Washington D.C. is a city where political careers often end abruptly, but two seasoned campaigners are defying the odds by attempting a rare political resurrection. Former senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and John E. Sununu (R-N.H.) are both vying to reclaim their old seats in the upper chamber, a feat achieved by only a handful of individuals in the past century.
Their respective campaigns highlight the unique challenges and opportunities for seasoned politicians attempting a comeback. For Australian observers, it offers a fascinating glimpse into the enduring appeal of experience versus the ever-present churn of American electoral politics.
The Ohio Incumbent's Fight
Senator Sherrod Brown, a Democrat from Ohio, is currently a sitting senator, but his situation is uniquely precarious. He was first elected to the Senate in 2006, serving two terms before narrowly losing his re-election bid in 2018. The current wire report from The Hill appears to have a slight discrepancy, as Brown is indeed a current senator, not a former one attempting a comeback after an absence. He is, however, facing one of the toughest re-election campaigns of any Democrat in 2024, in a state that has trended increasingly Republican. His fight is less about returning to an old job and more about retaining his current one against strong opposition, making his survival a high-stakes test of Democratic viability in a swing state.
Sununu's Bid for a Second Act
On the Republican side, former Senator John E. Sununu of New Hampshire presents a more classic comeback narrative. Sununu served a single term from 2003 to 2009 before being defeated for re-election. Now, more than a decade later, he is reportedly considering another run for the Senate. His path is arguably even steeper. Not only would he need to win a potentially crowded Republican primary, but he would also have to convince New Hampshire voters to send him back to Washington after a significant hiatus. The Hill reported that such returns are exceptionally rare, often requiring unique political circumstances or deep, enduring public recognition.
The Seniority Conundrum
One of the less-discussed but significant hurdles for returning senators is the issue of seniority. In the U.S. Senate, seniority dictates everything from office assignments and committee preferences to the order in which senators are recognised to speak. A senator returning after an absence typically loses their accrued seniority and starts effectively at the bottom, alongside newly elected members. This can be a significant disincentive for those accustomed to wielding influence earned over years of service. It means that even if successful, Brown or Sununu would effectively be starting over in terms of their institutional power, potentially diminishing their immediate impact and influence within the chamber.
A Broader Trend of Political Resilience?
The efforts by Brown and Sununu (or Brown's fight to retain his seat against strong odds, in his case) speak to a broader trend in American politics where experience, even after a defeat or absence, is often viewed as a valuable commodity. While the odds are long – The Hill notes that only a handful of senators have successfully returned after an absence in the last century – the willingness to try underscores the high stakes and enduring appeal of serving in the world's most powerful legislative body. For Australian audiences watching from afar, these campaigns offer a compelling human drama within the complex machinery of US democracy, demonstrating that even in Washington, political careers can sometimes have a second, or even third, act.
