Former New Hampshire Gov. Sununu passes on 2026 Senate run

Former Republican Governor Chris Sununu has made the decision not to run for the Senate in 2026 in the key swing state of New Hampshire. Sununu, who completed four two-year terms as governor in January, cited family reasons for his choice to forego a Senate bid.

The GOP had been eyeing Sununu as a potential candidate to flip the Senate seat from blue to red, but Sununu made it clear that running for Senate was not the right decision for him and his family. Despite being courted by national Republicans and receiving support from former President Donald Trump, Sununu ultimately decided against entering the race.

After meeting with Trump at the White House and receiving his endorsement, Sununu expressed gratitude for the former president’s support. However, he ultimately felt at peace with his decision not to run for Senate.

Sununu’s decision leaves the door open for other potential Republican candidates, including former Senator Scott Brown, who is considering a run for the Senate seat. On the Democratic side, Rep. Chris Pappas has already launched his campaign, with Rep. Maggie Goodlander also rumored to be considering a Senate bid.

Throughout his tenure as governor, Sununu had a strong working relationship with the Trump White House. However, he distanced himself from Trump’s claims of election fraud and began to express doubts about the former president’s ability to win back the White House. Sununu even considered a 2024 presidential run of his own before ultimately supporting Nikki Haley in the GOP primary.

Despite his previous statements that he had no interest in running for Senate, Sununu was encouraged by GOP officials to reconsider his decision following Senator Jeanne Shaheen’s announcement that she would not seek re-election. However, Sununu ultimately decided that a Senate bid was not the right path for him at this time.

In a radio interview, Sununu expressed his appreciation for the support he received from Trump and other Republican leaders. He acknowledged that he could have won the Senate race but emphasized that his decision was based on what was best for his family.

As the race for the Senate seat in New Hampshire heats up, Sununu’s decision not to run leaves the field wide open for other candidates to step up and vie for the seat. With both parties eyeing the seat as a potential pickup, the 2026 Senate race in New Hampshire is sure to be closely watched and hotly contested.