In October 2015, Innis announced he would again run for Congress in New Hampshire’s 1st district. Before suspending his campaign, he was slated to face incumbent Frank Guinta and Jamieson Gradert in the Republican primary on September 13, 2016. Guinta was thought to be vulnerable due to a campaign finance controversy in which he accepted a campaign donation from his parents far exceeding the contribution limit for individuals.

Innis suspended his congressional campaign in March 2016, citing family priorities and business interests.

On May 26, 2016, Innis announced he would be running for New Hampshire Senate District 24 which comprises the towns of Greenland, Hampton, Hampton Falls, Kensington, New Castle, North Hampton, Newton, Rye, Seabrook, Stratham and South Hampton. On September 13, 2016, Innis won the Republican nomination in a four-way race for State Senate in NH District 24. He beat Democratic State Rep. Tom Sherman for the seat in the general election on November 8.

In December 2015, Innis asked his supporters to make year-end contributions to a Manchester drug treatment center, Hope for New Hampshire, instead of to his campaign.

Innis was a Republican candidate in the 2014 election for the United States House of Representatives in New Hampshire for the 1st congressional district. He lost the primary to Frank Guinta, who went on to win the general election against Democratic incumbent Carol Shea-Porter.

Daniel E. Innis (born April 7, 1963) is an American academic and politician. He served as a Republican State Senator, representing District 24 in the New Hampshire Senate from 2016-2018. He is also a professor of marketing and hospitality management at the University of New Hampshire. He served as the Dean of the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire from 2007 to 2013, overseeing major developments at the school.