News: A poll commissioned by a top Senate Republican outside group shows former Sen. John E. Sununu (R-N.H.) in a competitive race with Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) in a potential New Hampshire Senate matchup.
Pappas leads Sununu, 45% to 43%, in an initial head-to-head contest in the Granite State, per a memo circulated by One Nation — the Senate Leadership Fund-aligned group.
“If Sununu runs, Chris Pappas will be in for the fight of his political career,” the memo touts.
This memo is notable because it comes from a group with close ties to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and it’s the clearest sign yet that GOP leaders aren’t excited about former Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.), who’s already in the GOP primary.
New Hampshire’s Senate seat is open this cycle because Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) is retiring. For the opening months of the 2026 cycle, Senate Republicans seemed content with Brown. But Sununu has emerged as the new favorite of Senate Republicans.
The poll, commissioned by 1892 polling, surveyed 500 likely voters and was in the field from Sept. 2-4, 2025. The margin of error is 4.4%.
Sununu has a last name that’s priceless in New Hampshire politics. But he’s been out of office since 2009 when he lost to Shaheen, and his profile is seen as less moderate than that of his younger brother, former Gov. Chris Sununu.
Ad Watch. South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette is out with another ad slamming Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), her opponent in the state’s gubernatorial primary. The spot, part of a $1 million buy, is running on digital and streaming and features video of Mace saying she is “pro-transgender rights.”
