Former U.S. Senator John E. Sununu (R-NH), who called President Trump “a loser” during his 2024 presidential campaign, announced in October that he’s running for his old seat which is currently held by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D), who has declined to seek a fourth term.
[Note: Sununu — who lost his re-election bid in 2008 to former Governor Shaheen — is the son of former New Hampshire Governor and White House Chief of Staff John H. Sununu, and the older brother of former New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, also a former critic of Trump, who is currently working with the Trump administration as President and CEO of Airlines for America, a lobbying group that represents many of the largest air carriers in the United States. Both John and Chris Sununu endorsed Nikki Haley during the 2024 GOP presidential primaries.]
Four-term U.S. Representative Chris Pappas (D-NH), who is also running for Shaheen’s seat, responded to President Trump’s endorsement of Sununu this weekend with sarcasm. He replied, “I’m Chris Pappas, and I approve this message.”
I’m Chris Pappas, and I approve this message. https://t.co/MaqieoHB72
— Chris Pappas (@ChrisPappasNH) February 1, 2026
Pappas added of Sununu: “Whether he’s toeing the line for an unpopular president or doing the bidding of corporate special interests, John Sununu is the same out of touch political figure New Hampshire voters rejected 18 years ago.”
After Trump endorsed Sununu on Sunday, the Senate Leadership Fund, wrote on X: “John Sununu is the clear choice to be New Hampshire’s next US Senator, and President Trump’s critical endorsement has put an end to the primary.” (Sununu launched his campaign in October.)
Former Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA), who in June launched his campaign to represent New Hampshire in the Senate, responded to Trump’s Sununu endorsement by rejecting assertions about the primary being over.
Washington Insiders have selected their candidate for U.S Senate in New Hampshire, and it isn’t me.
They think they can take this seat with lobbyist checks and backroom deals. But they’ve made one big mistake: they have underestimated you.
They don’t understand that Granite… pic.twitter.com/jB2hy9hGm0
— Scott P. Brown (@SenScottBrown) January 27, 2026
“I’ve always believed that the people of New Hampshire are the ultimate authority on our future, and they deserve a choice between candidates seeking to earn their support,” Brown said in a statement.” (Note: Brown also served as the U.S. ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa during the first Trump administration.)
According to Fox News, “Pappas outraised both Sununu and Brown combined during the 4th quarter of 2025 fundraising” and “the latest polls indicate Pappas topping Sununu by single digits and Brown by double digits in hypothetical general election matchups.”