Sununu launches comeback bid for U.S. Senate

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(The Center Square) —  Former Sen. John E. Sununu announced Wednesday that he plans a comeback run for the U.S. Senate in New Hampshire, in a bid to reclaim the seat he lost to Democrat Jeanne Shaheen 17 years ago.

In a campaign launch video, Sununu said if elected, his focus would be on job creation, reducing the national debt and the cost of living, protecting Medicare and Social Security, and supporting veterans.

"Maybe you're surprised to hear that I'm running for the Senate again," Sununu, 61, said in the video, posted on social media early Wednesday. "I'm a bit surprised myself. Why would anyone subject themselves to everything going on there right now? Well, somebody has to step up and lower the temperature. Somebody has to get things done."

The veteran politician, whose lineage hails from one of New Hampshire's most storied political families, represented New Hampshire in the Senate from 2003 to 2008 after having served in the U.S. House of Representatives. He lost his bid for re-election in 2008 to Shaheen, who is retiring.

The decision by Sen. Shaheen, a three-term Democrat and former New Hampshire governor, not to seek reelection next year has prompted a flurry of candidates in what is likely to be a competitive race that could help control of the U.S. Senate in next year's midterms.

He joins former Massachusetts Republican Sen. Scott Brown, who lost a New Hampshire Senate race against Shaheen in 2014, and announced recently that he is making another run for the seat. In a statement, Brown criticized Sununu for his previous criticism of President Donald Trump. 

“Anyone who thinks that a never Trump, corporate lobbyist who hasn’t won an election in a quarter century will resonate with today’s GOP primary voters is living in a different universe,” Brown said in a statement.

Former Gov. Chris Sununu, John's younger brother, had been encouraged by President Donald Trump and other top Republicans to run for the Senate seat, but announced in April that he wouldn't be running. He has since accepted a job with Washington, D.C.-based Airlines for America, one of the nation's leading aviation industry lobbying groups.

On the Democratic side, Rep. Chris Pappas has launched a campaign for Shaheen’s Senate seat, arguing the Democrats can't afford to lose another seat in the chamber. Democratic Rep. Maggie Goodlander, who represents the state’s 2nd Congressional District, is also openly weighing a bid for the seat.

New Hampshire's four-member congressional delegation is controlled by Democrats, but Republicans control the state government, and the state has a history of sending members of both parties to Washington.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee has listed the New Hampshire U.S. Senate seat as a toss-up race, saying internal polling shows Republicans with a slight edge over Democrats.  

If Republicans reclaim the New Hampshire Senate seat it would complicate the Democratic Party’s hopes of regaining control of the Senate majority from the Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections.

Republicans currently have a 53-47 edge in the U.S. Senate, and Democrats would need to flip at least four seats to win a majority in the 2026 midterms. The GOP holds the tie-breaking vice presidency.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee, chaired by South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, threw its support behind Sununu shortly after his announcement. 

"New Hampshire is ready for a proven leader who stands up for seniors, fights for economic and educational opportunity, and delivers real solutions to make life more affordable and prosperous," Scott added.