NH Governor Rules Out 2022 Senate Bid — Potential Blow to Republicans’ Hope to Flip the Chamber

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) is ruling out a run for U.S. Senate in the 2022 midterms, saying he will run for reelection instead.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Sununu said he has heard from many people urging him to run for Senate.

However, he said, “The Senate is clearly a very different place in terms of expectations, accountability, successes. As governor, the job really demands a 24/7 accountability. The people of our state deserve nothing less, and it’s where you can be the most impactful.”

Sununu argued he can have an “incredibly direct and positive impact” on the residents of New Hampshire as governor.

“Not so much so in the Senate. It’s a much slower pace. And frankly, too often, doing nothing is considered a win. And I appreciate those that understand the need for more managers in Washington,” he continued.

The governor added, “My responsibility is not to the gridlock and 🏛️Politics of Washington. It’s to the citizens of New Hampshire. And I’d rather push myself 120 miles per hour delivering wins for New Hampshire than to slow down, end up on Capitol Hill debating partisan 🏛️Politics without results.”

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The Senate is currently divided 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans, and Sununu was seen as one of Republicans’ best shots to flip a Senate seat in the 2022 midterms.

Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) narrowly defeated incumbent Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R) in 2016 with a margin of just over 1,000 votes.

The New York Times’ Shane Goldmacher noted that some early polls showed Sununu leading Hassan.

The non-partisan Cook Political Report currently rates the New Hampshire race as “Lean Democrat.” Additionally, it rates the races in Arizona, Nevada, and Georgia as “Lean Democrat.”

Republicans need to win just one Senate race to flip the chamber if they do not lose any seats.

However, the Cook Political Report rates the races for Senate in North Carolina and Pennsylvania, states where the Republican incumbent is retiring, as toss-ups. It also rates the Wisconsin race, where Sen. Ron Johnson (R) has not said if he plans to run for reelection, a toss-up.