Sununu is moving on. To what?
New Hampshire’s fourterm Republican governor will not seek re-election, he announced.
In a letter to supporters and in social media postings, Gov. Chris Sununu said that though he has enjoyed the work, it’s time to pass the torch to someone else.
“After much consideration, I have decided not to run for another term as Governor in 2024,” Sununu wrote. “Be assured we will keep working and that the Granite State will continue to be our priority for the next 18 months.
“Public service should never be a career, and the time is right for another Republican to lead our great state. This was no easy decision as I truly love serving as Governor. I could not be more proud of our record and it’s thanks to your support that we’ve accomplished so much,” he continued.
News that New Hampshire’s 82nd governor would not seek a further two-year term was met with both praise for the work he’s done and thinly veiled hints at others’ ambitions.
“I’m grateful to Governor Sununu for his hard work over the past seven years to improve our quality of life and for always fighting for Granite Staters,” former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte said in a statement. “Our next governor must be a tough and tested conservative who will fight to ensure that New Hampshire remains safe, prosperous, and free. I look forward to announcing some big news in the coming days.”
The apparently outgoing governor also recently declared he would not seek the White House in 2024, despite rumors he was considering a run for the Republican nomination.
His departure will open the way for Democrats hoping to recapture the governor’s office after eight years of Republican control of state government and, according to Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig, who recently announced she would seek the state’s highest office, it’s a mustwin race.
“The stakes of winning in November of 2024 couldn’t be higher, but the opportunity couldn’t be greater either. I have the experience leading our state’s largest city and I know how to win tough elections, which is why I know we can take back the Governor’s office. Together, we can create opportunities for Granite Staters in every community,” she said in a statement.
The Republican Governors Association, of which Sununu is a member, praised his work and promised to support whichever conservative candidate manages to win what will certainly be a lively primary.
“The RGA is committed to ensuring the Granite State continues to have the leadership of a Republican Governor who will prioritize the health, safety and prosperity of the people of New Hampshire,” Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said on behalf of the association.
Without a fairly popular incumbent Republican to secure the nomination and cruise into a general election without the burden of an acrimonious primary, the Cook Political Report moved their prediction for the race from a likely Republican victory to anyone’s race.
“Following Gov. Chris Sununu’s decision not to seek re-election, we are shifting #NHGOV to the Toss Up column,” the group said via Twitter.