FILE - New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu takes part in a panel discussion, Nov. 15, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)

Former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu announced Monday on The Pulse of NH’s Good Morning NH radio show that he will not seek the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Jeanne Shaheen.

Shaheen, a Democrat, announced in early March that she would not seek reelection. A former three-term governor, Shaheen has served in the U.S. Senate since 2008.

Sununu, a Republican, served four terms as governor of the Granite State. He opted not to see a fifth term last year, clearing the path for former U.S. Sen. and Nashua native Kelly Ayotte to claim the office over Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig. A Republican has not won a U.S. Senate seat in New Hampshire since Ayotte won back in 2010. She served one term and was defeated by U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan.

U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas announced last week he would seek Shaheen’s seat.

“This race has always been about putting the people of New Hampshire first and ensuring they continue to have a voice in Washington who will stand up to this administration, self-dealing billionaires, and extreme politicians who threaten our future and our ability to get things done for New Hampshire,” Pappas said in a statement reacting to Sununu’s decision. “We know this race will be close and that Donald Trump and National Republicans are continuing to recruit candidates who support their reckless agenda of crashing our economy and gutting vital services like Medicaid and Social Security to finance tax breaks for large, powerful corporations. Since launching this campaign, the support Chris Pappas has received in all ten counties has been overwhelming, and it’s not surprising that people like Chris Sununu are thinking twice about getting into the race, given the energy we are seeing and the desire of Granite Staters to end the chaos. Chris will continue to work to earn every vote in this election and take his campaign to every corner of the state.”