Former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu’s (R) decision not to run for Senate is presenting a challenge for Republicans as they turn their sights on the state ahead of 2026.

Sununu’s announcement was not necessarily surprising to Republicans. He notably passed on a Senate bid ahead of the 2022 midterms, opting to run for a fourth term as governor instead.

But New Hampshire Republicans say a Sununu Senate run, which was backed by President Trump, would have made the race next year a cakewalk. Hypothetical polls showed Sununu trouncing Democratic Senate candidate Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.).

The decision leaves Republicans with the potentially tricky task of having to recruit a candidate who can win in a state that still has a blue lean.

“It’s going to mean that we’re actually going to have to work for it,” New Hampshire state House Majority Leader Jason Osborne (R) said. “I think he would have been a shoo-in.”

Sununu stoked speculation about a potential bid when Trump told reporters Sunday that he met with the former governor and said he hoped he would run for the seat.

“That was more of a surprise than him not running,” former New Hampshire GOP Chair Chris Ager said. “That was the aberration.”

And Sununu taking his name out of the running does not mean Republicans see an unfavorable environment in the state heading into next year.

"The NRSC continues to believe Republicans are going to win New Hampshire in 2026,” said Nick Puglia, regional........

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