Gov. Chris Sununu wants a third term leading the Granite State as governor rather than a first term on Capitol Hill as a U.S. Senator. The Republican chief executive announced Tuesday evening that he will run for reelection next year. The decision means that he has chosen not to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen as she seeks a third term in Washington – a match-up that was viewed as a potential battle royale.Sununu wrote in a Medium post and an email to supporters, “Over the past few weeks, (First Lady) Valerie and I have taken a deep look at how my path of public service can best help New Hampshire families. Nothing is more critical to our state’s future than ensuring strong leadership in the Corner Office and saving our New Hampshire Advantage.“We are getting the job done … more people are working today in New Hampshire than at any time in history. We have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation and wages are at an all-time high.”Sununu makes it clear he considered running for the Senate and how he feels about his chances of defeating Shaheen. He wrote, “I truly appreciate the enthusiastic encouragement from so many that I run for the United States Senate. We all know that I would defeat Jeanne Shaheen, but others can too. Never before has a sitting twelve-year Senator from New Hampshire accomplished so little.”Sununu’s decision leaves wide open the question of who on the Republican side will challenge Shaheen and who on the Democratic side will challenge the governor.Speculation about a Republican Senate candidacy has focused on former New Hampshire House Speaker William O’Brien, who has told WMUR that he is seriously interested in a run, as well as two people who have never run for office – retired Brig. Gen. Don Bolduc and attorney Bryant “Corky” Messner.Potential Democratic challenger to the governor’s reelection bid include former state Sen. Molly Kelly, who lost to Sununu in November; state Senate Majority Leader Dan Feltes; Executive Councilor Andru Volinsky and Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig, who is seeking reelection this year as the city’s chief executive.Sununu has been urged for weeks by many local Republicans to run for another term at the State House, a job he has said that he loves. But some Washington Republicans have urged him to consider taking on Shaheen.In the end, he chose a run for reelection.
Gov. Chris Sununu wants a third term leading the Granite State as governor rather than a first term on Capitol Hill as a U.S. Senator.
The Republican chief executive announced Tuesday evening that he will run for reelection next year. The decision means that he has chosen not to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen as she seeks a third term in Washington – a match-up that was viewed as a potential battle royale.
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Sununu wrote in a Medium post and an email to supporters, “Over the past few weeks, (First Lady) Valerie and I have taken a deep look at how my path of public service can best help New Hampshire families. Nothing is more critical to our state’s future than ensuring strong leadership in the Corner Office and saving our New Hampshire Advantage.
“We are getting the job done … more people are working today in New Hampshire than at any time in history. We have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation and wages are at an all-time high.”
Sununu makes it clear he considered running for the Senate and how he feels about his chances of defeating Shaheen.
He wrote, “I truly appreciate the enthusiastic encouragement from so many that I run for the United States Senate. We all know that I would defeat Jeanne Shaheen, but others can too. Never before has a sitting twelve-year Senator from New Hampshire accomplished so little.”
Sununu’s decision leaves wide open the question of who on the Republican side will challenge Shaheen and who on the Democratic side will challenge the governor.
Speculation about a Republican Senate candidacy has focused on former New Hampshire House Speaker William O’Brien, who has told WMUR that he is seriously interested in a run, as well as two people who have never run for office – retired Brig. Gen. Don Bolduc and attorney Bryant “Corky” Messner.
Potential Democratic challenger to the governor’s reelection bid include former state Sen. Molly Kelly, who lost to Sununu in November; state Senate Majority Leader Dan Feltes; Executive Councilor Andru Volinsky and Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig, who is seeking reelection this year as the city’s chief executive.
Sununu has been urged for weeks by many local Republicans to run for another term at the State House, a job he has said that he loves. But some Washington Republicans have urged him to consider taking on Shaheen.
In the end, he chose a run for reelection.
