Former New Hampshire Senator John Sununu has sharply criticized the Democratic National Committee (DNC) for its decision to remove the state from its traditional position as the first-in-the-nation primary. In an interview released Tuesday on the "Ruthless Podcast," Sununu argued that New Hampshire's unique political landscape allows candidates without significant name recognition or financial backing to build support through grassroots campaigning.
"New Hampshire is the best place to hold that first primary because somebody without name recognition, without a huge bankroll, can come into the state, campaign town to town, person to person, and have an impact whether you're a Democrat or a Republican," Sununu stated. He attributed this to the state's "engaged electorate, with the highest turnout in the country."
Sununu also placed blame on New Hampshire's Democratic delegation, stating, "our Democratic delegation, [Rep.] Chris Pappas just completely failed to advocate effectively for the first-in-the-nation status of the primary."
The DNC approved a new calendar that places South Carolina and Nevada earlier in the nominating process, ahead of a potential New Hampshire primary. This shift aims to increase the representation of more racially diverse states at the beginning of the election cycle. The change comes after Joe Biden's struggling 2020 Democratic primary campaign was revitalized by a pivotal victory in South Carolina, which set him on the path to the nomination.
Sununu, who is currently seeking the Republican Senate nomination to replace retiring Democrat Jeanne Shaheen, previously served in the Senate from 2003 to 2009. He is running in a Republican primary that includes former Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown. If elected to the Senate, Sununu would be part of a broader Republican effort to regain control of the chamber, with New Hampshire being a key battleground.
Sununu emphasized his background in business and his deep ties to New Hampshire as qualifications for public service. "I went to Salem High School, trained as an engineer, worked in engineering, technology, and manufacturing before getting elected to Congress," he said. "We needed someone with real-world small business experience, manufacturing experience, someone who's hired workers, helped train them, dealt with federal regulations, healthcare, and frankly, people who actually understand how these rules and laws and regulations they’re passing affect job creation and wages and growth."
The interview was part of the "Ruthless Midterm Interview Series," which has featured interviews with candidates across numerous states in the lead-up to the November elections. The series aims to highlight major candidates and their platforms.