GOP Senator From Bush Era To Run For Old Seat — But First Must Take Down Another Ex-Lawmaker

Former Republican New Hampshire Sen. John E. Sununu will make another run for his old seat which he held from 2003 to 2009, and the GOP hopes to flip in the midterms.

Sununu, 61, declared his candidacy for New Hampshire’s 2026 Senate race on Wednesday morning to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who had defeated him in 2008. The former senator said he wants to return to Washington to “lower the temperature” and “get things done” in a campaign announcement video mentioning the economy, the county’s piling debt and healthcare costs as three of his top priorities.

To advance to the general election, Sununu must first defeat another ex-senator — who, like him, previously lost to Shaheen — also mounting a comeback bid.

Former Republican Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, 66, announced his campaign for the open Senate seat in June. However, Senate GOP leadership has stopped short of endorsing Brown, who made a failed run against Shaheen in 2014 after relocating New Hampshire.

A recent memo linked to Senate Republicans highlighted five recent surveys showing Brown performed poorly in polling against Democratic New Hampshire Rep. Chris Pappas — the Democratic frontrunner —while Sununu is neck-and-neck with him, NOTUS first reported.

Sununu’s entrance into the race is a significant recruiting victory for Senate GOP leadership, who view Sununu as the strongest candidate to defeat Pappas.

Though New Hampshire was not initially seen as a prime pickup opportunity for Republicans, Sununu’s candidacy is likely to frustrate national Democrats, who could be forced to devote significant resources to hold the seat.