Former Republican Governor Chris Sununu of New Hampshire announced in a radio interview that he will not be running for the Senate in 2026, despite strong interest from national Republicans. Sununu had been courted to run for the key swing state seat that the GOP is targeting to flip from blue to red. His decision comes after a meeting with former President Donald Trump, who publicly endorsed him and encouraged him to run.
Sununu’s choice not to run for the Senate opens the door for other potential Republican candidates, including former Senator Scott Brown and Rep. Maggie Goodlander. On the Democratic side, Rep. Chris Pappas has formally launched his campaign, and Rep. Goodlander is considering a run as well.
Sununu’s relationship with Trump was initially positive, with Sununu providing support during the 2016 and 2020 elections. However, he distanced himself from Trump’s claims of election fraud and began criticizing the former president. Despite not running in 2026, Sununu remains popular in New Hampshire and expressed confidence in his ability to win the race if he had chosen to run.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee criticized Sununu’s decision as an “embarrassing recruitment failure,” while the National Republican Senatorial Committee highlighted the potential Democratic primary competition. Sununu’s announcement has set the stage for a competitive Senate race in New Hampshire in 2026.
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