US midterms: ANCA-backed Chris Pappas and Abdul El-Sayed elected to the Senate
- Published
- Place
- United States
- Event date
- Past event —
Summary
Democrats won the 3 November midterm elections in the United States and are taking control of both chambers of Congress, according to projections by major US media. Two new senators endorsed by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), the largest Armenian American political organisation, are heading to the Senate. In New Hampshire, Representative Chris Pappas defeated former Republican senator John E. Sununu by about 56% to 42% and becomes the first openly gay man elected to the Senate. In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed beat Republican Mike Rogers to succeed Gary Peters; he will be the first Muslim senator. The ANCA, which endorsed 64 candidates, had given Chris Pappas an A grade for his record on Armenian issues.
Analysis
For the Armenian diaspora in the United States, the stakes go beyond the majority. Chris Pappas supports Section 907, which restricts US aid to Azerbaijan, as well as aid to refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh. The ANCA had also targeted his opponent, highlighting the Sununu family’s interests in Anglo Asian Mining, a mining group active in the Martakert area of Karabakh. Abdul El-Sayed, for his part, denounced the Trump administration’s “blank check” for military aid to Baku.
Possible consequences
The new senators will take office in January 2027. According to Armenian analyst Suren Sargsyan, the new Congress paints a fairly favourable picture for the caucus dedicated to Armenian issues.
