On October 22, 2025, the political landscape in New Hampshire shifted dramatically as John E. Sununu, a former Republican senator, announced his bid to reclaim the U.S. Senate seat he lost nearly two decades ago. The announcement, delivered via a candid video message, set the stage for a high-stakes GOP primary and a fiercely contested general election in 2026.
Sununu’s decision to run comes as Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who defeated him in 2008, prepares to retire, leaving her seat up for grabs. According to the Associated Press, Sununu, now 61, expressed a mix of surprise and determination in his video, stating, “Maybe you’re surprised to hear that I’m running for the Senate again. I’m a bit surprised myself.” He added, “Somebody has to step up and lower the temperature. Somebody has to get things done.”
His return is not just a personal comeback attempt; it’s a move that national Republicans see as a prime opportunity. As Roll Call reported, the GOP views New Hampshire’s open seat as a top pickup chance in their quest to expand their current three-seat majority in the Senate during the 2026 midterms. The state’s recent electoral history underscores its competitive nature: Kamala Harris carried New Hampshire by just three points in the 2024 presidential election, a tighter margin than Joe Biden’s seven-point win in 2020.
Despite the GOP’s optimism, the path to victory won’t be easy. Democrats currently hold both of New Hampshire’s Senate seats, and the party has maintained control of all four congressional seats since 2017, as noted by the Associated Press. Republicans haven’t claimed a Senate win in the state since 2010. Still, Sununu’s entry instantly raised the stakes. According to Alex Latcham of the GOP super PAC Senate Leadership Fund, Sununu “instantly expands the Senate map and puts the Granite State in play for Republicans.”
The primary race itself is already shaping up to be contentious. Sununu’s main GOP rival is Scott P. Brown, a former Massachusetts senator who lost to Shaheen in 2014. Brown, who has aligned himself closely with Donald Trump and served as his ambassador to New Zealand, has made it clear he’s not stepping aside. In a statement to Newsweek, Brown declared, “Anyone who thinks that a never Trump, corporate lobbyist who hasn’t won an election in a quarter century will resonate with today’s GOP primary voters is living in a different universe... Senate seats are earned, not handed down. I stopped one political dynasty before, and intend to do the same in 2026.”
Brown’s campaign is well-funded, having raised $969,000 in the third quarter of 2025 and entering October with $803,000 on hand. State Senator Dan Innis, another Republican contender, suspended his campaign in September and endorsed Sununu, urging Brown to do the same. But Brown remains undeterred, telling WMUR, “I always enjoy a good primary. I think it’s important. It’s part of the New Hampshire way.”
Sununu’s family name carries significant weight in New Hampshire politics. His brother, Chris Sununu, recently retired after four terms as governor, and his father, John H. Sununu, served as both governor and chief of staff to President George H.W. Bush. This legacy, while a potential asset, has also drawn criticism. Brown, in particular, has derided the notion of political dynasties, referencing the Sununus alongside the Bushes, Clintons, and Shaheens.
Sununu’s own record is a blend of party loyalty and independent streaks. During his Senate term from 2003 to 2009, he was the chamber’s youngest member, having been elected at age 38. He mostly voted with his party but occasionally broke ranks, such as when he joined a group of conservatives opposing the Medicare Part D prescription drug plan in 2003 over cost concerns. He also supported reforms to earmark spending in 2006. His committee work included stints on Commerce, Science and Transportation; Finance; and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, with a particular interest in telecommunications policy.
In the years since leaving Congress, Sununu’s career has shifted toward corporate boardrooms—a transition that Democrats are quick to highlight. Rachel Petri, campaign manager for Representative Chris Pappas, the leading Democratic candidate, criticized Sununu for “cashing in and making millions selling out to corporations and working for special interests.” Petri contrasted this with Pappas’s record, stating, “Chris fought Big Pharma to lower prescription drug prices, led efforts to improve care for our veterans, and continued fighting to lower costs for working families, seniors, and small businesses.”
Pappas, who represents New Hampshire’s First Congressional District—a seat Sununu once held—is coming off a strong fundraising quarter, having raised $1.8 million between July and September 2025 and holding $2.6 million as of September 30. Polls consistently show Pappas with a lead over both Sununu and Brown. A University of New Hampshire poll from September found Pappas ahead of Sununu by six points (49% to 43%), while a co/efficient poll in October gave him a three-point edge (45% to 42%). Even a GOP-aligned poll in August showed a close race, with Pappas leading by two points and 12% of voters undecided.
Political analysts see Sununu’s name recognition and fundraising prowess as key strengths. Andrew Smith, a political science professor at the University of New Hampshire, told Newsweek, “He is not tied to President Trump, which will hurt him somewhat in the primary, but should help in the general election.” Smith added, “It will definitely be one of the most competitive Senate seats in 2026.”
Yet, Sununu’s relationship with the GOP base is complicated. He has been openly critical of Donald Trump, penning a 2024 op-ed in the New Hampshire Union Leader calling Trump “a loser.” He backed Nikki Haley in the 2024 Republican presidential primary and previously advised John Kasich’s 2016 campaign. This has drawn skepticism from some Republican voters but may appeal to moderates and independents in the general election. South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, has thrown his weight behind Sununu, declaring the committee “all-in” for his campaign.
As for the broader political environment, New Hampshire remains a battleground. The state narrowly supported Harris in 2024 (50.7% to Trump’s 47.9%), and while it has leaned Democratic in federal races, Republicans have found success in gubernatorial contests. The Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball both rate the 2026 Senate race as “Leans Democrat,” but the margin is slim and the outcome far from certain.
Sununu’s campaign is built around a promise to restore civility and effectiveness to Congress. As he put it in his launch video, “Washington’s never been perfect. It’s not meant to be. But when I was there, people with different opinions would get together, work things out and come to solutions that made a real difference. But now Congress just seems loud, dysfunctional — even angry.”
With a legacy name, a message of bipartisanship, and a competitive field, Sununu’s bid is poised to test the Granite State’s political loyalties and offer a glimpse into the evolving dynamics of American politics. The months ahead promise a spirited contest, with New Hampshire voters once again holding the balance of power in their hands.
