Who is John E. Sununu and what is Sununu running on in the 2026 New Hampshire Senate race?

John E. Sununu is the Republican candidate for New Hampshire U.S. Senate. Former U.S. Senator (2003-2009) and U.S. Representative; lost in 2008 to Jeanne Shaheen; later in the private sector. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

The race

• The seat: Open seat (Jeanne Shaheen retiring).
• Rating: Lean D (Cook, Sabato).
• Polling: Pappas 48, Sununu 41 (Saint Anselm, Aug 17 to 18, 2026); Sununu 45, Pappas 43 (UNH, Aug 20 to 24, 2026).

Why Sununu is behind

• New Hampshire leans Democratic federally; Republicans haven’t won a Senate race there since 2010.
• Pappas holds a large money edge: $13.4M raised vs $3.7M for Sununu through June 30, 2026.
• Sununu, a former senator with a well-known family name, keeps polls close and pitches himself as independent of party leadership, but carries Trump’s endorsement in a state Trump lost.
• Markets price Pappas ~87% despite near-even polling (avg Pappas +1.8).

What Sununu is running on

• Economy/debt. Focus on job creation, reducing the national debt and the cost of living.
• Social Security/Medicare. Pledges to protect Medicare and Social Security.
• Taxes. Opposes higher taxes and attacks Pappas for voting with party leaders.
• Trump. Endorsed by Trump but says he’d be independent; disagreed with Trump’s Iran war decision and offered muted criticizm of tariffs.
• Infrastructure. Attacks NH’s low federal highway funding under Pappas.
• Veterans. Lists supporting veterans as a priority.

In Sununu’s own words

“Somebody has to step up and lower the temperature. Somebody has to get things done.”

“New Hampshire is dead last in highway funding in New England.”

The other candidates

• Chris Pappas (D)

Every race

See every Senate and governor race on the ballot, with each candidate’s chance of winning: the 2026 midterms at a glance.