Scott Brown Refuses To Back Down In New Hampshire’s Unusual Senate Primary

Scott Brown says he will stay in New Hampshire’s Republican Senate primary despite heavy pressure and high-profile endorsements for his rival, John E. Sununu. Brown told Semafor he has no intention of withdrawing even after the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), the Senate Leadership Fund (SLF) and former President Donald Trump lined up behind Sununu.

Brown: I’m Not Stepping Aside

Brown, who served as U.S. ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa during Trump’s first term and previously represented Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate, entered the New Hampshire contest about nine months ago. He told Semafor that party leaders tried to persuade him to quit — reportedly with the promise of roles or other incentives — but he rejected the push.

“They want me to drop out, because that’s what they do. They’ll put pressure on me. I’m not going anywhere.”

Why This Primary Is Unusual

National observers have called the matchup one of the oddest primaries in the country: two former U.S. senators face each other in a late New Hampshire primary, one of them (Brown) having represented a neighboring state. Neither candidate has held congressional office in more than a decade, and both previously lost to retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.

What Brown Argues

Brown says Sununu alienated parts of the Republican base by criticizing Donald Trump in the past and aligning with rivals such as John Kasich and Nikki Haley. He argues he can run as an independent-minded Republican who will attract voters who distrust the national party’s top-down approach. Brown also criticized Senate Republicans’ priorities and stressed congressional oversight for any deployment of ground troops to Iran — saying Congress should vote on such authorizations.

Party Reaction And Polling

Republican operatives worry a protracted primary will damage the eventual nominee ahead of the general election against Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas, who faces no serious Democratic primary opposition. The NRSC, SLF and Trump have signaled they prefer Sununu as the strongest general-election option.

Polling has shown Sununu with a sizable lead. A St. Anselm poll found Sununu ahead 49% to 28%, while an Emerson poll showed an even wider Sununu advantage and similar gaps in general-election matchups.

Context And Political Dynamics

The Sununu name carries weight in New Hampshire: John’s father and his brother Chris both served as governor, and the family’s political reach is often cited as an asset. Still, Brown stresses his retail campaigning and past comeback as reasons he can overtake Sununu. He points to his 2010 upset over Martha Coakley in Massachusetts as evidence that polls are not destiny.

“I enjoy campaigning. I enjoy meeting people. And he doesn’t.”

Outside groups and party leaders have been blunt in their criticism of Brown’s continued candidacy. SLF’s executive director dismissed Brown’s challenge as counterproductive to the party’s efforts. Democrats, including Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, have played down the Republican discord — and Pappas has focused on his own agenda, including a temporary federal gas tax suspension as pump prices top $4 per gallon.

Bottom line: The New Hampshire Republican primary between Scott Brown and John E. Sununu is both highly unusual and consequential. Brown’s refusal to quit guarantees an extended intra-party fight that could shape the GOP’s chances in November.