Dynastic Candidates John Sununu and Stefany Shaheen Face Primary Battles in New Hampshire

In Tuesday’s New Hampshire primaries, John E. Sununu is attempting a comeback to the U.S. Senate, leveraging the Sununu family’s long-standing influence; polls show him far ahead of Scott Brown for the Republican nomination. Meanwhile, Stefany Shaheen, daughter of Senator Jeanne Shaheen, is vying for the open House seat in the 1st Congressional District, but recent surveys place her a few points behind Maura Sullivan, a former Obama administration official, with progressive challenger Carleigh Beriont also in the mix.

The contests arise from Jeanne Shaheen’s decision to retire, which opened both the Senate and the House seats. Sununu’s candidacy marks his return after losing to Jeanne Shaheen in 2008, while his brother Chris Sununu opted not to run after completing a fourth gubernatorial term. Critics on both sides accuse the candidates of relying on “entitled” family names, but analysts note that name recognition alone may not translate into voter support in this anti-establishment year.