Sununu Aims to Break Republican Losing Streak in New Hampshire Senate Race
Exclusive: Rye, New Hampshire — It has been 15 years since Republicans last won a Senate election in New Hampshire. Yet, former Senator John E. Sununu believes he can change that.
Sununu stated, “This is a race we know we can win,” during an interview last month with Fox News Digital.
Having officially launched his campaign for the 2026 Senate election earlier this week, Sununu articulated why he feels he is the candidate to secure the seat held by long-serving Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who plans to retire next year. This seat is highly coveted by Republicans looking to not only maintain their Senate majority but also to expand it.
In Sununu’s words, “This is the right message, the right set of issues and the right person,” reflecting his confidence in appealing to voters.
A seasoned political figure, Sununu previously served three terms as a congressman, defeating Shaheen in the 2002 Senate race before losing to her in a rematch in 2008.
With Shaheen deciding not to run for re-election in the upcoming midterms, Republicans are eager to flip the seat. Sununu, re-entering the political arena after nearly 20 years in the private sector, is focused again on New England’s essential battle state.
In his launch video, Sununu noted, “Congress seems loud, dysfunctional, and even angry,” stating his desire to “calm the waters” upon returning to the Senate.
When queried about the Republican motivations, he responded, “They want to win. I think they want someone who will defend New Hampshire and get things done.” He added that he is someone who can collaborate effectively with the administration, including working to keep New Hampshire’s taxes low with former President Trump.
“Our priorities are affordability, keeping taxes low, and providing New Hampshire with a strong voice in Washington,” Sununu mentioned, as he embarks on a campaign to engage with state activists and businesses.
Sununu, a well-known name in New Hampshire politics, has familial ties to the area: his father, John H. Sununu, previously served as governor, while his brother Chris Sununu was a four-term governor.
However, the road to the Republican nomination is not expected to be easy.
Scott Brown, a former senator from Massachusetts, entered the race in June. He narrowly lost to Shaheen during his previous campaign in 2014 as a Republican candidate in New Hampshire.
Brown’s campaign has reportedly gathered significant funding, with ambitions to run a vigorous ground campaign appealing to the state’s voters. He has voiced criticisms of Sununu, particularly regarding the latter’s past hesitance to support Trump, who remains a powerful figure within the Republican Party.
Sununu previously worked as a national co-chair during the 2016 Republican presidential election, backing John Kasich instead of Trump. He and Chris Sununu have also endorsed Nikki Haley, who is vying against Trump for the 2024 nomination.
On the eve of the New Hampshire primary, Sununu published an op-ed titled “Donald Trump is a Loser,” which Brown has referenced as he contests Sununu’s qualifications. Brown indicated that he had supported Trump before the latter’s primary success in 2016, while Sununu has focused on private-sector experience in his campaign messaging.
The New Hampshire Democratic Party has criticized Sununu’s past business relationships, indicating that he could be beholden to corporate interests rather than the constituents. In response, Sununu asserted, “I have never lobbied members of Congress on any corporate issue.” He emphasizes the importance of having private sector experience in political roles.
As for Trump’s position on the primary, he has yet to endorse any candidates. Nevertheless, Sununu remains optimistic about garnering support from various party endorsements, including local Republican figures known to back him.
If Sununu secures the Republican nomination next September, he is likely to face Chris Pappas, a Democratic Congressman and the front-runner for his party’s nomination.
