Top Republicans court another Sununu for crucial New Hampshire Senate race

Former Sen. John E. Sununu Considering Senate Run in New Hampshire

Former Sen. John E. Sununu, the older brother of former Gov. Chris Sununu, is reportedly considering a run for the Senate in next year’s midterm elections in New Hampshire. Top national Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, have held discussions with Sununu about a potential 2026 Senate campaign, according to sources.

Sununu, who defeated then-Gov. Jeanne Shaheen in New Hampshire’s 2002 Senate election but lost to her in a 2008 rematch, is seen as a strong contender in the race to succeed the retiring Democratic senator. With Shaheen announcing earlier this year that she wouldn’t seek re-election, Republicans are hoping to flip the seat and expand their Senate majority.

Former Sen. Scott Brown and three-term GOP state Sen. Dan Innis are also major Republican contenders in the Senate race, with Brown having already announced his candidacy in June. While former President Donald Trump has not yet endorsed a candidate, his influence in Republican primaries remains significant.

On the Democratic side, four-term Rep. Chris Pappas is considered the frontrunner for the party’s Senate nomination, with progressive organizer Karishma Manzur also running. Senate Republicans, who flipped four seats in the 2024 cycle to regain the majority, are eyeing key states like Georgia, Michigan, and Minnesota in their bid to maintain control of the Senate.

As the political landscape continues to evolve, both parties are gearing up for a highly competitive midterm election. With the potential for new faces and shifting dynamics, the 2026 Senate race in New Hampshire promises to be a closely watched and closely contested battle for control of the Senate.

This article was written by Paul Steinhauser, a politics reporter based in New Hampshire, covering the campaign trail across the country.