Republicans are back in the fight — here’s why.
Former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown has officially jumped into the 2026 New Hampshire Senate race, launching a high-profile showdown against Democratic U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas. The seat is open following Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s decision not to seek reelection.
Brown, who represented Massachusetts in the Senate from 2010 to 2013 and later served as U.S. ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa under President Trump, had hinted at a possible run as early as December 2024 in an interview with Manchester’s WMUR. That interest solidified after former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu announced in March that he would not enter the race, despite having received Trump’s coveted endorsement.
With Sununu out, Brown immediately became the leading contender for the GOP nomination. Other potential Republican candidates include businessman Phil Taub and developer Jack Franks.
Brown has emphasized his focus on border security, economic stagnation, and the fight against the fentanyl crisis. He’s criticized New Hampshire’s current congressional delegation for backing what he calls harmful policies for both the Granite State and the country. This marks his second bid for the U.S. Senate in New Hampshire — he narrowly lost to Shaheen in 2014.
Ahead of Brown’s announcement, the progressive group Amplify NH rolled out a pointed social media campaign titled “Don’t Let Scott Brown Mass Up NH,” drawing attention to his past political career in Massachusetts and questioning his ties to the Granite State. Brown pushed back hard, stressing that his family has lived in New Hampshire for more than a decade.
The Hill dives deeper into Brown’s announcement — and breaks down his first campaign ad:
Brown used his first ad to tout his background, praise Trump and tie Pappas to former President Biden.
“New Hampshire is an amazing place to live, work and raise a family. We’ve been blessed by two great governors, Chris Sununu and Kelly Ayotte, but in Washington, we haven’t been represented by the right people,” Brown said in the ad. “For four years, Chris Pappas has stood with Joe Biden as he opened the border, drove up the cost of everything and made life just simply unaffordable.”
In a post on X, Pappas responded to Brown’s entry into the race projecting confidence for his campaign.
“It’s official: MAGA loyalist Scott Brown just announced he’s running to flip this seat red,” Pappas said. “New Hampshire rejected him before, and we can do it again.”
Pappas entered the race in April and has already secured endorsements from major party figures, including Shaheen. Pappas, who has represented New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District since 2019, is positioning himself as a pragmatist with a bipartisan record. In previous campaigns, he has emphasized kitchen-table issues like health care, infrastructure, and support for small businesses.
With both parties eager to claim victory, the 2026 Senate race in New Hampshire is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched contests of the cycle. Major national attention — and money — is certain to follow.
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