After 24 hours of rampant rumors and anonymous reports, former U.S. Sen. John E. Sununu confirmed Wednesday he is considering entering the 2026 U.S. Senate race in New Hampshire.
“Over the past month, people from New Hampshire, across the state, have encouraged me to run for Senate,” Sununu told WMUR’s Adam Sexton. “They feel it’s a really important time for the state, that we need someone to represent us in New Hampshire that has our values, that’s not going to vote a party line, that’s willing to take risks and get things done. I certainly agree, and I’m going to seriously consider a run.”
Sununu, a Republican who represented New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District from 1997 to 2003 and served six years in the U.S. Senate, said he plans to spend the coming weeks traveling across the state, meeting with voters, and gauging support before making a decision “by the end of next month.”
News that the 60-year-old brother of former Gov. Chris Sununu — and son of former Gov. John Sununu — might return to politics after a 16-year absence was greeted with cheers from the state’s GOP establishment.
“Run, John E. Sununu, run!” longtime Sununu family campaign adviser Paul Collins posted on social media. “New Hampshire’s best choice for U.S. senator. John will always be true to the ‘Live Free or Die’ spirit of the Granite State, and he’s a Republican who will win.”
Veteran GOP strategist Pat Griffin said if Sununu decides to get in, “it fundamentally changes the race. He has the experience in both the public and private sectors, a strong record of service, and a very strong brand.”
Supporters of the two Republicans who have already announced their candidacies — former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown and state Sen. Dan Innis (R-Bradford) — were quick to point out that Sununu’s brand includes very public criticism of former President Donald Trump.
Asked about the Trump factor, Sununu told Sexton: “Look, this is going to be about New Hampshire, right? New Hampshire voters, New Hampshire values, putting together a strong campaign. I would want to win support, if I were to run, across the entire spectrum, and obviously that includes the president. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”
Since leaving office, Sununu has kept a relatively low political profile but more recently helped lead a bipartisan initiative with former U.S. Rep. Dick Swett (D-N.H.) called the Democracy Defense Project, which seeks to restore public confidence in elections.
The news comes as the 2026 U.S. Senate map becomes increasingly unsettled. Eight incumbent senators, including New Hampshire’s Jeanne Shaheen, have announced they will not be running for reelection next year. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) announced her retirement this week. Republicans are already facing challenges to hold North Carolina’s open seat, and Maine’s Sen. Susan Collins is a perennial Democratic target. The GOP is also eyeing Georgia and Michigan as potential pickups.
New Hampshire U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas is the frontrunner in the Democratic primary and is seen as a strong general election contender in a state that hasn’t elected a Republican U.S. senator since 2010. He reacted to the Sununu story on social media.
“New Hampshire wants leaders who’ll stand up to Trump and special interests to build an economy that works for all. Instead the GOP is scraping the bottom of the failed candidate barrel. Whether it’s corporate sellout John E. Sununu or MAGA puppet Scott Brown, New Hampshire voters won’t buy it.”
Republican leaders in Washington, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, don’t agree. Fox News reports that Thune and former Sen. Cory Gardner, chair of the Senate Leadership Fund, which is the top super PAC supporting Senate Republicans, met with Sununu and view him as a candidate who could turn a long-shot seat into a competitive race.
Forcing Democrats to spend millions in New Hampshire would divert resources from other battleground states.
“This race must be about winning the general election,” Griffin said. “While it appears there will be a primary on the Republican side — at least for now — the key is to nominate a candidate who can hold the base and attract independents and even Democrats in the general election.
“That’s what Sununus do: they win general elections. I firmly believe the Sununu factor at the top of the ticket will positively impact down-ballot races in the general election.”
