Republican U.S. Senate nominee John E. Sununu is using the familiar Sununu name across New Hampshire as he seeks to reclaim the seat once held by his family, but his younger brother, former Gov. Chris Sununu, says he is not taking an active, public role in the campaign.
Family legacy in focus
Signs and advertisements in the state prominently feature the family surname, invoking a political lineage that includes their father, former Gov. John H. Sununu, and their mother, Nancy Sununu, a former state party chair. John E. Sununu represented New Hampshire in the U.S. Senate from 2003 to 2009 and is running to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.
The contest has drawn national attention because control of the Senate could hinge on a handful of races. Recent polling cited by national outlets shows Democratic U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, the Democratic nominee, holding a lead of several points in New Hampshire.
Brother: 'I'm not involved at all'
Chris Sununu, who served four terms as New Hampshire governor and now is president and CEO of Airlines for America, told CNN he is not publicly campaigning with his brother.
“I'm not involved at all in my brother's campaign,” Chris Sununu said. “We all believe in service, but you got to do it on your own. You got to stand on your own two feet. And I'm incredibly supportive, I'd do anything he asked me to, but he knows and I know that you've got to run your own race.”
Asked about whether John had asked him to campaign with him, Chris Sununu repeated that he was staying on the sidelines and argued voters would recognize the difference between the two politicians. He also joked about name recognition in the state: “Look, if people thought they were voting for me, my brother would be up by 30 points. Come on,” he said.
Campaign response and context
Mike Schrimpf, a spokesperson for John E. Sununu's campaign, emphasized that the family has supported Republican candidates across the state and argued voters associate the name with independent leadership.
“Chris has campaigned with and supported John, along with many other New Hampshire candidates, and of course, everyone in New Hampshire knows that he supports his brother,” Schrimpf said. “More importantly, New Hampshire knows the Sununu family's tradition of independent leadership.”
Granite State political observers have noted the brothers have not campaigned together publicly, a contrast with previous cycles when members of prominent political families often appeared together. The campaign posture comes as both parties devote resources and high-profile surrogates to New Hampshire in the final days before the Nov. 3 general election.
- John E. Sununu is the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in New Hampshire and served in the Senate from 2003 to 2009.
- Chris Sununu, a four-term former governor, says he is not publicly involved in his brother’s campaign and works as president and CEO of Airlines for America.
- Democratic U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas holds a single-digit lead in recent polls in the race to replace retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.
The seat is among several competitive contests that both parties view as pivotal to determining which party controls the U.S. Senate after the midterm elections. Campaigns in New Hampshire over the coming days will include visits from national figures, local events and additional advertising as voters continue to cast ballots early and prepare for Election Day on Nov. 3.
