Republican State Senator Dan Innis Announces Run for U.S. Senate in New Hampshire

Dan Innis (Courtesy)

BRADFORD, NH — Republican State Senator Dan Innis officially launched his campaign for the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, entering what is expected to be one of the most closely watched races in the country.

Innis, a businessman, farmer, and professor at the University of New Hampshire, announced his candidacy via a campaign video and updated website. “We need to get New Hampshire values in Washington, D.C.,” Innis said. “I am determined to win.”

The launch video, titled “Fences,” draws on Innis’s experience as a farmer and contrasts border security with how he manages his own land. “If I ran a farm the same way Chris Pappas wants us to run our American border, I’d be out of business!” he says in the ad.

Innis, who represents Bradford in the New Hampshire Senate, made clear he plans to run as a staunch conservative aligned with former President Donald Trump. He emphasized his loyalty to the “America First” agenda and promised to support Trump’s efforts in Washington. “I never wavered in my support,” he said, pledging to give Trump “the backup he needs” in the U.S. Senate.

“We need leaders in Washington who will call out the bull and fight back against woke liberal policies,” Innis said.

The announcement sets up a competitive Republican primary. Innis joins former U.S. Senator Scott Brown, who previously represented Massachusetts and later served as U.S. ambassador to New Zealand under President Trump. Brown announced his own Senate run in June. Both candidates have indicated their support for Trump, but Innis is pitching himself as the more authentic, New Hampshire-rooted conservative.

“I know this state. I’ve lived here, taught here, farmed here, and served in the legislature. Out of the three of us—Scott Brown, Chris Pappas, and me—I’m the best choice for New Hampshire,” Innis told WMUR.

Innis previously served in the State Senate from 2014 to 2016 and returned to public office in 2022. A former dean of UNH’s Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics, he is also a small business owner and lives on a working farm with his husband.

The Senate seat is open following the retirement of Democratic U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who announced earlier this year that she will not seek re-election in 2026. Shaheen’s departure ends a decades-long career in public office and opens the door to a potentially volatile and expensive campaign.

On the Democratic side, U.S. Representative Chris Pappas has emerged as the leading contender and is expected to consolidate support from his party. Pappas currently represents New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District and has served in the House since 2019.

Innis has already taken aim at Pappas, calling him a “radical leftist” and criticizing his record on immigration and education. “Chris Pappas is all smiles, no spine,” Innis said, arguing the congressman votes “100 percent with liberal Democrats.”

While the GOP field could expand, Innis and Brown are expected to be the primary contenders heading into next year. The outcome of the Republican primary will likely shape the tone of the general election, as both parties view the seat as critical to Senate control.

New Hampshire hasn’t elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate since 2010, but Republicans currently hold the governorship and majorities in the state legislature. With an open seat and independent-minded electorate, the race is considered highly competitive.

Innis is betting that his blend of local roots, conservative credentials, and populist message will carry him through the primary and make him the strongest challenger to Pappas in the fall. “I’m a fighter,” Innis said. “And I’m ready to bring that fight to Washington.”