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President Trump on Sunday endorsed former Sen. John E. Sununu of New Hampshire in a critical Senate race, choosing the longtime GOP Trump critic over his own former ambassador, Scott Brown. The endorsement comes in a contest that could help determine control of the Senate in the upcoming midterm elections.
“John E. Sununu has my Complete and Total Endorsement — HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN — ELECT JOHN E. SUNUNU,” Trump declared in a social media post, describing Sununu as an “America First Patriot” who “will work tirelessly to advance our America First Agenda.”
The endorsement is particularly significant given Sununu’s history of opposition to Trump. During the 2016 presidential race, Sununu served as national co-chair for John Kasich’s campaign. More recently, he endorsed Nikki Haley in the 2024 New Hampshire Republican presidential primary as she challenged Trump for the nomination. He even published an opinion piece titled “Donald Trump is a loser” in the New Hampshire Union Leader on the eve of that primary.
Following Trump’s announcement, the Senate Leadership Fund, aligned with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, stated that “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 expressed gratitude for the endorsement, saying: “I want to thank the President for his support and thank the thousands of Granite Staters who are supporting me.”
The seat is being vacated by longtime Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who is retiring at the end of this year rather than seeking a fourth six-year term. Senate Republicans view the New Hampshire race as one of three prime opportunities to expand their 53-47 majority, along with open Democrat-held seats in Michigan and Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff’s seat in Georgia.
Sununu, who served three terms in the House before defeating Shaheen for a Senate seat in 2002, later lost to Shaheen in their 2008 rematch. He comes from one of New Hampshire’s most prominent political families – his father, John H. Sununu, was a former governor and White House chief of staff under President George H.W. Bush, while his younger brother Chris served four terms as New Hampshire’s governor.
Despite Trump’s endorsement and pressure from GOP leadership, Brown shows no signs of dropping out. “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. Seemingly questioning Sununu’s MAGA credentials, he added that he is running to ensure the America First agenda is led by “someone who views this mission not as a career path, but as a continuation of a lifelong commitment to service.”
Brown has deeper ties to Trump, having endorsed him ahead of his 2016 New Hampshire primary victory and later serving as U.S. ambassador to New Zealand during Trump’s first term. His campaign has raised approximately $1 million since launching in June after six months of grassroots outreach.
Some of New Hampshire’s MAGA base immediately rejected the president’s endorsement of Sununu, calling it a “slap in the face to grassroots supporters” and vowing to “continue and intensify our campaign opposition to the Sununu operation.”
The endorsement further boosts Sununu, who already enjoys significant advantages. He entered the race in late October with backing from the National Republican Senatorial Committee, whose chair, Sen. Tim Scott, declared Senate Republicans “all-in” for Sununu. Since then, he has secured support from a majority of Senate Republicans and GOP leaders in New Hampshire, more than doubled Brown’s fundraising in the past quarter, and opened a double-digit lead in primary polls.
Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas, a four-term congressman representing eastern New Hampshire, is the clear frontrunner for his party’s nomination. Recent polls show Pappas leading Sununu by single digits and Brown by double digits in potential general election matchups. Pappas has also outraised both Republican candidates combined in the most recent fundraising quarter.
New Hampshire’s primary won’t be held until September, leaving several months for this intra-party Republican contest to potentially intensify despite Trump’s endorsement.
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18 Comments
The dynamics of this Senate race in New Hampshire will be worth closely following, as Trump’s endorsement of his former critic Sununu could have significant implications for the balance of power in Congress.
It remains to be seen whether Sununu can effectively leverage Trump’s endorsement while also maintaining his own distinct political identity and appeal to a broader range of voters.
Interesting to see Trump endorse his former critic Sununu in this critical Senate race. It highlights the shifting political dynamics and the need for pragmatism in a divided political landscape.
Sununu’s history of opposition to Trump makes this endorsement particularly noteworthy. It will be fascinating to see how it plays out in the upcoming midterms.
The Trump-Sununu dynamic in this Senate race is a fascinating study in the evolving nature of Republican politics. It will be worth observing how Sununu navigates this endorsement and its implications.
This endorsement highlights the importance of political flexibility and the ability to forge unexpected alliances in the current political landscape.
This endorsement is a testament to the fluidity of political alliances and the pragmatic calculations that often underlie them. It will be intriguing to see how it shapes the Senate race in New Hampshire.
The fact that Trump is willing to endorse a former critic like Sununu suggests a willingness to put partisan interests above personal grievances in the pursuit of political power.
This race could have major implications for control of the Senate. Trump’s endorsement of Sununu, despite their past differences, shows the former president’s continued influence within the Republican party.
It will be interesting to see if Sununu is able to capitalize on Trump’s endorsement and whether it helps or hurts him with voters in the critical swing state of New Hampshire.
Trump’s endorsement of Sununu, a former critic, highlights the shifting alliances and power dynamics within the Republican party. It will be intriguing to see how this plays out in the Senate race.
The fact that Sununu has even been willing to accept Trump’s endorsement after previously criticizing him suggests a willingness to put pragmatism above ideological purity.
I’m curious to see how Sununu navigates this endorsement from Trump, given his previous criticisms of the former president. This could be a delicate balancing act for the Senate candidate.
The dynamics of this race will be worth watching, as Sununu tries to appeal to both Trump supporters and those who may have been turned off by the former president’s divisive rhetoric.
This endorsement raises questions about the role of personal relationships and political expediency in the modern Republican party. It will be fascinating to see how it impacts the Senate race in New Hampshire.
Sununu’s ability to win over Trump’s base, despite his past criticism of the former president, could be a key factor in determining the outcome of this crucial Senate contest.
Trump’s endorsement of Sununu, despite their past differences, speaks to the shifting priorities and power dynamics within the Republican party. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the Senate race.
This endorsement could be a strategic move by Trump to maintain influence within the party, even as he faces challenges from within his own ranks.