Greek-American Chris Pappas, a Democratic Party candidate, made history as the first openly gay man elected to the US Senate, representing New Hampshire. “Tonight is a victory for everyone,” he wrote on X on November 4.
“For the last 579 days, we’ve taken this campaign to every corner of New Hampshire. Every one of those days has brought me closer to the people who make this state so special,” he added in another post.
Pappas, 46, was elected in the US midterms on November 3 with 56.20 per cent of votes cast, defeating Republican rival John Sununu in the New England state.
Pappas is married to his husband, Vann.
The US midterms have turned into a rout for President Donald Trump’s Republicans who lost control of both houses of Congress amid massive swings to the Democrats triggered partly by discontent over rising prices and the Iran war.
Pappas has served in the House of Representatives as a Democrat since 2019.
Born and raised in Manchester, he is of Greek descent, with roots in Livadi, a village in Thessaly. His paternal great-grandfather arrived in New Hampshire in the early 20th century.
“I stand on the shoulders of my ancestors who came to this country to build a life. They started a small business over 100 years ago and I am the recipient of their journey, their struggle, and their hard work,” he said in an interview on Greek TV on November 2.
“I am also blessed that they have bequeathed to me their traditions, their faith, and their involvement in the local community here. And so I think about their example every day. And I try to show the best of what Hellenism represents and the best of what my ancestors reflected throughout their lives and their journey,” he added.
Papas attended Manchester Central High School, and, after graduation in 1998, studied at Harvard College. He then worked in his family’s 106-year-old restaurant in New Hampshire.
Before serving in Congress, he represented District 4 on the New Hampshire Executive Council. When he was elected to the US House in 2018, he became New Hampshire’s first openly gay member of Congress.
His page for his candidacy reported that in Congress he fought for tax cuts for working families and small businesses, and for “cracking down on predatory companies that target veterans and pollute our water, and standing up to Big Pharma to lower drug costs”.,
France24
