Trump endorses John Sununu in New Hampshire senate race

President Donald Trump endorsed John Sununu in the New Hampshire Senate race Sunday, backing him over other Republican opponents, including Scott Brown, as the GOP seeks to flip the seat held by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a retiring Democrat.

Trump called Sununu an “America First Patriot” on Truth Social on Sunday and said he had Trump's “Complete and Total Endorsement.”

"John is strongly supported by the most Highly Respected Leaders in New Hampshire, and many Republicans in the U.S. Senate and, as your next Senator, he will work tirelessly to advance our America First Agenda," Trump wrote.

Sununu, who has served in Congress as a representative and a senator, lost his Senate re-election bid to Shaheen in 2008. Sununu has criticized Trump in the past, including by calling him a “loser” in a 2024 op-ed published in the New Hampshire Union Leader supporting Republican presidential primary candidate Nikki Haley.

Sununu’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s endorsement.

Since Sununu launched his bid, Democrats have warned that the Senate race could be tougher than expected, urging people not to “sleep” on it.

Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H., who is running as a Democrat, reacted to Trump’s endorsement of Sununu on X.

“I’m Chris Pappas, and I approve this message,” Pappas wrote, reposting a screenshot of Trump’s Truth Social post endorsing Sununu.

Republican National Committee spokesperson Kristen Cianci said in a statement that "New Hampshire's Senate seat is one to watch this cycle."

“The President’s endorsement underscores what a priority this race is and that Republicans are fully prepared to show up in November,” she said

Brown, who has been Trump’s ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa and previously was a senator from Massachusetts, pledged on X — after Trump endorsed Sununu — to “keep working.”

“I’ve always believed that the people of New Hampshire are the ultimate authority on our future, and they deserve a choice between candidates seeking to earn their support,” Brown wrote.

“I am running to ensure our America First agenda is led by someone who views this mission not as a career path, but as a continuation of a lifelong commitment to service,” he added.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com