Familiar Faces Face-Off In New Hampshire

New Hampshire voters are preparing for a closely watched U.S. Senate primary that could help shape the battle for control of Congress in the 2026 midterm elections.

On the Republican side, two familiar political figures are competing for another opportunity to serve in Washington: former U.S. Sens. John E. Sununu and Scott Brown.

At a time when outsider candidates and anti-establishment campaigns have attracted attention across the country, New Hampshire’s Republican contest is taking a different path. Two politicians with decades of experience are asking voters to give them another chance.

The winner will advance to the November general election for the seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.

John Sununu Seeks a Political Comeback

Sununu, who turns 62 in September, has been away from elected office for nearly two decades.

He previously served three terms in the U.S. House before winning election to the Senate in 2002. His Senate career ended after Shaheen defeated him in the 2008 election.

Now Sununu is attempting a political comeback in a state where his family name remains widely recognized.

His father, John H. Sununu, served as New Hampshire governor before becoming White House chief of staff under President George H.W. Bush.

His younger brother, Chris Sununu, became another major figure in state politics, serving four terms as New Hampshire governor before leaving office in 2025.

That family history has given John Sununu substantial name recognition — although it has also occasionally created confusion.

Some voters have mistaken him for his younger brother during the campaign. Sununu has responded by emphasizing his own record in Congress and portraying himself as an independent voice who would put New Hampshire’s interests ahead of Washington politics.

Scott Brown Says Experience Is His Advantage

Brown is also attempting a Senate comeback.

The former Massachusetts senator became a national political figure after winning the 2010 special election for the seat previously held by longtime Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy.

Brown lost reelection in Massachusetts in 2012 before moving to New Hampshire. Two years later, he challenged Shaheen for the state’s Senate seat but came up short.

He later returned to public service during President Donald Trump’s first administration, serving as U.S. ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa.

Now Brown, who turns 67 in September, is again campaigning across New Hampshire.

His message centers heavily on independence, experience and his willingness to scrutinize legislation involving government spending, taxes, federal debt and other issues affecting New Hampshire families.

Brown has argued that Sununu has stronger establishment connections while portraying himself as less beholden to powerful political interests.

He also says his campaign schedule and direct contact with voters could help him close Sununu’s advantage heading into Election Day.

Trump Endorsement Adds Another Twist

President Donald Trump has played an unusual role in the Republican Senate primary.

Trump endorsed Sununu earlier this year despite their previous political disagreements.

The endorsement was noteworthy because Brown served in Trump’s first administration, while Sununu criticized Trump during the 2024 Republican presidential primary.

Yet the New Hampshire contest has not revolved around Trump to the same extent as some other Republican races.

Instead, both Sununu and Brown have repeatedly emphasized their independence.

Brown argues that his relative lack of major endorsements gives him greater freedom to make decisions based on what he believes benefits New Hampshire.

Sununu has similarly said he isn’t running to satisfy political leaders in Washington and intends to concentrate on representing the state.

Taxes, Spending and the National Debt Remain Key Issues

Beyond personalities and political endorsements, the next senator will confront major economic and fiscal questions in Washington.

Federal spending, taxes, inflation, housing costs, energy prices and the national debt remain important concerns for millions of Americans.

Brown has specifically highlighted government spending and debt while discussing how he would evaluate legislation.

Sununu, meanwhile, is emphasizing his previous congressional experience and arguing that he already understands how to navigate Washington while maintaining an independent political identity.

Those competing messages give Republican voters a choice between two candidates with extensive political resumes but different arguments about who is better positioned to represent New Hampshire.

Democratic Primary Offers a Different Choice

The Democratic Senate primary presents a noticeably different contest.

Four-term U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas is facing progressive challenger Karishma Manzur, a research scientist with a doctorate in biochemistry and molecular biology.

Pappas has considerably more experience in elected office and has assembled substantial campaign resources and support from prominent Democratic figures.

Manzur has positioned herself as an alternative to the Democratic establishment, criticizing the influence of major political donors and arguing for a more progressive direction in Washington.

Campaign finance, affordability, housing and political influence have emerged among the subjects receiving attention during the Democratic contest.

The primary therefore presents Democratic voters with a choice between an established member of Congress and a challenger seeking to shake up the party’s traditional leadership.

New Hampshire Senate Race Draws National Attention

The open Senate seat has attracted attention well beyond New Hampshire.

Shaheen has represented the state in the Senate since 2009, and her retirement creates a rare open-seat contest as Republicans and Democrats compete for congressional power during the 2026 midterms.

Recent polling has also increased national interest in the race.

That makes the September primary especially important because the winning candidates will have only about eight weeks to transition from their party contests to the November general election.

There will be little time for either nominee to reorganize, raise additional campaign money and appeal to voters outside the party base.

Experience Versus a Changing Political Climate

Perhaps the most unusual feature of the Republican primary is just how familiar the candidates are.

Sununu and Brown both built their national political profiles years before the current era of American politics.

Sununu last appeared on a general-election ballot in 2008. Brown’s most recent New Hampshire Senate campaign was in 2014.

Much has changed since then.

The Republican Party has been transformed during Trump’s political rise, while concerns about inflation, federal spending, immigration, energy, housing affordability and the national debt have become central issues for many voters.

Both candidates are now attempting to demonstrate that their previous experience remains relevant to those modern challenges.

For some voters, lengthy political resumes may be an advantage.

Others may view years spent in Washington through a more skeptical lens.

That question — whether experience is an asset or a liability — could help define the final days of the Republican primary.

What Happens Next

New Hampshire voters head to the polls Tuesday, Sept. 8, to choose their Republican and Democratic nominees for U.S. Senate.

For Republicans, the contest offers an unusual choice between two former senators seeking political comebacks.

Sununu points to his previous service in both chambers of Congress, his New Hampshire roots and his promise of political independence.

Brown highlights his Senate experience, diplomatic service and willingness to challenge Washington’s political establishment.

The Democratic primary, meanwhile, will determine whether Pappas or Manzur advances to November.

Once the primary votes are counted, the campaign will immediately move into its final phase.

With an open Senate seat, control of Congress at stake and major debates continuing over the economy, taxes, government spending, housing, immigration and America’s fiscal future, New Hampshire’s decision is likely to remain a closely watched part of the 2026 midterm elections.