I believe the anointing of John Sununu as the Republican candidate for the 2026 New Hampshire Senate seat is premature. It will be yet another case of the national party in Washington, D.C., looking foolish, thinking it can control the way the politically savvy citizens of New Hampshire will vote. It is already spending truckloads of money on Sununu, trying to bully Scott Brown out of the race.
They are treating Brown like Gen. Don Bolduc when he ran for the seat against Chuck Morse. If memory serves correctly, Bolduc won that primary, and D.C. Republicans were left with egg on their face. I will outline the reasons, which, when taken as a whole, make a compelling argument that Brown defeats the Sununu brand name come next September. The list is, for the most part, in order of importance in the impact of a Brown victory.
1. “Grass-Roots”
The 2026 race is an off-year election, which traditionally has lower voter turnout. But the solid 15–20 percent of New Hampshire’s activist, grass-roots Republicans always show up. I am active in those circles, and I can tell you these groups are behind Brown and in no way will vote for another Sununu.
2. Undeclared Voters
I believe the majority of truly independent registered voters will swing toward Brown as a more moderate favorite. He was, after all, a Republican U.S. senator in blue Massachusetts, whereas Sununu is seen to be a rigid establishment type.
3. Campaign Styles
Brown has been campaigning for many months now in the traditional “one handshake at a time” New Hampshire method. He attends just about every party event and state GOP committee meeting. He is super approachable, and many people have met him and recognize his face. I do not think the average New Hampshire voter could pick John Sununu out of a lineup. He will likely outspend Brown by a large margin, but money will not buy this primary.
4. New Hampshire Endorsements
Due to his early entry into the race, Brown has already secured a majority of endorsements and support from state legislators. That brings great potential to get the votes of their New Hampshire constituents. Sununu may get D.C. and out-of-state endorsements, but their constituents don’t vote here.
5. NH Primary Rules
I believe there will be a small yet potentially significant percentage of Democratic voters who are registered undeclared and will take Republican ballots. They will vote for Brown, thinking him to be the weaker opponent for their Democratic candidate.
6. Trump Factor
The one thing everyone knows about Sununu is that he, along with his brother Chris, has always been, and on the record, a Trump hater. President Trump will probably not openly endorse either candidate. But the folks who voted for him in New Hampshire know he is definitely not cheering for Sununu.
7. Televised Debates
I believe a picture is worth a thousand words. When people finally get to see Brown side by side with Sununu, they will witness the stark contrast. One candidate will be seen as an energized servant-leader who is for New Hampshire and its people. The other, having put all of his eggs in the “family name basket,” I expect will give a bureaucratic, low-energy performance that would make Jeb Bush proud.
8. Personality: Rock and Roll vs. Opera
Scott Brown is an actual rock-and-roller. When people meet him in person, they find him to be outgoing, witty, and just a great guy to have a beer with. Sununu, on the other hand, has the presence and charisma of John Kerry.
