Former NH Sen. John E. Sununu weighs congressional run

(The Center Square) — Former U.S. Sen. John E. Sununu says he is considering entering the U.S. Senate race in New Hampshire, as Republicans seek to regain the seat he lost to Democrat Jeanne Shaheen nearly 17 years ago.

Sununu, whose lineage hails from one of New Hampshire's most storied political families, announced Wednesday that he is talking to supporters about jumping into the race ahead of the 2026 midterm elections and expects to make a decision within the next month.

"Many have urged me to run for the Senate – an important race at a critical time for our country," Sununu posted on social media. "New Hampshire needs an effective voice in Washington-someone willing to take risks and get things done. Will talk to voters across NH before making a decision."

Sununu 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. 

Forrer Massachusetts Republican Sen. Scott Brown, who lost a New Hampshire Senate race against Shaheen in 2014, is making another run for the seat. State Sen. Dan Innis, a Bradford Republican who ran unsuccessfully for New Hampshire's 1st District U.S. House seat, is also running for the Senate seat. 

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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.

But with top Republicans jumping into the race it could complicate the Democratic Party’s hopes of regaining control of the Senate majority from the Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections.

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. 

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.