John E. Sununu leads Chris Pappas in New Hampshire Senate poll

A new poll from the University of New Hampshire Survey Center indicates that former U.S. Senator John E. Sununu holds a narrow lead over U.S. Representative Chris Pappas in a hypothetical general election for New Hampshire’s open U.S. Senate seat. The survey, conducted between August 20 and August 24, found Sununu at 45 percent and Pappas at 43 percent among likely voters, a shift from June when Pappas led by three points.

The race follows the announcement that Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen will retire. In the Republican primary, Sununu is set to face former Senator Scott Brown on September 8. Despite a past critical opinion piece written by Sununu regarding Donald Trump, the former president has endorsed Sununu, stating he will work to advance the ‘America First Agenda.’

Political analysts suggest Trump’s endorsement of Sununu over the more vocally loyal Brown may be a strategic move to prioritize winning potential as Republicans seek to maintain their narrow Senate majority.