcommittee.
House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
Congressman Pappas serves on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, which oversees veterans’ measures with broad jurisdiction, including the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), and the National Cemetery Administration (NCA).
Congressman Pappas serves as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, where he is involved in directing investigations and hearings into compensation, general and special pensions, and life insurance owed to veterans. Congressman Pappas will also serve as a member on the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee.
House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure
Congressman Pappas serves on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure which exercises jurisdiction over transportation and infrastructure issues around the country, including roads, waterways, transportation infrastructure, and federal management of emergencies and natural disasters.
As a member of the Committee, Congressman Pappas is committed to ensuring that Granite State infrastructure and transportation matters receive top priority. Congressman Pappas currently serves as a member on the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, the Highway and Transit, and the Water Resources and Environment Subcommittees.
Caucuses
*list is not inclusive of all Caucus memberships
Congressional Equality Caucus, Co-Chair
Hellenic Caucus, Co-Chair
Problem Solvers Caucus, Member
Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force, Member
Bipartisan Fentanyl Prevention Caucus, Member
New Legislation
Learn more about legislation sponsored and co-sponsored by Congressman Pappas.
Issues
Source: Government page
For all too many New Hampshire families, the opioid crisis is deeply personal.
Vaccines are an important part of our fight against the Coronavirus.
From the Mount Washington Valley to the Seacoast, New Hampshire’s way of life and economy are rooted in our natural surroundings.
Health care should be a right, not a privilege, for all Americans. This was a principle I fought for while serving on New Hampshire’s Executive Council and one I’m fighting for in Washington.
No one should be discriminated against because of who they are or who they love.
Every dollar we invest in infrastructure yields two dollars in economic activity, which is why I am proud to lead the fight for federal investment in New Hampshire’s roads,
More Information
Services
Source: Government page
District
Source: Wikipedia
New Hampshire’s 1st congressional district covers parts of Southern New Hampshire and the eastern portion of the state. The district contains parts of Hillsborough, Rockingham, Merrimack, Grafton, and Belknap counties; and the entirety of Strafford and Carroll counties.
The district contains Manchester, New Hampshire’s most populous city, and its immediate suburbs. Most of the district’s population resides in Rockingham County, which includes much of the Seacoast Region. The northern part of the district in Belknap, Carroll, and Grafton counties are far more rural.
The district is home to the University of New Hampshire, the state’s largest university. Some of the largest employers in the district are Fidelity Investments, J. Jill, Elliot Health System, and The University System of New Hampshire.[3] It is represented in the United States House of Representatives by Democrat Chris Pappas.
Wikipedia
Christopher Charles Pappas (/ˈpæpəs/ PAPP-əss; born June 4, 1980) is an American politician who has been the U.S. representative from New Hampshire’s 1st congressional district since 2019.[1] From 2013 to 2019, he represented the 4th district on the New Hampshire Executive Council. The district includes Manchester, two towns in Hillsborough, six towns in Merrimack, eight towns in Rockingham, and two towns in Strafford County.[2][3]
A member of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, Pappas was a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2018 election to succeed Carol Shea-Porter.[4] He was elected on November 6, 2018, and is the first openly gay man to represent New Hampshire in Congress.[5]
Early life and education
Pappas was born in Manchester, New Hampshire, the son of Dawn and Arthur Pappas.[6] His paternal great-grandfather, also named Arthur Pappas, arrived in New Hampshire as a new American citizen in the early 20th century, having recently emigrated from Greece. In 1917 Arthur Pappas and his cousin Louis Canota founded an ice cream shop in Manchester. By 1919 they had expanded the business into a restaurant, now known as the Puritan Backroom, and in 1949 they added a function room. In 1974 Charlie Pappas, grandfather of Chris Pappas and co-owner of the Puritan at the time, invented the chicken tender. The business remains family-owned, and as of 2020 Chris Pappas was one of the owners.[7]
Pappas graduated from Manchester Central High School in 1998. He then attended Harvard University, where he wrote for The Harvard Crimson.[8][9] He earned his Bachelor of Arts in government in 2002.[10]
Early political career
In 1996, while in high school, Pappas met then-State Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who was running for governor at the time. He signed on as a volunteer for Shaheen’s campaign, marking his first foray into politics.[6]
First elected in 2002, Pappas served two terms in the New Hampshire House of Representatives.[6]
In 2006, Pappas was elected to the first of two terms as treasurer of Hillsborough County.[11] In 2010 he lost reelection to Robert Burns.[12]
In 2012, Pappas was elected to the New Hampshire Executive Council, defeating Burns.[13] He was reelected in 2014[14] and 2016.[15]
In 2016, Pappas voted to extend substance abuse treatment to 140,000 New Hampshire residents.[16][17] He also supported increased funding for substance abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery.[18]
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
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2018
For years, Pappas was floated as a potential candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives,[19] for U.S. Senator, or for governor of New Hampshire.[20][21] After U.S. Representative Carol Shea-Porter announced that she would not seek reelection in 2018, Pappas announced his candidacy for her seat, representing New Hampshire’s 1st congressional district.[22]
In the September 12 Democratic primary, Pappas defeated ten other candidates, including former Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Maura Sullivan and Bernie Sanders‘s son Levi Sanders, with 42.2% of the vote.[23]
Pappas defeated Republican Eddie Edwards, a former member of the New Hampshire State Division of Liquor Enforcement and former police chief, in the general election,[24] with 53.6% of the vote.[25] He won every county except Belknap County.
2020
Pappas ran for reelection to a second term and was unopposed in the Democratic primary.[26] He defeated Republican Matt Mowers, the former Executive Director of the New Hampshire Republican Party and a former U.S. State Department staffer,[27] in the general election, receiving 51.32% of the vote.[28]
2022
Pappas was reelected in 2022, defeating Karoline Leavitt with 54% of the vote.[29][30]
Committee assignments
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- Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
- Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
- Committee on Small Business
Caucus memberships
- Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus (Co-Chair)[31]
- New Democrat Coalition[32]
- Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
- House Pro-Choice Caucus[33]
Political positions
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Pappas voted with President Joe Biden‘s stated position 100% of the time in the 117th Congress, according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis.[34]
Pappas was one of six House Democrats to vote against the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act to legalize cannabis at the federal level in 2020.[35] Pappas said he supports removing cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act but that he had concerns with other provisions of the bill and felt that it was being rushed through.[36]
In August 2022, Pappas criticized President Biden’s plan to cancel $10,000 in federal student debt for those making less than $125,000 and up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients, calling it “no way to make policy”, and saying it did little to address the root cause of increasing costs of higher education.[37][38]
On February 1, 2023, Pappas was among twelve Democrats to vote for a resolution to end COVID-19 national emergency.[39][40]
Syria
In 2023, Pappas voted against H.Con.Res. 21 which directed President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.[41][42]
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Chris Pappas | 26,875 | 42.2 | |
| Democratic | Maura Sullivan | 19,313 | 30.4 | |
| Democratic | Mindi Messmer | 6,142 | 9.7 | |
| Democratic | Naomi Andrews | 4,508 | 7.1 | |
| Democratic | Lincoln Soldati | 1,982 | 3.1 | |
| Democratic | Deaglan McEachern | 1,709 | 2.7 | |
| Democratic | Levi Sanders | 1,141 | 1.8 | |
| Democratic | Mark MacKenzie | 746 | 1.2 | |
| Democratic | Terence O’Rourke | 656 | 1.0 | |
| Democratic | Paul Cardinal | 317 | 0.5 | |
| Democratic | William Martin | 230 | 0.4 | |
| Total votes | 63,619 | 100.0 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Chris Pappas | 155,884 | 53.6 | |
| Republican | Eddie Edwards | 130,996 | 45.0 | |
| Libertarian | Dan Belforti | 4,048 | 1.4 | |
| Total votes | 290,928 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Chris Pappas | 205,606 | 51.3 | |
| Republican | Matt Mowers | 185,159 | 46.2 | |
| Libertarian | Zachary Dumont | 9,747 | 2.4 | |
| n/a | Write-ins | 83 | <0.1 | |
| Total votes | 400,595 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Chris Pappas | 167,391 | 54.0 | |
| Republican | Karoline Leavitt | 142,229 | 45.9 | |
| Write-in | 342 | 0.1 | ||
| Total votes | 309,962 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
Personal life
Pappas co-owns the Puritan Backroom restaurant in Manchester.[47] The Puritan Backroom is well-known in New Hampshire as a frequent stop for presidential candidates during the New Hampshire primary.[48]
Pappas is an Orthodox Christian and is affiliated with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.[49]
Pappas became engaged to Vann Bentley in 2021.[11][50] They got married in February 2023.[51]
References
- ^ Leader, PAUL FEELY New Hampshire Union (November 7, 2018). “Pappas takes historic 1st CD race”. UnionLeader.com.
- ^ “District 4 | Councilor Chris C. Pappas”. State of New Hampshire | Executive Council. 2015. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- ^ “Democrats Make Gains On Executive Council”. New Hampshire Public Radio, November 7, 2012.
- ^ Steinhauser, Paul (November 9, 2017). “Manchester Democrat Chris Pappas announces bid for Shea-Porter seat”. Concord Monitor. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
- ^ “LGBTQ Candidates Record Historic Midterm Wins In Rainbow Wave | HuffPost”. Huffingtonpost.com. November 7, 2018. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- ^ a b c “Chris Pappas has learned politics, family business from ground up | New Hampshire”. UnionLeader.com. Archived from the original on October 28, 2017. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
- ^ “ANNOUNCING THE 2020 AMERICA’S CLASSICS WINNERS”. James Beard Foundation. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
- ^ “Christopher C. Pappas”. The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
- ^ “Chris Pappas”. The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
- ^ “Manchester, Redux”. Harvard Magazine. February 17, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
- ^ a b “Gay N.H. Executive Council candidate stumps in D.C.”. Washington Blade, June 19, 2012.
- ^ “County Offices – NHSOS”. sos.nh.gov. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
- ^ “Executive Council – 2012 General Election – NHSOS”. sos.nh.gov. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
- ^ “Executive Council – 2014 General Election – NHSOS”. sos.nh.gov. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
- ^ “New Hampshire 4th District Executive Council Results: Chris Pappas Wins”. The New York Times. August 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
- ^ “Union Leader article: 140,000 in NH now eligible for addiction treatment under Medicaid”. Archived from the original on October 28, 2017. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
- ^ “G&C Late Item Agenda #A2 from 6/15/16”.
- ^ “Hassan, drug czar outline actions taken against drug crisis”. Archived from the original on October 28, 2017. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
- ^ DiStaso, John (September 23, 2015). “Executive Councilor Chris Pappas won’t run for US House, backs Carol Shea-Porter”. WMUR. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
- ^ “Q&A: Chris Pappas likes mixing politics and ice cream | New Hampshire”. UnionLeader.com. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
- ^ “Hassan Waits to Choose Her Adventure in New Hampshire”. Roll Call. August 31, 2015. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
- ^ “WMUR first: Democrat Pappas announces candidacy for 1st District US House seat”. WMUR. November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
- ^ Almukhtar, Sarah (September 11, 2018). “New Hampshire Primary Election Results”. The New York Times. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
- ^ “Eddie Edwards, Trump-backed candidate, wins New Hampshire Republican U.S. House primary”. The Washington Times. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
- ^ “New Hampshire Election Results: First House District”. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
- ^ “2020 State Primary Democratic State Primary”. New Hampshire Department of State. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- ^ Sexton, Adam (August 26, 2020). “Republicans Mayberry, Mowers push for chance to unseat Pappas in First Congressional District”. WMUR 9. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
- ^ Gardner, William M. (November 19, 2020). “2020 General Election Results”. New Hampshire Department of State. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
- ^ “2022 Election Information”. New Hampshire Department of State. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
- ^ Shapiro, Walter; DeBrabander, Firmin; Tomasky, Michael (November 7, 2022). “The Northeast Is Supposed to Be Democrats’ Stronghold. Instead, It’s Where They Might Lose Their House Majority”. The New Republic. ISSN 0028-6583. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
- ^ “House LGBT Caucus Denounces SCOTUS Decision on Trans Military Ban”. LGBT Equality Caucus. January 22, 2019.
LGBT Equality Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Chris Pappas (NH-4)
- ^ “Members”. New Democrat Coalition. Archived from the original on February 8, 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
- ^ “Members”. August 19, 2021.
- ^ Bycoffe, Aaron; Wiederkehr, Anna (April 22, 2021). “Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden?”. FiveThirtyEight. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
- ^ Daly, Matthew (December 4, 2020). “House votes to decriminalize marijuana at federal level”. Associated Press. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
- ^ Sylvia, Andrew (December 4, 2020). “Pappas one of six Democratic ‘no’ votes on marijuana decriminalization proposal”. Manchester Ink Link. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
- ^ “Vulnerable House Democrat rebukes Biden’s $300 billion student loan handout: ‘No way to make policy’“. Fox News. August 24, 2022.
- ^ McPherson, Lindsey (August 24, 2022). “Biden to cancel up to $20K student debt per borrower”. Roll Call.
- ^ “House passes resolution to end COVID-19 national emergency”. February 2023.
- ^ “On Passage – H.J.RES.7: Relating to a national emergency declared by”. August 12, 2015.
- ^ “H.Con.Res. 21: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of … — House Vote #136 — Mar 8, 2023”.
- ^ “House Votes Down Bill Directing Removal of Troops From Syria”. US News & World Report. March 8, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
- ^ “New Hampshire Primary Election Results: First House District”. The New York Times. September 24, 2018. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
- ^ “New Hampshire Election Results: First House District”. The New York Times. January 28, 2019. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
- ^ “New Hampshire Election Results: First Congressional District”. The New York Times. November 24, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
- ^ “2022 General Election Results”. New Hampshire Department of State.
- ^ “Hillary Clinton looks at home campaigning in New Hampshire”. NY Daily News. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
- ^ Garnick, Darren (February 2016). “Eating with the Presidential Candidates”. New Hampshire Magazine. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
- ^ “Greek-American Leaders Criticize Capitol Riot, Call for Unity”. GreekReporter.com. January 7, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ Street, Mikelle (December 21, 2021). “Congressman Chris Pappas Announced He Is Engaged to Boyfriend”. www.advocate.com. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
- ^ Polus, Sarah (February 20, 2023). “Rep. Chris Pappas marries partner Vann Bentley”. The Hill. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
External links
- Congressman Chris Pappas official U.S. House website
- Campaign website
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at the Library of Congress
- Profile at Vote Smart
- Appearances on C-SPAN
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