The New York City mayoral race is sending shockwaves through political landscapes, notably influencing the 2026 Senate race in New Hampshire. Former Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown, who is currently campaigning for the Republican nomination, has called out Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani and his former opponent, Senator Elizabeth Warren. During a joint press conference, Warren praised Mamdani as “the guy who’s walking the walk,” prompting Brown to characterize their coalition as emblematic of the “extreme left.” He emphasized New York City’s significance as a financial hub but criticized Mamdani’s alliances with prominent progressive figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders, suggesting they advocate for policies such as open borders and sanctuary cities that are out of touch with New Hampshire’s electorate.
Brown has tried to connect New Hampshire’s Democratic Congressman Chris Pappas with this extreme left agenda, citing Pappas’s reluctance to directly endorse Mamdani. He asserted that Pappas’s voting records aligned him more closely with the radical views of figures like AOC and Sanders, effectively labeling him a follower of their ideologies. In a digital campaign ad called “Comrade Chris,” Brown portrayed Pappas alongside other Democrats to underline this connection, suggesting that Pappas’s political identity is shaped by these associations rather than local interests.
In response, Pappas defended himself, emphasizing his identity as a New Hampshire Democrat who prioritizes bipartisanship. He dismissed Brown’s tactics as disingenuous and reflective of a desperate campaign strategy. Pappas expressed a focus on local issues and indicated uncertainty about the implications of the mayoral results in New York on his campaign. He indicated that he doesn’t align himself with Mamdani or the broader, more extreme leftist approach that Brown accused him of adopting.
Brown reiterated his stand against what he perceives as the radical ideology that could permeate New Hampshire politics if Mamdani were successful in the mayoral race. He stressed that Mamdani’s potential rise could encourage a broader embrace of “socialism and extremism” across party lines. This concern reflects a broader Republican strategy to tie Democratic candidates to perceived radicalism, thereby undermining their appeal in more moderate states like New Hampshire. He articulated a belief that voters in the state would reject such ideologies outright.
Moreover, Brown differentiated between Warren’s clear ideological stances and Pappas’s perceived tendency to offer convoluted responses rather than direct answers. He contended that Pappas lacks a strong, independent stance on key issues and merely mirrors party leadership directives. This portrayal of Pappas as indecisive is central to Brown’s campaign narrative, aiming to create an image of vulnerability around his opponent.
Reflecting on his political history, Brown compared the current energy of his campaign to 2010, when he made history as the first Republican senator from Massachusetts in decades. He noted that his victory then was a hallmark of the Tea Party movement’s rise. Brown’s insistence on the parallels between past election dynamics and present circumstances illustrates his strategy to galvanize voters around concerns regarding Democratic extremism while reinforcing his own image as a strong, independent candidate.
