John Sununu Seeks to Revive Political Dynasty in New Hampshire Senate Race

John Sununu is making a bid to revive his family's long-standing political influence in New Hampshire by running for his old Senate seat, largely eschewing joint campaign appearances with his brother, the state's popular former governor, Chris Sununu. The Republican candidate stated that in New Hampshire, voters prefer to meet the candidate directly, town to town, person to person, rather than through large rallies or appearances with well-known figures.

"There's really no need to campaign with anyone else," John Sununu told The Post. "My brother's done lots of events. It's great to have him doing events that I can't attend. You can't be everywhere at the same time. So he's been supportive. He's been out on the campaign trail. He's supporting other candidates across the ticket."

This election could mark the final opportunity for the Sununu name to maintain its significant presence in New Hampshire Republican politics, a legacy that began in 1982 when John Henry Sununu, John E. Sununu's father, secured his first of three gubernatorial terms, eventually becoming White House chief of staff under President George H.W. Bush.

John E. Sununu previously served six years in the House of Representatives before defeating then-Democratic Governor Jeanne Shaheen in 2002 for a Senate seat. Shaheen, however, unseated him six years later, riding Barack Obama's coattails to victory. She has held the seat for three terms and announced her retirement last year.

With Chris Sununu, 51, having opted out of a potential Senate run in 2022 and a presidential bid in 2024, John E. Sununu, 62, is the sole Sununu contender this cycle. He faces a challenging race against U.S. Representative Chris Pappas (D-NH). As of this week, polling averages show Sununu trailing Pappas by 6.7 percentage points.

The Sununu family's name recognition has become a central theme in the race. Yard signs across the state simply bearing the name "Sununu Senator" have prompted Pappas to accuse the campaign of attempting to mislead voters into believing Chris Sununu is the candidate. Even a debate moderator mistakenly addressed John Sununu as "Chris." The former governor, responding to the confusion, quipped, "If people thought they were voting for me, my brother would be up by 30 points."

John Sununu has actively worked to differentiate himself from his brother during campaign events. While Pappas has campaigned with prominent Democratic figures like former Vice President Kamala Harris and California Governor Gavin Newsom, Sununu has focused on grassroots retail politics, attending smaller events. He has also distanced himself from former President Trump, stating in a recent advertisement that he opposes policies detrimental to New Hampshire, aligning with the state's independent voting tendencies.

Despite national headwinds for Republicans, John Sununu is aiming to buck a trend of recent Republican federal election struggles in New Hampshire. The state has not supported a GOP presidential candidate since 2000, elected a Republican to the Senate since 2010, or returned a Republican congressman since 2014. Many national Republicans had hoped Chris Sununu would be the one to break this streak in 2022, but he declined, stating his preference for focusing on delivering results for New Hampshire.

John Sununu, who served in Washington during periods of significant partisan division, including the lead-up to the Iraq War and the 2008 financial crisis, expressed optimism about his ability to legislate, noting, "Times were just as partisan then as they are today."

New Hampshire's demographic landscape has shifted since Sununu last served in the Senate, with population growth concentrated in southern areas, attracting more residents from the neighboring, more liberal Massachusetts. This changing electorate presents an additional challenge for Sununu's campaign.

Supporters attending the Pumpkin Festival in Laconia, where Sununu was seen interacting with constituents, acknowledged the family legacy. However, some, like voter Nicole, indicated their support for Pappas, citing alignment with his priorities. Sununu, meanwhile, has emphasized his independent stance, stating, "When the president's policies are bad for New Hampshire, I’ll oppose them. That's New Hampshire independent."