Karishma Manzur

Karishma Manzur (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. Senate to represent New Hampshire. She lost in the Democratic primary on September 8, 2026.

Manzur completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Karishma Manzur earned a high school diploma from the Cambridge School of Weston. She went on to earn a bachelor's degree from the University of Rochester in 1998 and a Ph.D. from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in 2004. She also studied at the University of California, Berkeley. Manzur's career experience includes working as a scientist.^[1]

Elections

2026

United States Senate election in New Hampshire, 2026 (September 8 Republican primary)

United States Senate election in New Hampshire, 2026 (September 8 Democratic primary)

General election

The candidate list in this election may not be complete.

General election for U.S. Senate New Hampshire

Chris Pappas, John Sununu, Edmond Laplante, Matt Giovonizzi, and Tim Harris are running in the general election for U.S. Senate New Hampshire on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Chris Pappas (D)
		John Sununu (R)
		Edmond Laplante (Constitution Party)
	Submit photo	Matt Giovonizzi (Independent)
	Submit photo	Tim Harris (Independent)

	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. Senate New Hampshire

Chris Pappas defeated Karishma Manzur, David Jarvis, John Vail, and Maxwell Saal in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate New Hampshire on September 8, 2026.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Chris Pappas	64.6	60,119
		Karishma Manzur	33.2	30,942
		David Jarvis	0.7	668
	Submit photo	John Vail	0.6	574
		Maxwell Saal	0.6	531
		Other/Write-in votes	0.3	277

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 93,111
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Jeanne Shaheen (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. Senate New Hampshire

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate New Hampshire on September 8, 2026.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Sununu	68.4	42,354
		Scott Brown	26.4	16,356
		Sky Danley	1.1	687
		Sabrina Smith	0.9	552
		Mary Maxwell	0.7	444
		Andy Martin	0.7	433
		Tom Alciere	0.5	322
	Submit photo	Richard McMenamon II	0.4	237
		Other/Write-in votes	0.8	497

	There were no incumbents in this race. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 61,882
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Endorsements

Karishma Manzur received the following endorsements. To view a full list of Manzur's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. To send us additional endorsements, click here.

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

Karishma Manzur completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Manzur's responses.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m a scientist, progressive, and peace activist running to represent the people of New Hampshire in the U.S. Senate.

I have a PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology and have spent more than two decades working on treatments for debilitating illnesses. My commitment to improving people’s lives extends beyond the research field and is a major reason I am running for U.S. Senate. As Senator, my priorities will include banning big money in politics, championing Medicare for All, building affordable housing, and pursuing a sensible, humane foreign policy that ends war profiteering. I am also involved in the nonprofit sector, serving on the boards of NH Ranked Choice Voting and NH Open Democracy Action, working to ban big money in politics. I’ve previously served on the board of NH Peace Action and remain an active member, supporting the transition away from a war economy. My campaign is rooted in the belief that we must prioritize people over profits. I’m running a grassroots campaign and refuse to take a cent from corporate PACs, AIPAC, and other special interest groups.

When elected, I’ll make history as the first woman with a PhD in science to serve in the U.S. Senate.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

New Hampshire deserves a senator for the people, not special interests.
Millions of Americans are struggling to survive in the richest country in the world. It’s not from a lack of resources but a lack of priorities, as the current lawmakers are failing to fix the housing, childcare, and healthcare crises.
I am a Progressive Democrat who represents a principled alternative to the status quo, bringing a strong focus on the needs of working families and an unwavering commitment to progressive values.
I am challenging Corporate Democrats and MAGA Republicans who serve wealthy donors and special interests, and are failing to serve the American people.
Ban Big Money in politics and restore power to the people. Big Money in politics is one of the greatest threats to our democracy. I will lead efforts to end the influence of wealthy donors and ensure elected officials work for the people. We must strengthen ethics rules to ban congressional stock trading and to stop former members of Congress from lobbying, ensuring public trust and preventing self-enrichment. I am running a grassroots campaign and firmly refuse to take a cent from corporate PACs, AIPAC, and other special interest groups.
Pursuing a sensible, humane foreign policy that ends war profiteering. America’s foreign policy should prioritize our service members, peace, security, and accountability. Not profits for war contractors. I will work to restore congressional oversight of war decisions and support sensible, humane foreign policies. In the richest country in the world, it is unacceptable that millions of Americans lack access to affordable housing, a livable wage, and quality healthcare. I am a fierce advocate for redirecting some of our nation’s vast military spending towards critical domestic needs that have been neglected for too long. It is time to end the endless wars and invest in our communities at home.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

In the richest country in the world, no one should be struggling just to survive. Working families are being pushed to the brink due to low wages, unaffordable housing, and expensive healthcare.

As a scientist, I follow the facts. And the facts show our system is failing because too many lawmakers are answering to their wealthy donors, not the people.

That’s why I am passionate about banning big money in politics, fixing the housing crisis, lowering costs for working families, and guaranteeing healthcare as a human right through Medicare for All.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Frances Perkins, and Dwight D. Eisenhower were some of the greatest progressives to serve our country.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty, integrity, and compassion.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To protect the people and our planet.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Stop war profiteering.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Peace Action

NH Peace Action
Citizens Against AIPAC Corruption
Organize for Peace
Progressive Victory
Courage for Democracy
ASAAL Labor Union

NH Rep. Tony Caplan
NH Rep Suraj Budathoki
NH Rep. David Meuse
NH Rep. Linda Haskins

And more are listed on the campaign’s website.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign website

Manzur's campaign website stated the following:

Ban Big Money in politics and restore power to the people.

Big Money in politics is one of the greatest threats to our democracy. Karishma will lead efforts to end the influence of wealthy donors and ensure elected officials work for the people. She will also strengthen ethics rules to ban congressional stock trading and increase transparency in our government.
In a true democracy, people should decide elections and shape the future. But today, corporate greed and weak ethics laws let politicians profit from the very industries they are supposed to regulate.

Karishma is inspired by New Hampshire's own Granny D, who walked across America at the age of 89 to demand fair elections. It's time to carry that torch forward and build a government that works for the people.

Karishma will work on legislation to increase transparency, reform campaign finance, and stop corruption in Congress:

Overturn Citizens United
Ban corporate PACs, dark money, and super PACs
Require transparency in political donations
Bring back public funding for campaigns
Enforce strict anti-corruption and ethics laws, including banning stock trading by members of Congress.
Permanently ban former members of Congress from lobbying to protect public trust and prevent self-enrichment.
Karishma will work to restore trust in the government. And return power to the people. So, every vote will count, and every voice will matter.

Fix the housing crisis: Build homes and lower rents.

Everyone deserves a home. But housing costs across New Hampshire are out of control. Karishma will champion common-sense solutions to build more housing, stabilize rents, and strengthen local economies so everyone can afford to live and thrive in our state.
We must act now because New Hampshire needs 24,000 housing units today and 90,000 by 2040. Low inventory and high costs of housing are hurting Granite Staters, and impacting local businesses. And wages haven't kept up. Families spend half their income on rent, seniors wait years for housing, and young people are leaving New Hampshire because they can't afford to stay. And over 4,000 Granite Staters are homeless, including veterans.

Karishma will work to:

Rapidly build sustainable, affordable housing, including workforce and social housing permanently off the private market, by increasing HUD funding and repealing the Faircloth Amendment, which caps public housing. Federal funds will support local, union-built construction.
Expand the construction industry to deliver large numbers of social housing units efficiently and through unionized, prevailing-wage jobs.
End veteran homelessness with targeted support and help veterans transition to civilian life with dignity.
Build affordable housing and expand rent protections for seniors facing high costs, eviction, or unsafe living conditions.
Protect renters by expanding Section 8 funding and passing a National Tenants' Bill of Rights to guarantee basic protections for 114 million Americans, as corporate landlords and private equity firms take over the housing market.
Invest in rural and small-town housing through increased USDA Rural Housing Service funding.
Support smart, community-led development to integrate housing with childcare, schools, and walkable communities.
Respect local input when cutting red tape to build multi-family and mixed-income housing.
Build energy-efficient housing that lowers utility costs and carbon emissions.
Increase local control over electric rates by supporting clean, renewable, and community-focused energy utilities in New Hampshire.
Hold corporate landlords accountable through Senate hearings on profiteering and evictions.
Karishma will work to make sure all workers are able to live where they work and raise families where they are rooted.

Lower the cost of living.

Families are working harder than ever but falling further behind. This is taking place while big corporations make record profits. Karishma is committed to making life more affordable by taking on corporate greed and investing in people.
Every child deserves a strong start, and every person should have the chance to thrive. However, too many people are struggling, while Congress votes to slash critical government-led programs and give tax cuts to the wealthiest few.

Karishma is committed to putting people over profits and will:

Expand federal childcare subsidies to ensure that no family pays more than 7% of their income on care.
Work to champion universal childcare across the nation so parents can work, and kids can thrive.
Strengthen the Child Tax Credit to help families afford everyday costs.
Invest in public education, job training, and community colleges to open doors for every Granite Stater no matter the path they choose.
Stop utility price gouging and give communities control to manage their energy future.
Crack down on corporate price gouging by big food companies and support small farmers and local grocers to control spiraling food prices.
Oppose unfair import taxes (tariffs) that raise costs for everyday Americans.
Karishma believes in a future where every person has a real shot at success.

Guarantee quality affordable healthcare for everyone.

Over 50,000 Americans die every year simply because they can't afford routine healthcare or medicine. Karishma will work to pass an improved and expanded healthcare plan to guarantee quality, affordable care for everyone. New Hampshire deserves a Senator who won't just talk about healthcare but will lead the charge to pass Medicare for All.
Poor Americans live 10 to 15 years less than the wealthy, showing the deadly impact of wealth inequality and lack of healthcare access. Three out of four people in New Hampshire reported delaying or going without health care in any given time. A majority of Granite Staters worry about paying for drugs, medical bills, and many are unable to afford to buy insurance.

Karishma will work to pass a single national healthcare plan to:

Save over $650 billion a year by lowering drug prices, cutting bureaucracy, and ending payouts to insurance and pharmaceutical corporations.
Cover everyone, with no premiums, no deductibles, and no surprise bills.
Include doctor visits, mental health, dental, vision, hearing, maternity care, prescriptions, home care, and long-term care.
Lower prescription drugs costs similar to how the VA lowers prices through bulk-purchasing.
Separate healthcare from employment
End crushing medical debt and stop predatory collections so people can focus on healing, not bills.
Karishma will stand up to corporate interests and reject the broken system that puts profits ahead of patients. It's time to guarantee healthcare for every American, no matter your income or ZIP code.

Invest in American workers with livable wages, strong unions, and fair labor practices.

Karishma believes a strong economy is built from the bottom up, not the top down. She will work to raise wages, strengthen unions, and bring good jobs back to New Hampshire.
Karishma believes reclaiming power from big money starts with empowering workers. When unions were strong, America built a thriving middle class, wages rose, jobs were plentiful, and the economy worked for everyone. But since the 1980s, corporate-friendly policies have weakened labor, fueled inequality, and let CEOs earn hundreds of times more than workers.

Karishma will champion an economy that puts workers first:

Support the PRO Act to protect the right to organize, bargain collectively, and strike without retaliation. American workers deserve livable wages, safer workplaces, and retirement with dignity.
Raise the federal minimum wage to a living wage to help 23 million workers, including 2.8 million tipped workers. Many business leaders support raising the minimum wage to boost local economies.
Enforce equal pay for equal work because women and men with similar qualifications should receive the same pay.
Guarantee paid family and medical leave, so no one has to choose between a paycheck and caring for a loved one.
Strengthen workplace safety and health by fully funding OSHA.
Bring back good manufacturing jobs to New Hampshire with grants, subsidies to businesses, and worker training.
Expand job training, apprenticeships, and community college access across the state.
Support veterans with job training and fair hiring.
Ensure fair trade policies to protect small businesses from unfair competition, promote local manufacturing, and prevent price manipulation by large corporations.
Protect pensions, end 401(k) fees, and offer public retirement options.
Expand and protect social security by lifting the cap on taxable income.
Ban stock buybacks that enrich CEOs and take money away from workers and the company's growth.
This isn't about punishing success. It's about restoring fairness and rebuilding the middle class. Karishma believes in a strong economy that rewards hard work, so no one gets left behind.

Support our children by investing in quality public education.

Karishma supports equitable funding of our public schools, with state and federal governments contributing their fair share to ease the burden on local property owners. This will also comply with New Hampshire's legal obligations to ensure an adequate education for all children, regardless of zip code.
Karishma agrees with parents' freedom to choose public, home, charter, or private education for their children. And she also believes public funds should be used for public education.

As Senator, Karishma will work to:

Champion universal childcare so that parents can work and kids can thrive.
Fully fund public education, from pre-K through Grade 12, community colleges, and public universities, so every child has access to great schools, safe classrooms, and modern learning tools.
Grow our skilled workforce for good-paying careers by expanding apprenticeships, job-training programs, and access to community colleges.
Support inclusive and accessible education policies, ensuring students of all backgrounds and abilities can succeed.
Expand and strengthen the Child Tax Credit to help families afford everyday costs.
Oppose federal school voucher bills that will siphon taxpayer dollars away from public schools, destabilize state budgets, and weaken our education system.
Quality public education is an economic elevator. It opens pathways to higher earnings and better health. And for our economy, education fuels the human and social capital that drives long-term growth. Karishma will always stand up for high-quality public education that is accessible to all students, because it is key to a stronger future for every family.

Defend the Constitution and strengthen our democracy.

Karishma will protect the Constitution, uphold the rule of law, and stand against any elected officials who abuse their power or betray public trust. No matter their party or position.
The U.S. Constitution is the foundation of our system of representative democracy. It ensures that no one person can rule alone, and our nation's laws apply equally to everyone.

As Senator, Karishma will work with others in Congress to:

Investigate constitutional violations and hold accountable those who violate our Constitution and abuse their power.
Protect and defend the Constitutional guarantee of due process
Defend First Amendment freedoms, including freedom of speech and a free press, while promoting civil discourse and standing against speech that incites harm.
Rein in and reverse executive overreach
Strengthen the independence of the judiciary, including SCOTUS, through term limits and enforceable ethics rules.
Support federal voting rights laws that expand protections, automatic registration, and set national standards for accessible elections.
Hold Senate hearings to expose voter suppression tactics, misinformation, and threats against election workers.
Karishma believes in a government that is strong and fair, and centered on our "common good," and she will stand up to defend it at every turn.

Protect America with sensible foreign policy.

America's foreign policy should prioritize our service members, peace, security, democracy, and accountability. Not profits for war contractors. Karishma will work to restore congressional oversight of war decisions and support sensible foreign policies.
Karishma believes in a foreign policy that prioritizes our service members, diplomacy, the rule of law, and national security. America must lead with strength and wisdom.

As Senator, Karishma will:

End "blank checks" for war and restore Congress's constitutional oversight of military action, including invocation of the War Powers Act.
Crack down on war profiteering by banning members of Congress from owning stock in defense contractors.
Ban former members of Congress from lobbying for an extended period to ensure public trust and prevent self-enrichment.
Guarantee all veterans, and their families, have access to quality healthcare, housing, and job training, and support a dignified transition to civilian life.
Our troops, veterans, and their families deserve more than thanks. They deserve a foreign policy rooted in justice, and a solemn promise that they'll never be sent to war without a clear mission, or abandoned when they return.

Uphold human rights.

We must stand together against politicians who use hateful rhetoric to divide and distract us while they challenge our democracy and violate our laws. Karishma will uphold civil liberty, work to end discrimination, and protect the dignity and freedom of every person.
We deserve the freedom to live and be who we are. Without fear, without discrimination, and without being denied the basic means of survival.

As U.S. Senator, Karishma will:

Protect the rights of all people at home and abroad in support of our shared humanity and the values we hold dear.
Stand firmly against antisemitism, anti-Muslim acts, racism, and all forms of hate speech that threaten the safety and dignity of others.
Support inclusive and accessible policies in education, healthcare, reproductive care, workplaces, housing, public places, food security, and public safety.
Ensure reproductive and transition-related healthcare is safe, legal, and accessible like all other essential healthcare services.
Support the bodily autonomy of all people, including transgender people, to access the healthcare they need.
End veteran homelessness with targeted support and help veterans transition to civilian life with dignity.
Build affordable housing for seniors and expand rent protections as many seniors are burdened by housing costs, some face eviction, homelessness, or unsafe living conditions.
Advance the right to food, shelter, and healthcare as part of our national commitment to human dignity.
Defend First Amendment freedoms, including freedom of speech and a free press, while promoting civil discourse and standing against speech that incites harm.
Create a culture of respect, empathy, and accountability in our government.
As Senator, Karishma will work to ensure that all people are treated with respect, protected by law, and guaranteed the essentials of life. Because true freedom includes the right to live in dignity.

Enforce U.S. law and end U.S. complicity in the genocide of Palestinians.

There is no justification, ever, for the killing of any human beings. No race, religion, or nationality makes a life more or less valuable. We must reject any narrative that seeks to make violence acceptable. As Senator, Karishma will uphold human rights at home and abroad.

As Senator, Karishma will:

Oppose sending U.S. weapons to any foreign entity that violates human rights under the federal Leahy Law and Section 502B of the Foreign Assistance Act.
Support strict oversight of military aid
Speak out against war profiteering and forced starvation when others stay silent
Just like Granite Staters, the people of Gaza deserve peace, dignity, and justice. As U.S. Senator, Karishma will uphold human rights at home and around the world.

Defend science and innovation.

Scientific breakthroughs save lives, create jobs, and drive our economy. But funding cuts and political attacks now threaten that progress. As a scientist, Karishma will work to protect research funding and ensure public health and environmental decisions are guided by science, not politics.

As Senator, Karishma will:

Defend science-based agencies and universities
Protect funding for life-saving medical research
Support innovation in clean energy, agriculture, and space exploration
Karishma believes that investing in science is investing in our health, our economy, and our future.

Keep New Hampshire wild and beautiful.

We must preserve New Hampshire's natural beauty and protect our environment. Karishma will protect our natural resources. From clean air and pure water to vibrant public lands, she'll ensure future generations inherit a livable planet.

As Senator, Karishma will:

Protect clean air and water to safeguard the environment
Invest in a clean and renewable energy transition that protects our climate and supports jobs and economic growth.
Build energy-efficient housing that lowers utility costs and carbon emissions.
Increase local control over electric rates by supporting clean, renewable, and community-focused energy utilities in New Hampshire.
Ban PFAS in consumer products. These toxic "forever chemicals" contaminate water, build up in our bodies, and are linked to cancer, increased cholesterol, and low birth weight. Military personnel and firefighters exposed to PFAS-contaminated water and firefighting foam face higher risks of brain cancer and glioblastoma.
Amend the Solid Waste Act to keep packaging pollution out of our food and water.
Adequately fund the National Park Service and US Forest Service to preserve public lands
Support local conservation and outdoor recreation economies
A healthy planet means healthier families, stronger communities, and a more secure future. Karishma will make environmental protection a top priority.

— Karishma Manzur's campaign website (September 4, 2026)

Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Karishma Manzur campaign contribution history
Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2026*	U.S. Senate New Hampshire	Lost primary	$415,081	$311,136
Grand total			$415,081	$311,136
Sources: OpenSecrets, Federal Election Commission *This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete