Popular Republican won’t run for Senate in New Hampshire 

Republicans won’t be getting help from a popular politician as they seek to hold or expand their slight majority in the U.S. Senate.

Former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu announced he won’t run next year for the Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Jeanne Shaheen, who is retiring.

“I’m not going to run,” the moderate Republican said, according to NH Journal. “I really thought about it. I actually talked to the White House this morning. I talked to (Sen.) Tim Scott. Thanked him for all their support and confidence and all that. But I don’t have to be the candidate, and I’m not going to be the candidate.” 

This marks the second time Sununu mulled a Senate run only to rule it out. 

The first was in 2022, but he instead sought re-election for governor. He also considered seeking the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential race but decided against it in 2023. 

Scott Brown, a former senator from Massachusetts who moved to the Granite State a decade ago, is considering running again in New Hampshire. He praised Sununu following the announcement. 

“.@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,” Brown posted on X. 

Brown won a Massachusetts U.S. Senate seat in a 2010 special election following Ted Kennedy’s death. However, he lost his 2012 re-election bid to Democrat Elizabeth Warren.  

Instead of running in the 2013 Massachusetts special election after President Barack Obama nominated John Kerry as his Secretary of State, Brown moved to New Hampshire where he lost to Shaheen in 2014. 

The Republican Party currently has a 53-47 advantage in the upper chamber.  

But with three Democrats, Shaheen, Gary Peters of Michigan and Tina Smith of Minnesota, not seeking re-election in 2026, the current minority has a low chance of gaining control of that body. 

Democrats would need to flip four seats, defend those open seats and defend a seat in Georgia to control the Senate. 

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, told Politico last month that the 2026 Senate map favors Republicans, though he doesn’t think Democrats will lose the New Hampshire seat. 

“It’s no secret that we face a tough map,” Blumenthal said. “I don’t think you can read into losing one senator in a state where I think we will do very, very well.” 

Election forecaster Sabato’s Crystal Ball expects the Republican Party will have between 52 and 55 U.S. Senate seats following the 2026 general election. Additionally, the forecaster thinks Democrats will retain the New Hampshire seat.