Former Republican Sen. John E. Sununu has won the GOP Senate nomination in New Hampshire, defeating former Sen. Scott Brown in a race that Republicans hope will allow them to flip a key Senate seat. The victory positions Sununu to challenge for the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.
Republicans have not won a Senate election in New Hampshire in 16 years, but they consider the open, Democrat-held seat a prime opportunity to gain ground in their effort to maintain their narrow majority in the Senate. Sununu, a former congressman and senator, is aiming to return to the chamber. He is the son of former Gov. John H. Sununu and older brother to former Gov. Chris Sununu.
In the general election, Sununu will face either four-term Rep. Chris Pappas or socialist candidate and scientist Karishma Manzur, who are competing for the Democratic nomination.
During the primary, Brown had criticized Sununu, stating that Sununu was "beholden" to Washington leadership and outside groups, and had suggested Sununu was reluctant to acknowledge President Donald Trump's endorsement. Sununu, who has a history of criticizing Trump, did not directly mention the president when discussing endorsements. Instead, he emphasized local support and grassroots momentum.
Sununu told Fox News Digital that his focus is on serving the people of New Hampshire and addressing state-specific issues such as affordability, housing costs, healthcare, and energy. He stated, "I don't need to make anyone in Washington happy. It's all about our state, our communities, our economy, and our small businesses."
Regarding trade policy, Sununu expressed disagreement with the Trump administration's trade war with Canada, calling it "not the right thing" given Canada's status as a significant trading partner for New Hampshire. He also indicated he does not require outside campaign assistance, stating, "I don't need anyone from outside New Hampshire to campaign for me."
Republicans are navigating a challenging political landscape heading into the midterms, marked by persistent inflation, high energy prices, and fluctuating approval ratings. Sununu, who previously served in the Senate after defeating Shaheen in 2002 before losing a rematch six years later, stated his campaign is focused on issues like affordability and a reform agenda.