Sununu Eyes 2026 Senate Run in Talks with GOP Brass

Former New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu is weighing a 2026 Senate bid in ongoing chats with Republican leaders. He could vie to replace retiring Democrat Jeanne Shaheen in a key swing state. Sununu’s move signals GOP hopes to flip the seat and grow their 53-47 edge.

Sununu left office in January after four terms as a popular GOP governor. He told Fox News he’d win if he runs touting his record on taxes and jobs. National party figures see him as a top recruit for a race already in focus.

Shaheen announced this month she won’t seek a fourth term opening a rare shot. New Hampshire’s mix of independent voters makes it a perennial battleground. Sununu’s name recognition and moderate streak could sway the outcome.

Once a Trump critic Sununu now says he’d have the president’s backing in 2026. He stumped for Nikki Haley in 2024 but aligns with Trump’s orbit lately. This shift eases his path in a party still tied to the MAGA base heavily.

Other Republicans like ex-Senator Scott Brown also eye the race but Sununu leads buzz. He’s mulling a final call in weeks per his latest comments. Democrats vow to defend the seat with a strong pick to counter his appeal.

Sununu dodged Senate runs before citing D.C.’s grind over state wins. Now he sees a chance to shape policy from a GOP-held Congress. His fiscal hawk stance fits DOGE cuts led by Elon Musk under Trump too.

New Hampshire’s Senate tilts left since 2009 but Sununu flipped governor races red. A win could lock GOP control deeper into the decade ahead. Analysts rate it a toss-up with his entry shaking early odds fast.

This potential run tests Sununu’s clout beyond Concord in a polarized era. It pits his pragmatic style against a Democratic machine gearing up. The Granite State’s choice in 2026 may ripple far beyond its borders soon.