Scott Brown and John E. Sununu have something in common. They both appear to be deeply despised by factions of the eclectic New Hampshire Republican Party. More specifically, the libertarians who choose to run as Republicans (“Liberty Reps”) despise Brown, while MAGA-Republicans (populists) despise Sununu.
Here is what a libertarian-influencer thinks of former Senator Brown:
And MAGA doesn’t have any higher of an opinion of Sununu:
So will these factions be able to “bury the hatchet” after the primary in order to allow the nominee to defeat the presumptive Democrat nominee, Chris Pappas? As the Rock would say … it doesn’t matter.
U.S. Senate elections are national elections. The most important task GOP Senators will have over the last two years of President Trump’s term is confirming Trump’s judicial nominees. Especially, if any vacancies open on the Supreme Court. It is critical, therefore, that the GOP maintain or better yet, given the unreliability of Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, expand its majority.
Georgia and Michigan represent the best chances for the GOP to gain seats. The Democrat incumbent in Georgia, Jon Ossof, was elected in 2021 with only 50.6% of the vote. While Trump won Georgia in 2024 with 50.7% of the vote.
Democrat Elissa Slotkin won the 2024 Senate election in Michigan by a razor-thin margin over Republican Mike Rogers, 48.64% to 48.30%. Trump won Michigan by 49.7% to 48.3%.
Needless to say, these States are much more likely GOP pick-ups than New Hampshire, where Kamala Harris won with 50.7% of the vote and where Democrats have a track-record of dominating federal races. To once again quote the Rock, New Hampshire needs to “know its role.”
And that role is to force the Democrats to divert time, money and resources from Georgia and Michigan (and North Carolina, where the GOP incumbent is retiring and which the GOP must hold) to New Hampshire. What that requires is a competitive race.
In an ideal world, Brown and Sununu would enter into a “gentlemen’s agreement” where each refrains from attacking the other and both direct their fire at Pappas. Of course, that’s not going to happen.
Here’s our advice and plea to the “Liberty Reps” and MAGA … lie to the pollsters. Tell them you are going to vote for the GOP nominee even if you have no intention of doing so. Help make the race appear competitive. Think about the “big picture.”
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