Former U.S. Senator Scott Brown is making a political comeback, announcing his candidacy for the U.S. Senate in New Hampshire, a state where he previously ran unsuccessfully in 2014. The seat is being vacated by retiring Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, setting the stage for a potentially competitive race in 2026. Brown served as a Republican senator from Massachusetts between 2010 and 2013 before moving to New Hampshire and launching an unsuccessful Senate campaign there in 2014. Following that loss, he was appointed by President Donald Trump as U.S. ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa during Trump’s first term.
Campaign video of Scott Brown
In a campaign launch video released this week, Brown emphasised his political and diplomatic experience while expressing concern about the country’s direction. “Like a lot of you, I’m worried about where the country is headed,” he said. “New Hampshire is an amazing place to live, work, and raise a family. We’ve been blessed by two great governors: Chris Sununu and Kelly Ayotte. But in Washington, we haven’t been represented by the right people.”
Brown directly criticised Democratic Congressman Chris Pappas, who is also running for the open Senate seat. “For four years, Chris Pappas has stood by Joe Biden as he opened the border, drove up the cost of everything, and made life just simply unaffordable,” Brown said.
He also leaned into his support for President Donald Trump, praising his administration’s actions on immigration and foreign policy. “He sealed the border, he stood up to China, and he restored our standing in the world,” Brown said, accompanied by an image of Trump in the Situation Room during a military operation against Iran.
In response to Brown’s announcement, Rep. Pappas issued a strong statement criticising Brown’s record and political ties. “Scott Brown stands with corporate special interests, supports efforts to strip away health care coverage from tens of thousands of Granite Staters, and backs President Trump’s reckless tariffs that New Hampshire small businesses are speaking out against every single day,” Pappas said. He added, “While Scott Brown looks for yet another opportunity to do Wall Street’s bidding and blindly support President Trump and his agenda, I’ll always put New Hampshire first.”
The New Hampshire Senate race is expected to be closely watched in 2026. The state has leaned Democratic in recent presidential elections, Vice President Kamala Harris carried New Hampshire by three points in 2024, but Republicans remain competitive in down-ballot races. With Brown’s high-profile entry and Pappas’s established presence in state politics, the race could become one of the most closely contested of the cycle.
“Go back to mass”
The internet swiftly reacted to the announcement. A user said, “Go back to mass. Please.” Another noted, “He is back and no truck this time!” “Mass immigration, and Gavin Newsom making it much worse by letting the city burn AGAIN, while he acts stupid in front of every camera he can find or buy. To bad so sad, “claimed another netizen. “You know it’s a healthy race when even Scott Brown thinks he has a shot,” noted a user. Another reminded, “Scott Brown LOST in the big red wave of 2014.”
