Trump endorses John Sununu in New Hampshire senate race
President Donald Trump endorsed John Sununu in New Hampshire’s Senate race on Sunday, backing him over other Republican opponents, including Scott Brown, as the Republican Party seeks to flip the seat held by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a retired Democrat.
Trump called Sununu “America First Patriot” on Truth Social Sunday and said he had Trump’s “complete and utter approval.”
“John is strongly supported by New Hampshire’s most respected leaders and many Republicans in the U.S. Senate, and as our next senator, he will work tirelessly to advance our America First agenda,” Trump wrote.
Sununu, who served in Congress as a representative and senator, lost his Senate reelection bid to Shaheen in 2008. Sununu has criticized Trump in the past, including calling him a “loser” in a 2024 New Hampshire Union Leader op-ed supporting Republican presidential primary candidate Nikki Haley.
Sununu’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s support.
Since Sununu launched his candidacy, Democrats have warned that the Senate race could be tougher than expected, urging people not to “sleep” on it.
Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H., who is running as a Democrat, reacted to Trump’s support for Sununu on X.
“My name is Chris Pappas and I endorse this post,” Pappas wrote, reposting a screenshot of Trump’s Truth Social post endorsing Sununu.
Republican National Committee spokeswoman Kristen Cianci said in a statement that “New Hampshire’s Senate seat is one to watch this cycle.”
“The president’s support underscores how high a priority this race is and that Republicans are fully prepared to run in November,” she said.
Brown, who served as Trump’s ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa and previously as a senator from Massachusetts, pledged on X — after Trump endorsed Sununu — to “keep working.”
“I have always believed that the people of New Hampshire are the ultimate authority on our future and deserve to have a choice between candidates seeking to gain their support,” Brown wrote.
“I am running to ensure that our 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,” he added.
