ROUNDUP: Pappas Contrasts Record of Fighting for New Hampshire Seniors With John Sununu’s Record of Scheming to Privatize Social Security

August 5, 2026

MANCHESTER, N.H. — Ahead of the 91st anniversary of Social Security being signed into law next week, Congressman Chris Pappas met with Granite Staters in Manchester to discuss the importance of protecting Social Security as the program is under attack by Republicans and the Trump Administration. Pappas also contrasted his record — which includes fighting efforts to raise the retirement age and cosponsoring the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act — with former Senator John Sununu’s record of leading efforts in the Senate to privatize Social Security almost twenty years ago.

Chris Pappas stopped in the dining room of the Bridge Café on a rainy August 3 morning for a discussion on the future of Social Security and Medicaid, pledging to protect both if elected to the U.S. Senate this fall.

Pappas, who has represented New Hampshire’s First Congressional District since 2019, said that he expects former U.S. Senator John Sununu to be his Republican opponent in the fall and argued that Sununu would attempt to privatize Social Security if he returns to the U.S. Senate, noting efforts by Sununu to privatize Social Security when he represented New Hampshire in Washington.

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Pappas felt that the issue of Social Security and Medicaid funding would become a greater issue in the campaign as Election Day draws closer and would support listening to any ideas that would help strengthen those programs. He also said that there would need to be diligence regarding any efforts by the Trump Administration to undermine Social Security through direct executive branch actions. Earlier in the event he also expressed concern that the “Big Beautiful Bill” passed by Congress could also create opportunities for the Trump Administration to later undermine Social Security.

“I don’t trust this administration and they continue to push the bounds of the law in what they’re able to do,” he said.

He added that it will take changes in Washington to ensure that Social Security is protected through from any overreach from the White House.

“We need Congress to stand up and do its job. Right now, we do not have meaningful checks and balances in Washington. We have a Congress that feels that it’s part and parcel of the Executive Branch of our government. And that’s a recipe for disaster when it comes to trying to mobilize the support we need to defend Social Security, to protect funding for things that New Hampshire deeply cares about and impacts people’s lives here,” he said.

Pappas was joined by three Manchester seniors that shared their struggles and concerns about Social Security and Max Richtman, president of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.

Richtman, who gave Pappas a pair of boxing gloves to “fight” for Social Security if elected, said it was rare for him to mention opponent names whenever he or his committee endorses candidates, but said this race was different given Sununu’s earlier efforts to privatize Social Security.

“(Sununu) tried everything he could trying to get Congress, the Senate on record supporting privatizing Social Security and that effort failed. So when I heard he was running again, it was like a zombie movie,” said Richtman, implying that efforts to privatize Social Security would restart if Sununu is elected.

WMUR: Chris Pappas promises seniors at Manchester event to oppose any plan to privatize Social Security

Chris Pappas was on the campaign trail Monday talking with seniors about Social Security. The congressman and U.S. Senate candidate is vowing to fight any effort to privatize Social Security or cut benefits.

At a roundtable event Monday, Pappas picked up a pair of boxing gloves from the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, preparing for another big fight over entitlements in this election and in the years ahead.

Committee CEO Max Richtman said if the last fight to privatize Social Security 20 years ago had been successful, the program already would have been decimated.

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Pappas promised seniors in Manchester he will oppose privatization if elected to the U.S. Senate.

He pointed out that John E. Sununu, the Republican frontrunner in the Senate race, was a big advocate for the George W. Bush privatization plan when he last served in Washington two decades ago.

“We are an aging state with a significant senior population. People are deeply concerned about a potential shortfall in benefits, and we have to shore up the program and do everything possible to protect it. That’s my commitment. And I think that stands in contrast to what he’s done throughout his time in politics,” Pappas said.

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While this may not be an issue that gets a lot of attention, many seniors see Social Security as their lifeline, and they don’t want changes that could result in reduced benefits.

“I read an article in the last couple of days that someone said that, ‘It’s not the third rail anymore.’ And actually it is,” Sherri Harden, of Goffstown, said.

C-SPAN: New Hampshire Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate Chris Pappas on Social Security

New Hampshire Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Chris Pappas hosted a roundtable on Social Security protections in Manchester. Rep. Pappas criticized his opponent, former U.S. Senator John Sununu (R-NH), for his previous support of privatizing Social Security, and said that he himself would ensure that Social Security is funded.

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