In a bold move to shake up the political landscape in New Hampshire, state Senator Dan Innis has thrown his hat into the ring for the U.S. Senate seat set to be vacated by retiring Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen in 2026. Innis, a three-term Republican with a no-nonsense attitude, promised to bring some much-needed Granite State grit to Washington, D.C., declaring with characteristic directness, "I’ll call bull when I see it."

This race is shaping up to be a bruising battle, as New Hampshire emerges as a prime target for Senate Republicans eager to widen their 53-47 majority. Innis, a small business owner with a track record of balancing budgets and raising cattle, isn’t shy about his priorities. In his campaign launch video, he emphasized a platform rooted in secure borders, law and order, and putting Americans first, while also championing lower taxes and a hard line on illegal immigration.

But Innis isn’t just running on policy—he’s positioning himself as a key ally for President Donald Trump, asserting that "Trump needs backup in the Senate." It’s a clear signal of where his loyalties lie, and he’s banking on that connection to resonate with voters in a state that, despite Republican control of its government, has sent an all-Democrat congressional delegation to Washington for nearly a decade.

Innis didn’t mince words when critiquing the current representation, arguing that New Hampshire’s values—limited government, low taxes, and economic growth—are nowhere to be found in D.C. He took particular aim at four-term Democratic Representative Chris Pappas, a likely contender for the Senate nomination, claiming Pappas has failed to reflect the state’s true voice. "We need someone new down there who’s going to show them how to get things done," Innis charged.

He’s not alone in this fight, though. Former U.S. Senator Scott Brown, who also served as Trump’s ambassador to New Zealand, entered the race last month, setting the stage for a contentious Republican primary. While Brown carries name recognition, Innis sees an opening to define himself, telling voters he’s ready to prove he’s the stronger candidate to flip the seat.

Both contenders have made pilgrimages to the nation’s capital to court support from the National Republican Senatorial Committee and Trump’s political team, with Innis openly hoping to secure the former president’s endorsement. Meanwhile, Democrats are already gleefully pointing to the brewing GOP infighting, predicting that this primary clash will only weaken Republican chances in a state they haven’t won a Senate seat in over a decade.

As this race heats up, one thing is clear: New Hampshire’s Senate contest will be a high-stakes showdown, with national implications for the balance of power in Congress.

New Hampshire News

Dan Innis Joins New Hampshire Senate Race, Vows to Back Trump in 2026 Battle