NEW: Trump Makes Endorsement In Closely-Watched Senate Race

President Donald Trump on Sunday announced his endorsement of former Senator John Sununu in New Hampshire, a former senator who is currently vying to return to the chamber in one of the most closely-watched Senate races in the midterm cycle.

Sununu, the brother of former New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, announced his bid to win back his former seat after current officeholder Jeanne Shaheen announced her retirement last year. Sununu served one term in the upper chamber from 2003 to 2009, which followed a three term stint in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Sununu comes from a dynastic political family in the Granite State. His father, John Sr., also served as governor, as well as White House Chief of Staff under President George H.W. Bush.

He was first elected to the upper chamber in 2002, when he defeated Shaheen, who then defeated him to win her seat back in 2008. Republicans are confident that his name recognition in the state can make the race about as competitive as it could have been had his brother — who declined a bid after urging from President Trump — decided to run.

John E. Sununu’s official U.S. Senate portrait

On Sunday, Trump issued his formal endorsement for Sununu’s campaign in a Truth Social post. “John will work tirelessly to Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Advance MADE IN THE U.S.A., Unleash American Energy DOMINANCE, provide Affordable & High-Quality Health Care, Champion School Choice, Keep our Border SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Support our Brave Military, Veterans, and Law Enforcement, Ensure LAW AND ORDER, and Defend our always-under-siege Second Amendment,” the president wrote.

“John is backed by Highly Respected Leaders in New Hampshire, as well as by many Republicans in the U.S. Senate. He has my Complete and Total Endorsement. JOHN WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”

The endorsement comes amid a competitive Republican primary for the open Senate seat. Sununu faces competition from Scott Brown, a former U.S. Senator from Massachusetts who represented that state from 2010 to 2013. Brown, who resides in Rye, New Hampshire, ran unsuccessfully for the New Hampshire Senate seat in 2014, when he lost to Shaheen in the general election.

A third candidate, Dan Innis, a businessman and former state legislator, entered the race but withdrew in late 2025 and endorsed Sununu.

Recent polling from the University of New Hampshire Survey Center  found Sununu leading Brown with 48 percent of the vote to 25 percent among likely Republican primary voters. A sizable number of respondents — 27 percent — remain undecided.

On the other side of the aisle, U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH) has emerged as the leading candidate. He faces a challenge from Karishma Manzur, a medical scientist and nonprofit leader who is attempting to run to Pappas’ left.

The same University of New Hampshire poll found Pappas leading with 65 percent of the vote among Democratic Party primary voters to Manzur’s 14 percent. An additional 21 percent of likely voters remain undecided.

While Shaheen has held the seat for four consecutive terms, current polling has pegged the race as highly competitive. According to the RealClearPolitics polling average, Pappas currently leads Sununu with 46.3 percent to 42.7 percent in a hypothetical general election matchup.

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