Trump aims to finish his primary endorsement streak with Sununu in New Hampshire

President Donald Trump is hoping to use his political clout next week in the New Hampshire GOP Senate primary to help former Sen. John Sununu return to the upper chamber over his former ambassador to New Zealand, Scott Brown.

The president endorsed Sununu, whose brother is former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, in February, touting him as an "American First patriot" and as the candidate with the strongest backing among conservative leaders in the state.

The decision to choose Sununu over Brown highlights the president's strategic calculations in the 2026 midterms, in which he has consistently leveraged his political weight to unify the party behind preferred candidates, perhaps most emphatically in Darline Graham's South Carolina GOP Senate primary win last week. Trump so far has a 97% success rate in endorsements in the 2026 election cycle.

While Sununu and Brown bring national name recognition to the trail, Sununu holds a distinct local heritage and established institutional backing in New Hampshire. 

Brown, also a former Massachusetts senator, has framed his campaign as an independent, grassroots quest, despite his previous ties to the president.

Trump’s choice also appears to reflect a focus on general election viability in a state that has historically proven challenging for national Republicans. The GOP has since 1990 had five New Hampshire senators, compared to two for Democrats.

“It is my Great Honor to endorse America First Patriot, John E. Sununu, who is running to represent the beautiful State of New Hampshire in the U.S. Senate,” Trump posted on social media in February in endorsing the candidate.

“John E. Sununu has my Complete and Total Endorsement – HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN – ELECT JOHN E. SUNUNU!”

The endorsement follows Sununu during Trump's ultimately successful 2024 presidential bid referred to him as a "loser," largely for his underwhelming results in securing GOP majorities in Congress. 

The Sununu campaign, in a request for comment by Just the News about Trump's endorsement, referred back to one its candidate gave just after the president's announcement.

“I launched this campaign with a focus on jobs, the economy, and affordability; vowing to always put New Hampshire first. That focus and promise is resonating across the state ... ," he said. “I want to thank the President for his support and thank the thousands of Granite Staters who are supporting me." 

The winner of Tuesday's GOP primary will likely face Democrat Chris Pappas in November, in Washington Republicans' bid to flip the seat of retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.  

Polling shows Sununu beating Brown by double digits

The president's endorsement appeared to be paying off for Sununu – or at least helping – with recent polling showing him having consolidated strong party support. 

A University of New Hampshire Survey Center’s Granite State poll last week showed Sununu holding a 40-point lead over Brown among likely Republican primary voters. The survey showed Sununu leading the primary field with 60% of the vote to Brown’s 20%

"John Sununu is the only candidate in this race who will beat Chris Pappas and flip New Hampshire red," National Republican Senatorial Committee regional press secretary Samantha Cantrell told Just The News. 

However, the UNH poll showed Sununu locked in a statistical tie with Pappas, in a hypothetical general election matchup – 45% for Sununu to 43% for Pappas. 

Trump has also endorsed Portsmouth businessman Anthony DiLorenzo in the crowded open-seat GOP primary in New Hampshire's First Congressional District.  

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.