RYE, N.H. – EXCLUSIVE – Scott Brown is on the transfer.
The previous senator from neighboring Massachusetts and 2014 Republican Senate nominee in New Hampshire, who later served 4 years as U.S. ambassador to New Zealand in President-elect Trump’s first administration, is significantly contemplating a 2026 run to return to Congress.
If Brown strikes forward and launches a marketing campaign within the months forward, it will doubtlessly arrange a high-profile rematch with Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, in what would doubtless be a aggressive and costly Senate conflict in a key swing state.
The 65-year-old Brown, who competed in 9 triathlons this yr and who on common performs round 40–50 gigs a yr as lead singer and guitarist with the rock band Scott Brown and the Diplomats, is doing extra than simply excited about working to return to the Senate.
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Former senator and former ambassador Scott Brown, who’s contemplating a 2026 run for the Senate in New Hampshire, competed in 9 triathlons in 2024. (Scott Brown)
He is been assembly in latest weeks with varied Republican and conservative teams in New Hampshire.
Brown, in a nationwide unique interview with Fox Information Digital, mentioned he is doing his “due diligence, assembly with anyone and everyone. So you will be seeing me loads round, whether or not it is parades, triathlons, my rock band, assembly and getting out and actually studying.”
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And Brown is taking intention at New Hampshire’s all-Democrat congressional delegation.
“The factor that basically ticks me off is how they’ve principally coated up for [President] Joe Biden for the final 4 years, what they’ve executed or not executed on the border, what they’ve executed and never executed in inflation, they usually’re simply utterly out of contact with what we wish right here in New Hampshire. And the extra I give it some thought, I believe we are able to do higher,” Brown argued.
Brown made headlines in 2010 because the then-state senator in blue-state Massachusetts gained a particular U.S. Senate election to serve the rest of the time period of the late longtime Democratic Sen. Ted Kennedy.
Former ambassador and former Sen. Scott Brown speaks with Fox Information Digital, at certainly one of his ‘Yard BBQ’ political occasions, in August 2023 in Rye, New Hampshire (Fox Information – Paul Steinhauser)
After dropping re-election in 2012 to now-Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Brown ultimately moved to New Hampshire, the state the place he had spent the primary years of his childhood and the place his household had roots relationship again to the colonial period. He launched a Senate marketing campaign months later and narrowly misplaced to Shaheen within the 2014 election.
After internet hosting practically all of the Republican presidential candidates within the 2016 cycle at talking occasions he termed “No BS yard BBQs,” Brown ultimately endorsed Trump within the weeks forward of New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation main. After Trump was elected president, he nominated Brown as U.S. ambassador to New Zealand, the place the previous senator served for 4 years.
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Returning to New Hampshire on the finish of the primary Trump administration, Brown supported his spouse Gail, a former tv information reporter and anchor, as she ran for Congress in 2022.
And the Browns additionally stayed politically energetic in different methods, as soon as once more internet hosting lots of the Republican presidential candidates, in addition to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., at their “Yard BBQs” through the 2024 presidential cycle.
Former ambassador and former Sen. Scott Brown (left), is joined by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, as DeSantis ran for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, in Rye, New Hampshire on July 30, 2023 (Fox Information – Paul Steinhauser)
Requested in Could 2023 if he’d contemplate one other Senate run, Brown told Fox News Digital “in fact.”
Now, as Brown considers one other Senate run, time is not working towards him.
Brown jumped in late within the 2014 marketing campaign, simply seven months earlier than Election Day.
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This time round, he emphasised, “I’ve an extended runway. I did not have that clearly the primary time, and I will do what I’ve been doing for nearly a decade now, going round, assembly with individuals collaborating within the course of.”
Throughout his first Senate run, which got here months after he modified his residency to New Hampshire, he repeatedly confronted carpetbagger accusations.
Final week, a progressive group in New Hampshire took intention at Brown.
Amplify NH claimed in a launch that “the gentleman from Massachusetts is clawing for an additional likelihood at energy, framing himself as soon as once more as a Senate candidate for New Hampshire.”
Brown says he is not involved.
“We have had a home right here for over three many years, and we have been absolutely engaged full-time right here for over a decade. So now I believe that is outdated information.”
And he argued that New Hampshire’s congressional delegation “votes 100% with Massachusetts.”
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., speaks earlier than President Joe Biden arrives to ship remarks on decreasing the price of pharmaceuticals, at NHTI Harmony Neighborhood Faculty, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in Harmony, N.H. (AP Picture/Steven Senne) (AP)
Whereas Shaheen cruised to re-election in 2020, successful by roughly 16 factors, and Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan gained re-election in 2022 by practically 9 factors, Senate Republicans are eyeing New Hampshire in 2026 as they intention to develop their incoming 53-47 majority within the chamber. New Hampshire, together with Georgia and Michigan, will doubtless be closely focused by Senate Republicans.
Trump misplaced New Hampshire final month, however he minimize his deficit to only three factors in his face-off with Vice President Kamala Harris, down from a seven-point loss to President Biden within the Granite State in 2020.
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And the GOP saved an open gubernatorial seat in celebration fingers – former Sen. Kelly Ayotte succeeded longtime Gov. Chris Sununu – whereas increasing their majorities within the New Hampshire state Home and Senate.
Requested if he’d like Trump to affix him on the Granite State marketing campaign path if he decides to run, Brown mentioned “if he is obtained the time, in fact.”
And pointing to Trump, Brown mentioned “not solely did he assist clearly, nationally, he helped right here in New Hampshire.”
Former ambassador and former Sen. Scott Brown performs along with his rock band Scott Brown and the Diplomats (Scott Brown and the Diplomats)
Shaheen has but to announce if she’ll search one other time period within the Senate. That call will doubtless come early within the new yr.
However Shaheen, a former three-term New Hampshire governor, is taking on subsequent month as the highest Democrat on the Senate International Relations Committee, the primary girl to carry one of many high two positions on the highly effective panel.
Shaheen additionally turns 78 subsequent month.
Requested if age could be a consider a possible Shaheen-Brown rematch, Brown mentioned he likes Shaheen and actually appreciated her help throughout his affirmation as ambassador to New Zealand, however added that “that is actually as much as her.”
“I am 65. I can not imagine it. I really feel like I am 40. My spouse says I act like I am like 12, he added.
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