FACT CHECK: While John Sununu Profits From Trump’s War With Iran, Chris Pappas is Fighting to Lower Energy Costs for Granite Staters

MANCHESTER, N.H. — Today, a Big Oil funded, Koch network super PAC launched a false ad against Congressman Chris Pappas, attacking his record of fighting to lower energy costs for Granite Staters and incorrectly citing Senate roll call votes on energy legislation that Pappas never took. 

“Gas is over four dollars a gallon in New Hampshire because of Donald Trump’s reckless war with Iran which John Sununu supports and is profiting from,” said Chris Pappas for Senate spokesperson Gates MacPherson. “Chris Pappas’s record of taking on anyone to lower energy costs for Granite Staters stands in stark contrast to Sununu’s record of selling out New Hampshire to Donald Trump and corporate special interests.” 

FACT CHECK: 

The Ad — Paid for by Americans for Prosperity Action, Which is Funded by Big Oil — Cites Senate Votes That Pappas Never Took

• Americans for Prosperity Action cited roll call vote #320 on 8/10/21, roll call vote #83 on 3/6/21, roll call vote #291 on 8/7/22, and roll call vote #303 on 8/7/22. 

• The votes cited in the ad were Senate roll call votes, including on days the House of Representatives was not in session.

• The House was not in session on 8/10/21, 3/6/21, or 8/7/22. 

Congressman Pappas is Fighting to Lower Energy Costs And Increase Energy Independence 

• Congressman Pappas voted for legislation to advance energy independence while lowering costs for New Hampshire families. 

• Congressman Pappas repeatedly broke with Democrats to combat overly burdensome energy efficiency rules and to speed up energy production. 

• Congressman Pappas is leading efforts to suspend the federal gas tax to provide Granite Staters with relief at the pump and hold oil companies accountable if they fail to pass savings along to consumers.

• Congressman Pappas is pushing for bipartisan energy tax cuts for the middle class.

• Congressman Pappas is working to lower utility bills for veterans and military families.

• Congressman Pappas is fighting to protect thousands of families who rely on LIHEAP to heat and cool their homes. 

John Sununu is Profiting From Trump’s War With Iran While Granite Staters Pay More at the Pump

• John Sununu is getting richer off Trump’s war with Iran due to his investments in oil and gas companies.

• John Sununu reported owning between $77,000 and $280,000 in gas and oil stock, including up to $50,000 in ExxonMobil and $65,000 in Shell.

• John Sununu’s oil and gas portfolio has grown by 24% since November 2025, with the biggest spikes following the January incursion into Venezuela and the February bombing of Iran.

• John Sununu backs Trump’s war with Iran and downplayed the impact on higher gas prices, saying, “I think it’s a step in the right direction.”

• The average price of gas in New Hampshire is $4.35, up from about $2.90 a year ago. 

• A new survey from the University of New Hampshire found that 61% of New Hampshire residents are worried about paying for gas over the next 12 months, and 42% said they have cut spending on non-essentials and are driving less in their day-to-day life because of the high prices.

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