New Hampshire may soon see a Sununu vying for a Senate seat in the forthcoming midterm elections.
However, contrary to earlier speculations, it's not the former Governor Chris Sununu, who had previously contemplated but ultimately decided against a Senate run. Instead, it's his older brother, former Senator John E. Sununu, who is now in the spotlight.
According to Fox News, top-ranking Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, have been in discussions with the former senator about a potential 2026 Senate campaign. A source familiar with these talks confirmed that Thune and former Senator Cory Gardner, chair of the Senate Leadership Fund, have recently engaged in conversations with Sununu.
The Senate Leadership Fund is a leading super PAC that supports Senate Republicans. The source further revealed that Thune and Gardner are cautiously optimistic about Sununu's potential campaign, anticipating a competitive and costly race.
John E. Sununu, a former three-term representative, had previously defeated then-Governor Shaheen in New Hampshire's 2002 Senate election. However, in a 2008 rematch, he lost to Shaheen.
Earlier this year, Shaheen announced she would not seek re-election in the upcoming midterms, providing Republicans with an opportunity to flip the seat and expand their Senate majority.
The news of Sununu, who turns 61 this month, contemplating a Senate bid was first reported by NOTUS. Currently, two major Republicans are in the race for New Hampshire's Senate seat. Former Senator Scott Brown, who served as ambassador to New Zealand during President Donald Trumps first term, announced his candidacy in June.
Brown has been actively engaging with Republican and conservative groups across New Hampshire since late last year. In July, three-term GOP state Senator Dan Innis also launched a U.S. Senate campaign.
President Trump, whose endorsement carries significant weight in Republican primaries, has yet to take a stance. Veteran Republican strategist John Ashbrook, a co-host of the popular "Ruthless" podcast, told Fox News Digital, "the more candidates getting into these races is an indicator that Republicans are on offense heading into an all-important midterm and that Trump's great success in the White House is actually wind in their sails as they pursue an effort to maintain the majority, that they should be able to maintain with good candidates on the field."
On the Democratic side, four-term Representative Chris Pappas, representing the state's First Congressional District, is the clear frontrunner for the party's Senate nomination. However, progressive organizer and biomedical scientist Karishma Manzur is also in the running.
Pappas recently took to social media to criticize his GOP rivals, stating, "NH wants leaders who'll stand up to Trump and special interests to build an economy that works for all." He further argued that whether it's "corporate sellout John E. Sununu or MAGA puppet Scott Brown, NH voters won't buy it."
In the 2024 cycle, Senate Republicans managed to flip four seats from blue to red, regaining the majority. However, the party in power usually faces challenges during midterm elections. Still, an early analysis of the 2026 map suggests that the GOP may be able to make offensive moves in some key states.
In battleground states like Georgia, Michigan, and New Hampshire, Republicans are eyeing vulnerable Democratic incumbents and retirees. They're also defending open seats in battleground North Carolina and red-leaning Iowa.
The GOP will likely need to allocate resources to defend Senator Jon Husted of Ohio, who was appointed to succeed former senator and now-Vice President JD Vance, as he faces off against former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown next year.
On the other hand, Democrats are targeting moderate Senator Susan Collins in blue-leaning Maine, who has yet to announce her expected 2026 re-election. As the political landscape continues to evolve, the upcoming midterm elections promise to be a crucial turning point for both parties.
Login