Rep. Chris Pappas, at an event about Social Security in Manchester, August 3, 2026. JOSH ROGERS / NHPR“This seat belongs to the people of New Hampshire, and the people of New Hampshire have to fight to keep it, because otherwise the billionaires are going to buy this seat,” Manzur said. Congressman Chris Pappas, the other major candidate in the Democratic Senate primary, is making Social Security a central issue in his campaign. The leading Republican in the race, former U.S. Sen. John E. Sununu, proposed partially privatizing Social Security when he last served in Washington, though he has not emphasized Social Security reform this Senate run. Social Security is projected to become insolvent in 2032, when beneficiaries could lose nearly a quarter of their benefits.