CONCORD, N.H. (AP) \u2014 New Hampshire Republican John E. Sununu announced a campaign for U.S. Senate on Wednesday, hoping to reclaim a seat he lost nearly two decades ago and boosting the GOP\u2019s chances of regaining a foothold in a region overwhelmingly represented by Democrats.<\/p>\n
Sununu, 61, is seeking the Republican nomination for the seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen<\/a>, a Democrat who ousted him in 2008. His decision sets up a primary featuring two former senators: Republican Scott Brown<\/a>, who represented Massachusetts before moving to New Hampshire and losing to Shaheen in 2014, has been running since June.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe you\u2019re surprised to hear that I\u2019m running for the Senate again. I\u2019m a bit surprised myself,\u201d Sununu said in a video announcement. \u201cWhy would anyone subject themselves to everything going on there right now? Well, somebody has to step up and lower the temperature. Somebody has to get things done.\u201d<\/p>\n National Republicans consider Sununu a strong candidate and one that allows them to go on the offensive as they look to hold their majority in the chamber next year.<\/p>\n In statements, the Republican National Committee said Sununu\u2019s entrance creates \u201ca formidable Republican field poised to make this seat competitive in 2026.\u201d The Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC linked to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, said they were \u201cexcited\u201d about Sununu\u2019s bid and that it \u201cexpands the Senate map and puts the Granite State in play for Republicans.\u201d<\/p>\n Senate Republicans, who hold a 53-47 advantage, are defending seats in Ohio<\/a>, Maine<\/a> and North Carolina against a slate of high-profile Democratic candidates. But Republicans are also on the offensive in places like Michigan<\/a>, Georgia and now, increasingly, New Hampshire \u2014 and if they flip one of those seats it will likely put the chamber out of reach for Democrats until at least 2028.<\/p>\n Sununu must first win the primary though, and his past opposition to President Donald Trump could be problematic. While Brown has aligned himself closely with Trump and served as his U.S. ambassador to New Zealand, Sununu backed Nikki Haley in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, writing an op-ed calling Trump a \u201closer.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump went on to win New Hampshire\u2019s leadoff primary, but the state\u2019s voters rejected him for a third time in the general election. And while Republicans control the Statehouse and governor\u2019s office, Democrats have held all four of New Hampshire\u2019s congressional seats since 2017.<\/p>\n Sununu has been in contact with the White House about the Senate campaign, according to a senior White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity and was not authorized to discuss private conversations.<\/p>\n From AP\u2019s Standards and Stylebook teams:<\/b> Sununu served three terms in the U.S. House before being elected to the Senate at age 38. He was the chamber\u2019s youngest member throughout his term, a fact he emphasized in a 2008 campaign ad that showed him sprinting up a steep mountain path.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s younger, faster, quicker,\u201d a deep-voiced (and somewhat redundant) narrator intones. \u201cInexhaustible. Tireless. Energetic.\u201d<\/p>\n
The AP is using anonymous sourcing to provide information for this story. Click here<\/a> to hear Deputy Director of U.S. Text Production Christina Paciolla explain AP\u2019s policy on the use of anonymous sources.<\/p>\n