‘Don’t Let Scott Brown Mass Up NH’: Republicans on early defense in 2026 Senate fight

Former Massachusetts career politician Scott Brown is closing out 2024 aggressively positioning himself for a 2026 run for the US Senate seat in New Hampshire currently occupied by Jeanne Shaheen, and high profile groups and individuals on both sides of the political aisle are similarly staking out their roles in the potential rematch.

A provocative new social media campaign titled “Don’t Let Scott Brown Mass Up NH,” from Amplify NH, a progressive New Hampshire communications hub, spotlights the seeming hypocrisy behind Brown’s latest political aspirations in New Hampshire and has sent Republican leader in the state into an uncomfortable position going into 2025.

The posts — which take inspiration from an anti-Massachusetts graphic shared earlier this year by incoming Gov. Kelly Ayotte — take aim at Brown’s 30+ year tenure in Massachusetts politics. Brown previously served as Senator for Massachusetts  starting in 2010, after he won a special election following the death of Senator Ted Kennedy. Brown lost his race for reelection in 2012 to now-senator Elizabeth Warren.

Brown tried to resurrect his political career by jumping into New Hampshire politics in 2014, running against Jeanne Shaheen for Senate, a race he lost. His lack of familiarity with New Hampshire geography during the 2014 campaign — notably failing to identify Sullivan County — became a significant embarrassment.

“After pleading with the Trump Administration for several other posts, Scott Brown is intensifying his exploration of a New Hampshire Senate run as his ‘Plan C.’” said Amplify NHExecutive Director Ryan Mahoney.

“It’s clear from the time and energy the NHGOP has spent responding that this has struck a nerve. There is absolutely no denying that Brown is a career politician who spent 20 years representing the home state he grew up in and still coaches in – the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. New Hampshire is nobody’s back-up plan, and Granite Staters aren’t buying his grift. Republicans know it, and they are worried.”

NH GOP leaders are clearly feeling defensive about Brown in light of the Amplify campaign.

Longtime New Hampshire conservative strategist and former Executive Director of the New Hampshire Republican Party, Michael Dennehy, wrote in response to conservative coverage of the campaign, stating: “It’s become humorous to watch the NH Dems scratch and claw at some kind of winning message,” a criticism echoed by other state Republican leaders, and dismissed by Democratic strategists as an attempt to neutralize a potentially powerful campaign message.

Brown has tried to downplay the attacks, telling the Concord Monitor his family has “been fully engaged full-time here for over a decade. So now I think that’s old news.” This despite having no meaningful political footprint in New Hampshire politics.

Brown has also been engaging New Hampshire conservative media leaders in earnest in recent days, tagging one conservative blog on social media ahead of an appearance on Fox News in which he attacked President Joe Biden and scored a splashy article from resident Fox News New Hampshire correspondent Paul Steinhauser.

Could Brown’s Massachusetts roots and past scandals derail him? 

Brown has been active in Massachusetts politics since the early 90s. A graduate of Wakefield High School and Tufts University, he began his career in Wrentham, where he served as property assessor, town selectman, and state representative. His political trajectory continued with a stint in the Massachusetts State Senate and finally the US Senate.

In Washington, he opposed the Affordable Care Act and fought against insurance coverage for birth control. 

In 2016, Brown was accused of touching and making sexually suggestive comments to  a former Fox News host during his time as a commentator there, according to a lawsuit filed by Andrea Tantaros against the network.

Brown also faced accusations of inappropriate conduct during his tenure as US Ambassador to New Zealand in 2017.

‘Political Opportunism’

Brown’s recent actions have only amplified concerns about his perceived political opportunism. In 2024 alone, he’s floated himself for three distinct roles: Homeland Security Secretary in theTrump administration; a return as US Ambassador to New Zealand; and now, a bid for a New Hampshire Senate seat he’s previously lost.

“Brown’s repeated attempts to reinvent himself for different roles reflect a desperation that Granite Staters won’t tolerate,” Mahoney said. “New Hampshire deserves leaders who understand and prioritize our values, not politicians shopping for their next gig.”

“Ayotte and the NHGOP made a promise to protect New Hampshire from Massachusetts-style politics,” Mahoney added. “Supporting Scott Brown would completely undermine that promise.”