Chris Sununu

Christopher Thomas Sununu was born on November 5, 1974. He is an American politician and engineer who served as the 82nd governor of New Hampshire from 2017 to 2025.

Sununu is a Republican and comes from a well-known political family. His father was John H. Sununu, a former governor of New Hampshire and White House Chief of Staff. His brother, John E. Sununu, served as a U.S. representative and later as a senator. Chris Sununu studied civil and environmental engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Before becoming governor, he was the chief executive officer of the Waterville Valley Resort and served on the New Hampshire Executive Council from 2011 to 2017.

Sununu was first elected governor in 2016 and was reelected three more times, making him the second governor in New Hampshire history to serve four terms, after John Lynch. During his time as governor, he focused on fiscal conservatism, tax cuts, and supporting businesses. He also worked on efforts to address the opioid crisis. Sununu was known as a moderate Republican, supporting some LGBTQ rights but also making some restrictions related to transgender rights. In July 2023, he announced he would not run for a fifth term and endorsed Kelly Ayotte, who later won the election to become his successor.

Early life and education

Chris Sununu was born on November 5, 1974, in Salem, New Hampshire. He is the son of former New Hampshire Governor John H. Sununu and Nancy Sununu, who was the former chair of the New Hampshire Republican State Committee and First Lady of New Hampshire. He has several siblings, including an older brother, John E. Sununu, who was a U.S. senator and U.S. representative.

Sununu went to school at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax County, Virginia, and later earned a degree in civil and environmental engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1998. After that, he spent a short time studying film at New York University Tisch School of the Arts.

Early career

Chris Sununu started his career as an environmental engineer. He helped design systems to clean up waste sites, focusing on soil, water, and landfill projects.

In 2010, he led a group that bought Waterville Valley Resort. He became the resort's top leader, managing more than 700 workers in the White Mountains area.

New Hampshire Executive Council

Chris Sununu was an elected member of the five-member Executive Council of New Hampshire from 2011 to 2017.

On December 16, 2015, the Governor's Advisory Commission on the Intermodal Transportation presented a 10-Year Plan for 2017–2026 to the governor of New Hampshire. Sununu helped create this plan, which aimed to address money limits while expecting about $160 million each year from the federal government.

In 2010, Sununu and the other four Executive Council members voted together to free Ward Bird from his three- to six-year prison sentence. Bird had been convicted of showing a gun to someone who entered his property without permission in 2008. However, Governor John Lynch refused this decision, saying the courts had already carefully reviewed Bird’s case. The council then voted to shorten Bird’s sentence instead, and Lynch allowed this vote to happen.

Governor of New Hampshire

Elections

2016

Main article: 2016 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

In the general election, Sununu defeated Democratic nominee Colin Van Ostern, winning with 48.8% of the votes compared to Van Ostern's 46.6%.

2018

Main article: 2018 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

Sununu was reelected, defeating Democratic nominee Molly Kelly, with 52.8% of the votes against Kelly's 45.7%.

2020

Main article: 2020 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

On May 14, 2019, Sununu announced that he would seek a third term as governor, rather than challenging Senator Jeanne Shaheen in the 2020 election.

After securing the Republican nomination, Sununu received the most votes ever for a New Hampshire gubernatorial candidate, with 516,609 votes (65.1%). He received more votes than President Donald Trump, who lost New Hampshire's electoral votes.

2022

Main article: 2022 New Hampshire gubernatorial election

On November 9, 2021, Sununu announced his intention to run for a fourth term as governor instead of challenging incumbent U.S. senator Maggie Hassan. He won the Republican primary with 78.66% of the vote and then won the general election with 57.0% of the vote, defeating Democrat Thomas Sherman and Libertarians Karlyn Borysenko and Kelly Halldorson.

Tenure

Sununu was sworn in as governor on January 5, 2017. He began his second term on January 3, 2019, and his third term on January 7, 2021.

In October 2018, Sununu introduced a new plan to help people recover from addiction. The plan includes nine centers across the state that work with local groups to offer support. These centers receive money each year from federal aid to help fight addiction.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sununu talked about problems with relief packages from Congress and the Biden administration. He also talked about issues with some people getting vaccines early. In November 2020, Sununu asked people in the state to wear masks, which led to some protests. He said he supported vaccines but did not agree with mandates from Washington.

In 2023, Sununu issued an order stopping the state from working with groups that support boycotts against Israel.

Presidential aspirations

Main article: 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries

In January 2023, Chris Sununu thought about trying to become president in 2024 but said he didn’t have a specific plan yet. By June 2023, he decided not to run for the Republican nomination for president.

Political positions

WMUR sees Chris Sununu as a middle-of-the-road Republican. He is described as caring about money and being fair to everyone. He has also been called someone who thinks a lot about personal freedom.

Sununu did not agree with many bills and refused to sign them as governor. He wanted to change some taxes to help older people and those studying to become doctors or social workers. He also supported giving parents money to help pay for school choices for their children. In 2025, Sununu talked about changing some big government programs to save money.

In 2025, Sununu talked about how a famous person was trying to save money for the government. He liked the goal but thought the way the person was doing it was too rough and could hurt people’s feelings.

Sununu did not agree with some energy plans that would cost money and affect regular people. He wanted to create a new department to help with energy, especially wind power off the coast.

Sununu supported a certain leader in 2016 but later criticized him after an election dispute. He later supported another leader in the next election.

Sununu has talked about many social topics. He has supported people’s rights to make their own choices and has signed laws to protect people from unfair treatment. He has also talked about changing laws around certain activities but has changed his mind over time.

After a sad event involving someone named George Floyd, Sununu started a group to look at how police officers work and make sure they treat everyone fairly. He agreed with the group’s ideas, including having police officers wear cameras.

During a time when many people were sick with COVID-19, Sununu asked for help from the government to support New Hampshire.

President & CEO, Airlines for America

On August 18, 2025, Airlines for America announced that Sununu would become its new President and Chief Executive Officer starting September 9, 2025.

Personal life

Chris Sununu met his wife, Valerie, in college, and they married in 2001. They have three children named Calvin, Edith, and Leonardo and live in Newfields, New Hampshire.

Sununu enjoys skiing and playing rugby. In 1998, he hiked the entire Appalachian Trail from Maine to Georgia. In 2024, he helped save someone at a lobster roll eating contest by using the Heimlich maneuver.

Electoral history

Executive Council 1st term

In 2010, Sununu won against Beverly Hollingworth, getting 55.9% of the votes.

Executive Council 2nd term

In 2012, Sununu won against Bill Duncan, getting 55.2% of the votes.

Executive Council 3rd term

In 2014, Sununu won against Robin McLane, getting 61.6% of the votes.