John E. Sununu Weighs 2026 Senate Comeback

CONCORD, N.H., Sept. 3, 2025 - Former U.S. Senator John E. Sununu is seriously considering a bid to reclaim his New Hampshire Senate seat after more than 15 years away from elective office. Four individuals familiar with the discussions say Sununu has held private conversations with top Republican leaders and may launch an exploratory committee as early as this week.

Sununu, 60, served one term in the Senate from 2003 until his 2009 defeat to Jeanne Shaheen. According to two sources, he has spoken with Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Cory Gardner, the outgoing chairman of the Senate Leadership Fund. National Republicans have commissioned polling to assess his viability against the likely Democratic nominee, Representative Chris Pappas, who is widely viewed as the frontrunner on the Democratic side.

A Fox News source confirmed that Thune and Gardner are “cautiously optimistic” Sununu will enter the race. Sununu’s renowned family name-his father was New Hampshire’s governor in the 1980s and his brother Chris served four terms as governor-remains one of the GOP’s strongest assets for flipping the seat currently held by retiring Democrat Jeanne Shaheen.

Sununu has not publicly commented on his plans. If he formally announces an exploratory committee this week, it would mark the first significant development in what is expected to be a competitive and expensive campaign in a key swing state.

1. New York Times, “John E. Sununu Is Exploring a Senate Run in New Hampshire,” Sept. 3, 2025
2. Fox News, “Thune speaks with Sununu about Senate bid to flip blue seat in key swing state,” Sept. 3, 2025