Popular Republican Takes EARLY LEAD with Surprise Bid to FLIP Key U.S. Senate Seat

[Conservative Angle]

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A former Republican Senator just upturned the election landscape for one particular seat in the U.S. Senate.

And he did so in more ways than one — possibly with the direction and support of President Trump.

I say possibly, because that endorsement hasn’t been publicly announced yet. Though White House meetings have taken place which reportedly included President Trump. (More on that as we get into this.)

Former US Senator John E. Sununu just launched a re-election bid after more than 16 years since he last held office.

And he is instantly favored to win the Republican primary in New Hampshire for a key US Senate seat.

According to polling, he also stands a greater chance of flipping that Senate seat to the GOP than does his nearest Republican rival.

Rumors have been swirling for some time as calls went up, first to John’s brother to join the Republican fight and then to John, to help regain Democrat Senator Jeanne Shaheen’s seat following her retirement.

Chris Sununu wasn’t interested.

But then the White House got involved, with President Trump reportedly eyeing John Sununu as the most likely path to a GOP victory in the race — despite the checkered past between the two.

That brings us to today, with John Sununu making his splash into the NH Senate election with this campaign video shared online earlier today:

The New Hampshire way is simple.

Freedom, hard work, and independence; those aren’t just Granite State values, they’re American values. That’s what I’ll fight for every day. pic.twitter.com/Ril2I7bm9r

— John E. Sununu (@SununuSenator) October 22, 2025

Here’s a full screen version of his campaign video from YouTube for easier viewing:

Sununu may be angling for changing the temperature in DC and doing his best to pull the Senate back towards fiscal responsibility, as he claims in that video.

But the splash he made today isn’t a sure path to victory in either the Primary or the General Election.

His first hurdle will be overcoming his nearest Republican rival in the Primary, as reported by Fox News:

Former Republican Sen. John E. Sununu of New Hampshire wants his old job back.

And on Wednesday, Sununu took a big first step towards returning to Capitol Hill as he announced his candidacy in the 2026 race to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen in New England’s only swing state.

Now, after nearly two decades in the private sector, Sununu is ready to return to the Senate campaign trail in New England’s only swing state.

“Maybe you’re surprised that I’m running for the Senate again,” Sununu says to the camera in his video. “I’m a bit surprised myself. Why would anyone subject themselves to everything going on there right now. Well, somebody has to step up and lower the temperature. Somebody has to get things done.”

Sununu is a brand name in New Hampshire politics. The former senator’s father, John H. Sununu, is a former governor who later served as chief of staff in then-President George H.W. Bush’s White House. And one of his younger brothers is former Gov. Chris Sununu, who won election and re-election to four two-year terms steering the Granite State.

But Sununu won’t have a glide path to the GOP nomination.

Former ambassador and former Sen. Scott Brown, who was elected and served three years in the Senate in neighboring Massachusetts, and who, as the 2014 GOP Senate nominee in New Hampshire, narrowly lost to Shaheen during her first re-election, jumped into the race in late June.

One set of polling numbers published last week showed that in a matchup against Chris Pappas, Sununu would fair far better at closing the gap against the Democrat than Republican Scott Brown in a General Election:

NEW HAMPSHIRE POLL – Senate

Chris Pappas: 45%

John E. Sununu: 42%

Not sure: 12%
—

Chris Pappas: 49%

Scott Brown: 39%

Not sure: 13%
——
Governor

Kelly Ayotte: 43%

Democrat: 40%

Not sure: 17%
——@coefficientpoll (R) | 10/9-13 | 1,034 LV… pic.twitter.com/KeRYanPSPH

— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) October 15, 2025

It’s not everything, but polling matters.

And it would be foolish to ignore the recent polling that suggests Sununu already has a large lead over Scott Brown in the Republican Primary.

Check out this article for a breakdown of the fight brewing between Sununu and his Republican rival in the Primary, and those polls.

As well as what appears to be some very shrewd political angling by President Trump, as covered by a local CBS News affiliate:

Former Senator John Sununu entered the race Wednesday. That means former Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown won’t have the Republican primary to himself. In fact, recent polling suggests Sununu could be Brown’s worst nightmare.

A UNH Survey Center/Granite State poll shows Sununu crushing Brown by 23 points among likely primary voters. Perhaps it’s more recognition of the famous family name than anything else, but Sununu, brother of former governor Chris Sununu, has a solid 50 percent favorable rating among Republicans, while Brown, the state party’s 2014 senatorial nominee, draws a measly 30 percent.

And expert observers say Sununu’s emergence reflects how electability may be trumping loyalty in Trump world these days.

“Trump, on the one hand, may hold in his heart some grudges against Sununu,” said UNH Political Science Professor Dante Scala. “But there’s also the, I think he knows: Don’t back no losers.”

Even a few years ago, the type of criticism of Trump levied by Brown and Sununu might have been enough to get you exiled. (Emphasis added.)

That article came out just prior to John Sununu’s announcement this morning.

Here’s a video report from the same CBS affiliate for those who prefer a little deeper dive into the fight between Brown and Sununu:

As I said, polling isn’t everything.

The success or failure of a campaign like this is likely to hinge on who you have in your corner.

Though the President reportedly met with Sununu at the White House prior to his announcement, President Trump hasn’t yet given a public endorsement.

But several others have, including South Carolina’s Tim Scott:

John Sununu’s deep roots and passion for the Granite State make him built to win. New Hampshire is ready for a proven leader who stands up for seniors, fights for economic and educational opportunity, and delivers real solutions to make life more affordable and prosperous.

— Tim Scott (@votetimscott) October 22, 2025

And as Danielle included in her report yesterday, a memo has started circulating among Republicans arguing in favor of Sununu as the best candidate to flip the seat in favor of Republicans:

Former Republican Senator Expected To Launch Comeback Bid

Rep. Michael Granger of New Hampshire's State House also weighed in favoring Sununu over Brown.

Granger is part of the Liberty Caucus in NH, but was clear in his endorsement that he doesn't speak for the Caucus:

Hello, NH. I'm endorsing John Sununu for Senate. Let me explain my reasoning.

John Sununu is a known quantity. We can look at the way John Sununu voted when he was in the Senate, compare that to the way another candidate voted when he was in the senate, and make a fairly… pic.twitter.com/Yh7lQXqvoJ

— Rep. Michael Granger (@Granger4NH) October 22, 2025

Here's the full text of Granger's explanation as to why he is supporting John Sununu for the Senate Seat instead of Brown:

Hello, NH. I'm endorsing John Sununu for Senate. Let me explain my reasoning.

John Sununu is a known quantity. We can look at the way John Sununu voted when he was in the Senate, compare that to the way another candidate voted when he was in the senate, and make a fairly objective judgement on the matter. Having done so, I came to the following conclusion:

I like John Sununu's voting record.

An anecdote: Both John Sununu and another candidate were put in positions where they boldly opposed the rest of their caucus in a major vote. I've been there. It's a lot of pressure at the state level, I imagine it's even more pressure at the federal level. Sometimes you just have to do what you think is best, though, and be that one guy that goes, "No."

John Sununu was that guy when he boldly voted against the PATRIOT act. There is another candidate who was that guy when he boldly voted in favor of an assault weapons ban. John Sununu broke with his party to protect liberty. This other candidate broke with his party to infringe upon liberty.

I haven't just looked at these two votes, but they are indicative of the overall trend of what we can expect. It seems to me that John Sununu appears to be a better candiate for the cause of liberty than other candidates are. I respect anyone in my caucus who disagrees with me, and in the event that someone else wins the primary I'll be more than happy to support their efforts because they are probably infinitely superior to Chris Pappas.

PS: I shouldn't have to point this out but I will anyway: I am not speaking on behalf of the Liberty Caucus here. The Liberty Caucus has not endorsed in this race. I, personally, am. Thank you for abiding by this detail.

I included that explanation because it did such a good job summarizing some of the key aspects that sets Sununu and Brown apart on the Republican side of the race.

Just the fact that he voted AGAINST the PATRIOT Act while he was Senator back in the day tells me a lot.

Brown's record voting IN FAVOR of an 'assault weapon' ban... tells me just as much.

Nevertheless, a lot hinges on whether President Trump is ready to go all-in with Sununu.

After his support of Kasich and Nikki Haley -- as well as some not so nice articles about President Trump...

The endorsement of the President isn't something John Sununu should take for granted, as Brown emphasized in this response to Sununu's candidacy:

Still, President Trump isn't one to back a losing hand.

Particularly when it comes to a Senate seat that very well could mean the difference between getting his agenda passed through Congress... and having it stall out over the next few years.

And John Sununu wouldn't be the first person who started out resisting President Trump as a candidate, only to change his tune somewhere along the way. (Yours truly, included.)

He DID come out swinging for President Trump in the leadup to last year's election, squarely in the President's corner.

And that's something.

It seems apparent that everything rides on President Trump's willingness to throw his weight behind Sununu's Senate campaign.

And for that... we'll keep our eyes peeled. And bring you all the details if and when that plays out.

The post <a href=https://wltreport.com/2025/10/22/popular-republican-takes-early-lead-surprise-bid-flip/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=popular-republican-takes-early-lead-surprise-bid-flip target=_blank >Popular Republican Takes EARLY LEAD with Surprise Bid to FLIP Key U.S. Senate Seat</a> appeared first on Conservative Angle | Conservative Angle - Conservative News Clearing House

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