President Donald Trump has thrown his weight behind John E. Sununu in the fiercely contested New Hampshire Senate primary, calling him an “America First Patriot” in a Truth Social post Sunday. The endorsement comes amid a crowded GOP field, intensifying the battle for a Senate seat Democrats have held.
According to Daljoog News analysis, Trump’s backing signals a strategic gamble to unite the party’s base, despite Sununu’s prior criticism of the former president. Sununu’s moderate reputation and family political legacy in New Hampshire make this endorsement a notable pivot in a race already shaping up as one of the state’s most closely watched contests.
The endorsement also lands ahead of the general election, as Republicans aim to reclaim a seat being vacated by Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. With Democrats fielding Rep. Chris Pappas, the stakes in New Hampshire—a swing state that has changed hands several times in recent decades—are high.
What Happened?
Trump publicly endorsed Sununu on Sunday, posting on Truth Social: “John E. Sununu has my Complete and Total Endorsement — HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN — ELECT JOHN E. SUNUNU.” He described Sununu as a candidate who would “work tirelessly to advance our America First Agenda.”
Sununu, historically a moderate Republican and occasional Trump critic, thanked the former president while pivoting to his campaign message: “This campaign has and always will be about standing up for New Hampshire — every single day.”
The endorsement immediately reverberated through the GOP primary, where Sununu faces former Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown. Brown, who also served as Trump’s ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, has positioned himself as the more MAGA-aligned candidate, appealing to the former president’s base. He fired back with a statement emphasizing a lifelong commitment to the America First agenda, indirectly questioning Sununu’s loyalty to Trump’s movement.
Both Republicans are vying to challenge Democrat Chris Pappas for the seat Shaheen is vacating. Pappas responded lightly, posting: “I’m Chris Pappas, and I approve this message.” His campaign argued that Trump’s endorsement underscores Sununu’s prioritization of political ambition over local interests.
Why This Matters
Trump’s backing of Sununu represents a striking shift in New Hampshire politics. Sununu’s family is a longtime fixture in the state’s Republican landscape, historically aligned with moderates. John E. Sununu previously supported former Gov. John Kasich in 2016 and backed Nikki Haley in the 2024 GOP primary, even publicly criticizing Trump’s election claims.
For Republicans, the endorsement could unify the party behind the candidate perceived as most capable of flipping the seat. New Hampshire’s Senate seat has a history of swinging between parties, making it a pivotal battleground in the 2026 midterms. Sununu’s moderate image, paired with Trump’s MAGA imprimatur, could broaden his appeal to both centrist and conservative voters.
However, the endorsement also risks alienating Trump’s hardcore supporters in New Hampshire. Some grassroots MAGA activists have openly rejected the move, criticizing the Sununu family for opposing the America First agenda in the past. Their pushback could create friction within the GOP base, complicating Sununu’s path to the nomination.
What Analysts or Officials Are Saying
Political analysts note that Trump’s endorsement may be a calculated risk to consolidate support in a state where the former president maintains significant sway. Sununu already enjoys broad backing from the GOP’s Senate campaign arm and Republican leaders in New Hampshire, giving him a structural advantage.
“Trump’s support is about maximizing electoral viability, not ideological purity,” said a New Hampshire political strategist. “Sununu can appeal to moderates and the base, which is exactly what Republicans need to win in a swing state.”
Brown, by contrast, continues to court the MAGA wing, relying on his tenure as Trump’s envoy and prior Senate experience to maintain relevance in the primary. Polling indicates that while Sununu leads decisively, roughly a quarter of GOP voters remain undecided, leaving room for Brown to challenge him if the race intensifies.
Daljoog News Analysis
Trump’s endorsement of Sununu is more than a personal statement; it is a clear strategic intervention in a primary where ideological labels are fluid. By backing a former critic, Trump is signaling that electoral practicality may outweigh past grievances.
Yet this move exposes the persistent tension in the Republican Party between establishment figures and the MAGA base. Sununu embodies a pragmatic conservatism, appealing to donors and party elites, while Brown represents a more ideologically aligned, insurgent faction. This clash could shape not only the primary but the eventual general election dynamics against Pappas.
Daljoog News analysis suggests that Trump may be trying to expand his influence beyond the hardcore base, hoping to mold a moderate-backed candidate into a unifying figure while keeping his America First messaging intact. The calculus is delicate: alienate too many MAGA voters, and Sununu’s advantage could erode.
What Happens Next
The New Hampshire GOP primary is now poised for heightened scrutiny. Sununu holds a commanding lead in recent University of New Hampshire polling, with 48% of likely primary voters supporting him, compared with 25% for Brown and 26% undecided.
Fundraising will continue to play a decisive role. Pappas leads both Republicans with $3.2 million on hand, while Sununu and Brown trail with $1.1 million and $907,000, respectively. These figures suggest that while Sununu benefits from Trump’s high-profile backing, financial resources will be critical as the campaign moves toward the August primary.
Looking ahead, New Hampshire’s swing nature guarantees that the general election matchup will remain competitive. Sununu must consolidate GOP support without alienating moderates, while Pappas seeks to maintain his fundraising edge and appeal to independents. Every endorsement, polling shift, and grassroots reaction will be magnified as the state becomes a national test case for Republican strategy and MAGA influence.