BERLIN, N.H. – On Tuesday, New Hampshire voters will head to the polls for the Republican primary for U.S. Senate. The race pits two former senators—John Sununu, 62, and Scott Brown, 67—against six other GOP hopefuls. Both candidates bring decades of experience, and local voters appear comfortable with their familiar names.
Local Voter Sentiment
Paul Martino, 57, of North Hampton, said he supports Sununu because he seems “smart, honest and civic‑minded” and called him “a good guy for this moment.” “We need more people who try to find commonalities we can work off of versus differences we can use to be divisive,” Martino added.
Ed Gleason, 89, of Pelham, expressed a similar desire for stability, backing Brown for his “background, experience, and proven interest in the people of New Hampshire.” Gleason noted, “We’ve got to get some stability in there, and we’ve got to get some people working for the constituents as opposed to the party.”
Candidate Backgrounds
Sununu served three terms in the U.S. House and one term in the Senate before losing to Democrat Jeanne Shaheen in 2008. He has not appeared on a ballot in 18 years, a span that allows a new generation of voters to consider his record. His brother, former Governor Chris Sununu, remains a popular figure in the state, though John Sununu insists his campaign is about his own record.
Brown, a former Massachusetts senator who won a special election after Senator Ted Kennedy’s death in 2009, lost his seat three years later and was defeated by Shaheen in 2014. He cites his independence and willingness to read legislation closely, saying, “I have the ability to vote my conscience, because I read the bills. I see how they affect our state, country, debt and deficit and I vote, period.”
Trump Endorsement and Its Impact
President Donald Trump endorsed Sununu in February, a coveted nod in many New Hampshire races. However, Sununu’s campaign has not leaned heavily on the endorsement, allowing him to avoid overtly kowtowing to Trump. Brown, a former ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa during Trump’s first term, did not receive the former president’s endorsement but argues his record aligns with today’s Republican landscape.
University of New Hampshire political science professor Dante Scala noted the lack of a “Trump‑centric” narrative from Brown, saying, “It makes me wonder, well, maybe that’s just not in him. He’s from that earlier era, and it’s hard to learn the new language.”
What This Means for the General Election
The primary concludes eight weeks before the November general election, when President Trump’s approval ratings remain low nationally. The GOP nominee’s ability to unite the party and appeal to both traditional conservatives and newer voters will be critical in the upcoming showdown against Democratic incumbent Jeanne Shaheen.
While the Democratic primary features a progressive candidate, Karishma Manzur, and a more established figure, Rep. Chris Pappas, the Republican contest remains a test of whether New Hampshire voters prefer seasoned leadership over fresh faces.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
