In a surprising revelation, former New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu announced he would not enter the race for U.S. Senate in 2026, leaving Republicans searching for another strong contender.
According to Newsweek, Chris Sununu's decision not to run for the Senate seat vacated by Democrat Jeanne Shaheen marks a significant blow to GOP hopes in New Hampshire.
Chris Sununu, the former Governor of New Hampshire, has recently declared he will not pursue the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who is retiring. This decision has stirred significant discussions about the implications for the Republican Party's chances in New Hampshire, a state that has shown varied political leanings in recent elections.
Sununu, whose popularity soared during his gubernatorial terms, was considered a prime candidate for Republicans aiming to flip this crucial Senate seat. His decision came as a surprise to many within the Republican ranks, particularly as early polls suggested he was a frontrunner.
During an interview with local TV station WMUR, Sununu explained his decision, emphasizing his reluctance to commit to the long tenure that a Senate role demands. "I've done eight years, and it was a hard eight years as governor. To sign up for the Senate, you're really signing up for 12 more years, so that's a commitment I hadn't really put into the mix, and, again, it's just not right for my family at this time," he stated.
In recent elections, New Hampshire has displayed a trend of favoring Democrats at the federal level while supporting Republicans in gubernatorial races. This trend was evident as Vice President Kamala Harris won the state by a small margin of less than 3 points in the previous November elections. Meanwhile, Republican Kelly Ayotte clinched the gubernatorial race by a more comfortable margin of over 9 points.
The contrasting outcomes of these races underscore the complexity and unpredictability of New Hampshire's political landscape, raising the stakes for both parties in upcoming elections.
Sununu's popularity could have been a pivotal advantage for the GOP. Notable polls, including one from NHJournal/Praecones Analytica, had shown Sununu leading Shaheen by about 9 points. Another poll by Quantas Insights reflected a similar advantage for Sununu over Democratic challenger Chris Pappas, with a lead of 9 points (53 percent to 44 percent).
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) did not hesitate to label Sununu’s withdrawal as a significant disappointment for the GOP, describing it as an "embarrassing recruitment failure for Republicans." On the other hand, Nick Puglia of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) maintained an optimistic tone, stating, "The NRSC continues to believe Republicans are going to win New Hampshire in 2026."
Political analysts like Michael Pruser and Colin Booth have taken to social media to comment on the implications of Sununu's decision. Pruser noted, "This clears up doubts about Democrats' ability to hold the seat next November. With Pappas declaring his candidacy, the race swings firmly into the 'Likely Democratic' category." Booth highlighted that Sununu's decision "dramatically raises the likelihood of Democrats holding both New Hampshire senate seats."
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump, who had publicly supported Sununu, expressed his hopes before the announcement, stating, "I support him fully. I hope he runs. He's been very nice to me over the last year or so. I hope he runs. I think he'd win that seat."
With Sununu out of the race, attention now turns to who the Republicans might field as their candidate. Comparisons in polling data have shown potential candidates like former Senator Scott Brown and Commissioner of Education Frank Edelblut trailing significantly behind Shaheen, suggesting the GOP may need to reconsider its strategic approach.
Scott Brown, paying tribute to Sununu's service, emphasized on social media, "@ChrisSununu and the entire Sununu family are patriots who have made our state a better place - looking forward to seeing what's next for him and working alongside him for New Hampshire's future."
As the election remains over a year away, the Republican Party faces a critical period of reassessment and candidate selection as they aim to strengthen their electoral prospects in this key battleground state.