What the Record Shows

• Initially defended the strategic rationale for the 2026 military action against Iran while acknowledging Congress's constitutional war powers and arguing that presidents may act first against imminent threats.
• Later said he would not have initiated the Iran conflict and called entering without an adequate plan a mistake, while continuing to argue that weakening Iran's nuclear, missile and proxy capabilities served U.S. security interests.
• Has called for Congress to reclaim constitutional authority ceded over time to the executive branch, particularly over spending and tariffs, while separately stating that prolonged military commitments require congressional authorization.
• Defended ICE agents' use of masks during enforcement operations as a legitimate means of protecting agents and their families from threats and doxxing, and argued that immigration enforcement does not necessarily provide immigrants the same process available in other legal contexts.

What the Record Shows

• Joined a bipartisan filibuster blocking reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act sought by the Bush administration and Senate Republican leadership, citing inadequate civil-liberties protections, and subsequently helped negotiate additional safeguards.
• Became the first Republican in Congress to call for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales's removal, citing the dismissal of U.S. attorneys as well as concerns arising from a Justice Department Inspector General report on the FBI's use of National Security Letters.
• More recently called for Congress to reclaim constitutional powers ceded to presidents of both parties, particularly congressional authority over spending and tariffs.
• Supported the 2008 FISA Amendments Act that established Section 702 surveillance authority, while elsewhere challenging warrantless domestic surveillance and advocating congressional and judicial safeguards against government surveillance abuses.

What the Record Shows

• Co-chaired the New Hampshire chapter of the bipartisan Democracy Defense Project, working with former Democratic Congressman Richard Swett, state election officials and others to promote confidence in lawful election processes and defend election administration against misinformation.
• Cited the 2020 election as evidence of institutional resilience, noting that states certified their results and allegations of fraud were adjudicated and overwhelmingly found invalid.
• Publicly supported additional federal voter-identification requirements and, when asked about the SAVE Act, advocated repeatedly attaching a photo-ID requirement to must-pass legislation, citing New Hampshire's voter-ID system as a model.

What the Record Shows

• Condemned the January 6 attack as an effort to interfere with certification and the peaceful transfer of power, voted to impeach President Trump for incitement of insurrection, and later opposed pardons for January 6 defendants.
• Called for an independent and transparent investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent and supported greater accountability and guardrails governing federal immigration enforcement.
• Repeatedly voted for War Powers resolutions directing the removal of U.S. forces from unauthorized hostilities with Iran and stated that President Trump had initiated military operations without congressional authorization.

What the Record Shows

• Voted for both articles of impeachment in 2019, citing abuse of presidential power, obstruction of congressional oversight and the principle that no individual, including the President, is above the law.
• Voted to establish both the bipartisan national commission and the House Select Committee to investigate the January 6 attack.
• Joined a bicameral Supreme Court brief defending Congress's Article I authority over tariffs and supported congressional actions seeking to constrain presidential tariff authority.
• Voted against a 2024 amendment that would have required a warrant before searching Americans' communications collected under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
• Voted for the Laken Riley Act, which expanded mandatory detention of certain noncitizens based on arrest or charges before conviction. Despite due-process concerns raised by critics, Pappas said the measure would strengthen federal law enforcement, while also supporting bipartisan immigration reform combining border security with a pathway to citizenship.

What the Record Shows

• Supported certification of the 2020 presidential election results and condemned January 6 as an effort to stop certification of a free and fair election and the peaceful transfer of power.
• Publicly defended New Hampshire's election system, including its use of voter identification and paper ballots, and criticized efforts to undermine confidence in lawful election results.
• Voted against the SAVE Act, arguing that its federal requirements would burden eligible voters including married women, military families and seniors.
• Cosponsored 2026 legislation seeking to nullify an executive order restricting mail voting, arguing that election administration belongs to the states and that Congress should protect lawful access to mail voting.