Sununu Makes It Official: He’s Running For Re-Election In 2020

CONCORD, NH — Gov. Chris Sununu, R-NH, confirmed one of the worst kept secrets in the Granite State while also putting a damper on any speculation that he might challenge incumbent U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, next year by announcing he would seek a third term in the corner office next year. In a post on Medium.com on May 14, 2019, Sununu – who is ranked one of the most popular governors in the nation – announced he would be running for governor in 2020. The announcement comes just hours after the release of a new “best states” study– that puts New Hampshire as No. 2 in the nation.

“Over the past few weeks, Valerie and I have taken a deep look at how my path of public service can best help New Hampshire families,” he wrote. “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 surmised that he would have defeated Shaheen and thanked his supporters for the positive comments about challenging her, while also taking a jab at the state’s senior Senator.

“Never before has a sitting 12-year Senator from New Hampshire accomplished so little,” he wrote.

Sununu chastised Democrats in the state calling them “more radical than any of us ever believed possible,” highlighting his recent veto of a 0.05 percent payroll tax to pay for a mandatory paid medical and family leave proposal that he was criticized for likening it to a “vacation” at a forum last year.

Democrats, like Ray Buckley, the chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, quickly reacted to the announcement.

“While we regret missing the opportunity to retire Chris Sununu in a campaign for US Senate, we look fwd to replacing him as Governor in 2020, along w/his mentor Trump,” he wrote on Twitter. “After 4yrs of enriching himself & leaving NH families in the dust, Sununu will be defeated.”

The action by Sununu led to at least one other Republican who has been considering a Senate run to reaffirm that he may be making some plans.

Former House Speaker Bill O’Brien, who was almost drafted to challenge to Kelly Ayotte in 2016, told WMUR-TV that he would be making a decision soon about whether he would be challenging Shaheen next year adding that Sununu’s decision wouldn’t have made any difference in his decision. Donald Bolduc, a retired brigadier general, is considering a run for the GOP nomination and Andy Martin, who also ran for Senate in 2014, has also announced that he will run for Senate in 2020. Jay Lucas, a businessman from Portsmouth, and Corey Messner, a lawyer, are also considering runs, according to press reports.

Shaheen announced in January that she would be seeking a third term.

At least three Democrats are considering runs for governor in 2020. They include state Sen. Dan Feltes of Concord, Andru Volinsky, the District 2 Executive Councilor, also from Concord, and former state Sen. Molly Kelly – who was shellacked by Sununu last year by more than 40,000 votes.